Marriage
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THANK you for Emily Baker’s terrific article on partners Caitlin Cashion and Despina Amerikanos (The Examiner, January 17) and their plans to marry in New Zealand in addition to a civil ceremony here in Tasmania.
Congratulations to Caitlin and Despina and may their lives together be filled with love and happiness.
Thank you.
- DAVID BROUGHTON, Legana.
Plastic Bags
IT would seem no actual evidence exists that banning lightweight plastic bags has had any significant impact on the environment (The Examiner, January 10) other than to unleash stronger bags at the consumers’ cost, which take much longer to biodegrade.
I get mine from a relative in Sydney who brings 50 or 60 at a time when she visits, as I object to paying 15 cents for what was free.
They are not wasted as I use them for household rubbish.
Once upon a time (not a fairytale) we used paper bags and surely we could plant more trees to this end.
While growing to a usable size their progression will help produce more oxygen and generally help our environment, while a side benefit would create more jobs, something Tassie badly needs.
Maybe the EPA, could push for this proposal, let’s be honest here, it’s got to be better than plastic.
- RON BAINES, Kings Meadows.
Penalty rates
MEMO to Dallas Belz (Letters, January 16), you are a bit late with regard to Woolworths, Coles and Bunnings. Haven’t you noticed the self-serve checkouts operating in all three, seven days a week and the dramatic decrease in manned checkouts that are in operation on weekends.
I wonder if that is anything to do with weekend penalty rates?
Would be a bit difficult for restaurants and takeaway shops to follow suit.
- KERRY FOLEY, Launceston.
Pope Francis
I HAVE noted with interest and support the comments of Pope Francis on some of the issues surrounding the recent Muslim attack on Charlie Hebdo.
He is quite right to say that we ought not to use our freedom of speech to mock the beliefs of others.
People's beliefs are precious to them, and whether it is Mohammed or Jesus Christ, we need to show some respect.
We can certainly make rational criticisms of the specific behaviours of people, religious or not, but that is different.
At the same time, even if one is most grossly offended by satire or derogatory pictures or remarks about one's faith, taking revenge with killing rage is not right.
If we would treat others as we wish to be treated, so many of these bitter sorrows could be avoided.
- ANNE BRELSFORD, Legana.
Seals
I SAW two seals in the gorge while walking from the restaurant to King's Bridge on Boxing Day about 9pm.
Since then there have been other seals in the Tamar.
Council could put in a couple of boat ramp platforms for them to gravitate to for sunbaking or perhaps something like the Chinaman's Hat in Port Phillip Bay.
Seals are wonderful to watch, but it would be much safer if they had floating platforms in the Tamar where the public can watch them than get out on roadsides.
- C. VEN, Rokeby.
Economy
I’M not quite sure why it is that past and present governments, at both state and federal levels, are obsessed with budget surpluses.
While it’s great to have surpluses in good times, why be so dogged into telling the general public that surpluses are vital when in reality, they are not.
Governments are elected to make sure services are maintained such as police, law and order, public hospitals, schools and education, roads and infrastructure and so on, so as long as these are taken care of, surely if there is no surplus then it’s no big deal.
Most economists agree that the government would be better off concentrating on much needed reforms such as taxation and GST allocation to the states rather than sweating about returning to surplus.
It’s a nonsense.
- STEVEN HANCOCK, Norwood.
Marriage equality
ONCE again we have the claim that there is majority support in our community for same sex marriage
("Proposal is Declaration that Marriage Matters" The Examiner, January 17).
Yet voters elected to the Federal Government and the Tasmanian Government, by large majorities, the party that supports marriage as between one man and one woman.
In the 2013 Tasmanian Legislative Council by-election for three seats, regardless of aggressive lobbying against them leading up to the election, all three members who were elected oppose the redefinition of marriage.
In 2012, a bill in the Federal parliament to legalise same sex marriage failed to pass, 42 in favour and 98 against. Members had previously canvassed views in their electorates.
A further move to accept same sex marriages conducted in other countries, also failed to achieve support.
In both cases members of the public were invited to make comment on the proposals to a Parliamentary Select Committee.
Same sex partnerships are recognised in Australian law and can be legally registered in Tasmania.
They enjoy the same rights as married couples in a range of areas such as superannuation, inheritance, family law and health.
There is indeed strong support in the Australian community for marriage to remain defined as between one man and one woman, a partnership of equality between husband and wife.
- PAT GARTLAN, Battery Point.
Politics
POPULOUS politics gets people elected, and a country into financial crisis.
It’s easy for a politician to say ‘yes’ but incredibly hard to say ‘no’.
Every day the Federal Government has to pay an interest bill of about $40 million mostly to overseas investors courtesy of a previous government.
Now, listen to Senator Jacquie Lambie: “I will block this legislation until the Government pumps more money into...” And Denison independent MHR Andrew Wilkie: “I support her, pump money in..."
At the same time, it is patently clear to those with a moderate sense of economics that these statements either call for more taxes or more debt or both.
What Australia desperately needs is a lot more responsibility from our members of Parliament.
If they want more pumped in they must tell us where it is coming from and who will pay.
- GRAEME PAGE, Launceston.
Bicycle tourism-Bailey
TASMANIA is certainly heading in the right direction (The Examiner, January 18) but there are some steep learning curves and some headwinds.
To really cash in and meet this demand the state needs an integrated strategy that encompasses better road design, from separated cycleways on new roads (the Midland Highway reconstruction between Breadalbane and Perth, for example) to properly built and maintained verges, good signage and route guides, geared-up businesses that know what the touring and mountain-bike fraternity want and, of course, bike-friendly locals behind the wheel.
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding has been commendably busy on the cycle safety side of the equation. Now it's time to look at the demand outlined in the latest Tasmanian Visitor Survey and how we meet that through marketing and infrastructure.
We should, for example, restore cycle pathway funding to councils to ensure the cycling tourist has a good experience through our superb landscape.
There are worthy projects that benefit both visitor and local, the bayside pathway at St Helens, for example, crying out for dollars.
Today's bicycle tourist is well-heeled, spends more, stays longer, demands a quality experience, likes fine food and wine, wants an adventure that's still safe and will not hesitate to say on social media what they think.
- GARRY BAILEY, Government and External Relations Bicycle Network, Launceston.