Refugees-Skinner
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TUESDAY'S weather forecast on Manus Island is a top of 29 degrees and 100 per cent humidity.
Add to this a situation where hundreds of men are on hunger strikes and some not receiving an adequate water supply.
Several men have stated they are willing to die and donate their organs to Australians.
One detainee is reported as saying this would mean that at least part of him would taste freedom.
The cynical would suggest this is a 'stunt' to have the Australian Government change its decision and allow the refugees to settle in Australia.
Can we afford to ignore this unfolding tragedy and live with our consciences?
The refugees are not wanted in New Guinea and fear for their safety if settled there.
Many have families already living in Australia.
There will be no positive outcome from this unfolding, negative treatment of men who came to our shores asking for our help.
Where will it end?
- PATSY SKINNER, Launceston.
Hemp
FOUR members of the US Senate have recently filed a Bill to have Industrial Hemp removed as a Schedule 1 substance from the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.
If passed this would mean that Australia could do likewise and would allow hemp to be treated as any other crop, negating the need for current onerous regulations.
- ESTELLE ROSS, Riverside.
Motorcyclists
BRICK bats to the motorcyclist driving on the Launceston/Scottsdale road late Friday afternoon.
Not only did you overtake two cars at Lebrina, which is a 60 km/h zone, you overtook on a solid line.
The weather was terrible and you were obviously in a hurry to get home, so seeing two separate car accidents on the road certainly didn't slow you down.
- C. FAHEY, Scottsdale.
Learner drivers
BARRY Milner (Letters, January 17) complains about being held up in slow moving traffic and says ``the car responsible for the delay was being driven by a learner driver on a major highway during the holiday period”.
How else is a learner driver supposed to learn how to drive on a major highway during the holiday period?
- A. R. TROUNSON, Needles.
Petrol prices
I HEARD on the radio of the possibility of an enquiry into petrol prices in Tasmania.
At least, I think that’s what I heard - it was hard to hear the news bulletin above the deafening wingbeats as a flock of pigs flew overhead.
- W. J. GREER, Beauty Point.
Refugees
WHEN are our politicians going to have the guts to say, as a body and with bi-partisan support, that they have got the asylum seeker "solution" horribly, horribly wrong?
At the moment not one of them seems to have the nerve to say what is blindingly obvious: that a few thousand refugees could easily be properly processed and settled in Australia, efficiently and at far less cost (both human and financial).
We would still have every option of rejecting those people found not to be genuine refugees.
Refugees who have been settled here in the past have very often become great citizens and a leading light in our society.
The men and women in Manus and other hell holes are human beings in grave distress.
Most of it caused by brutal and inhumane treatment under Australian orders.
C'mon, Aussies, we are better than this!
- ANNE BRELSFORD, Legana.
NE Council
DORSET Mayor Barry Jarvis is to be commended for his North-East Regional Council proposal (The Examiner, January 17) and as president of the state’s local government association his proposal should have considerable impact.
However, I doubt he will get agreement from the four councils involved as it would mean some councillors voting to lose their lucrative positions.
Self-interest usually over-rides public benefit at times such as this.
What Mr Jarvis has proposed should be extrapolated to the rest of the state so that we bring the number of councils down to less than 10, still generous for a state our size.
It’s about time for some urgently needed and decisive action by our state government.
- DICK JAMES, Launceston.
Fuel
IF TASMANIANS are getting gouged on petrol prices, then it is a serious issue.
But there is a degree of irony when Tasmanian Liberal MPs concoct outrage over the issue.
Before Christmas the Abbott Government bypassed parliament to hit Australians with higher petrol prices.
Thanks to the Abbott Government the cost of petrol will go up in February and August as the fuel excise is increased.
This is from Prime Minister Tony Abbott who said there should be “no new tax collection without an election”.
Tasmanians are not stupid and they will not forget the hypocrisy of Liberal MPs crying foul.
- JULIE COLINS MP, Labor MHR.
Australia Day-Maynard,
FOR Australia Day to truly work it must be all inclusive, and the date changed.
Aboriginal people are not opposed to the celebration of such a day.
However, you cannot expect the first nations to be enthusiastic about celebrating a date that signifies invasion of their lands.
Australia’s national symbols is steeped in its British heritage.
The Australian Constitution does not recognise, and has the ability to legally discriminate against Aborigines.
The Australian Flag is a constant reminder of the new nation subjugating the old.
The Australian National Anthem’s message is about a country that is young and free.
It is a very ancient place that nurtured its people for millennia whose lands and generations were stolen.
These national symbols ensure that Australia remains essentially a very British/European nation that alienates Aborigines.
Where is the recognition for Aborigines prior to European occupation in Australia’s national symbols?
I ask you friends what is there for Aborigines to celebrate?
For many it is day of utter sadness, because at present it appears there is no place for Aborigines in the lucky country.
- RICKY J. MAYNARD, Aboriginal Legal Service, Launceston.
Eco tourism
I FIND Bob Brown’s labelling of the state governments proposals for eco tourism as a “selfish land grab” a touch hypocritical.
If we turn that around and look at the fact Bob Brown and the Greens were instrumental in locking the land up making access virtually impossible giving us an asset nobody can visit, see or appreciate.
I suggest to Mr Brown and crew who look on the wilderness as their own personal domain that that could be called a “selfish land grab” couldn’t it?
Also a bit odd when eco tourism is the Greens’ be all and end all for Tasmania’s job seekers, yet when something is proposed, they come out all guns blazing in an effort to stop it.
If eco tourism is well planned and well executed, the wilderness, rather than being for a select few, can be there for all to enjoy now and into the future because if it were to be trashed, there is no tourism.
By the way, could Mr Brown enlighten us as to who the white shoe brigade are?
- KERRY FOLEY, Launceston.
Aged walkers
I’VE had enough of reading about old age and bushwalking. It is nonsense to have an age limit just because older persons might be a burden on fellow walkers.
Anyone could be a 'burden' regardless of their age.
Anyway, old age is not half bad, and with it comes experience and hopefully, wisdom.
Research your walks, take an epirb if you must and enjoy the bush.
Picasso said, ``It takes a long time to grow old” so, I'm on my way to many more walks.
- SHEILA BANNISTER, Longford.