Broad
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DID Martin Stevenson just call me a `broad’?
Zero respect.
— NATASHA FOSTER, Dilston.
Budget
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott doesn't want to go to a double dissolution with his Budget which was one full of ideas.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten would dearly love one but he hasn't any ideas at all.
Just what are we the electorate select with?
We either have to suck it up with the Liberals’ terrible ideas for the populace or go with a back stabber who is bereft of ideas.
Help.
— GLENNIS SLEURINK, Launceston.
Euthanasia
I TOTALLY agree with Coz Egberts of Newstead - it is the people who face major illnesses or terminal conditions who really get to grips with the question of euthanasia.
It is my body...and if I get some major disease and if I choose to exit this life with dignity when it becomes unbearable, I cannot see that it has anything to do with anyone else.
It is important that we have good and legal and careful processes around euthanasia.
But wrong for people to block this legislation because they think its "wrong", when it is someone else who has to bear the pain of that decision.
— ANNE BRELSFORD, Legana.
Letters
I REALISE it’s not compulsory to read the letters to the editor, but myself and many others are tired of the extreme right wing tea party like rants of a handful of correspondents who dominate the letters page on an almost daily basis.
The theme never changes.
All that is wrong in the country is apparently the fault of Labor, the Greens, left wing journos and, of course, the ABC.
My message to these people is - we’ve got it now, go and eat a snickers.
— F. SCOTT, North Hobart.
Federal Government
BY ANY measure we have a stunningly incompetent Federal Government.
Opponents of the Liberals could cite the grossly unfair distribution of the burdens in the first Budget.
Those who favour conservative policies generally would be disappointed that key ministers such as Eric Abetz, Christopher Pyne, and George Brandis have utterly failed to secure any sort of Senate support for government policy.
Of course this is a problem both major parties have: they are machines designed not to produce good leaders and policymakers, but to reward those who shore up their power bases, build mates' networks, and secure positions where the voters are unlikely to ever get rid of them.
The only way voters can help themselves and start on the road to decent government is to either vote for minor parties and independents, and show Labor and Liberal that they must earn votes with competent candidates.
At the same time, those Senate 'number ones' have to be rejected altogether.
— PETER LLOYD, Reedy Marsh.
Nikolic
IT WAS notable that Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic, as part of his saga involving Dr Michael Powell, posted a defence of his actions on his Facebook page.
As part of his defence Mr Nikolic claims, ‘I absolutely believe in free speech and robust debate.
If Mr Nikolic were such a believer in free speech and robust debate why does be block people who may disagree with him or challenge him on a point of fact from making further comments on his Facebook page?
He kindly lets those blocked view the posts he puts up but disallows any sort of comment.
I have no doubt Mr Nikolic could be a very good future minister and asset to Bass and Tasmania but his attitude could well be his undoing as it does not go down well with voters.
— GEOFF MCLEAN, Launceston.
Hall of fame
IT IS interesting today to read that some Aldermen have an interest in a Hall of Fame.
It is not so surprising however that there are as many visions as advocates presumably all vying for precedence and jostling for a position in the same space.
The assumption apparently being that there will be limited space and a limit on ‘fame’ plus a vast audiences for their enthusiasms in ‘the space.’
What is probably being missed here is that there is an enormous space available with room for every enthusiasm and accessible to world’s largest audience 24/7.
It’s in cyberspace and facilitated by the internet.
Moreover, this ‘Virtual Hall’ might well have real world manifestation all over the city – at the QVMAG, Albert Hall, York Park, City Park, LGH, Civic Square, Town Hall, Ockerby Gardens to name just some.
Certainly such a ‘Hall’ would need curation and that might be done under the auspices of the QVMAG if funded for that purpose.
Such a hall could be accessed via phone anywhere on the planet with internet access – via NBN even.
The Launceston diaspora might well be included both in the celebrated and the visitor stream.
Since there is little or no need for a building, nor a refurbishment is required, let’s get on with the who and the how since the where can be determined relatively easily.
— RAY NORMAN, Trevallyn.
Health system
AFTER a surprise heart attack and subsequent hospitalisation, I have been through the system over the last few weeks, with nothing but praise for the following:
Paramedics did a fantastic job with the episode occurring at 4am, ambulance arrived about 10 minutes after call, and subsequent travel by air ambulance to the Royal Hobart Hospital with connecting travel by road, Launceston General Hospital departments of Accident & Emergency and the Cardiac Unit.
Both heads of department and their teams did a great job when looking after me.
The efficiency and rapidity of these services was professional and caring.
Royal Hobart Hospital Cardiac Thoracic Department headed by Dr Ash Hardikar where the surgery and recovery occurred, was equally efficient with the co-operation between the two hospitals never an issue.
Kind and caring, professional in all areas from the cleaning staff to the operating team that performed my surgery.
Now in recovery after open heart surgery with seven coronary artery bypasses performed, I would like to congratulate all involved on a job well done.
— MIKE WISE, Launceston.
Anzacs
IN response to Nancy Holmes (Letters, March 20), the intent of my letter entitled "Anzac" was to point out the obvious hypocrisy peddled by "leaders" who would cite our dearly departed, and pay them the honour they are due on the days set aside for those considerations, while systematically and methodically eroding the very freedoms our loved ones fought so hard to defend.
I also pay tribute to my own blood that fought for the basic human right to live peacefully in a tolerant, fair, and just society, without fear for speaking out when things do not sit right.
There are forces moving in society right now that would see our country become that which was fought against in the wars you referenced.
For example, we have modern day concentration camps for refugees (re-labelled any number of dehumanising terms).
Furthermore, the government recently legislated to store all our personal electronic information ("metadata") for two years, for review at any time by 20 governmental agencies under the guise of "anti-terrorism" (government surveillance on private citizenry is spying on private citizenry: no more, no less).
It is only a matter of time before legitimate public dissent will be re-framed and rebranded as "political attacks of terrorism".
And who will fight for our "freedom" then?
By all means remember our dearly departed.
But also hold close the principles for which their blood was shed, "lest we forget".
— CHRIS RATTRAY, South Launceston.