Smokefree generation
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THE proposal for a smokefree generation is a first step toward not permitting the abuse to their bodies that our society now enables children to purchase.
It's the least we can do to let our legislators know that we are for it.
— NILAH CAINS, Burnie.
Stress
ONE Direction star Zayn Malik has quit the world tour of the British-Irish pop phenomenon due to stress (The Examiner, March 21).
It must be stressful counting all those millions of dollars.
— A. R. TROUNSON, Needles.
Loose lips
OH DEAR more gaffes from a Prime Minister who seems to be the only person to understand his somewhat strange sense of humour.
First the Aboriginals in remote communities, the Irish and the leader of the Opposition.
We now know that George W. is a towering intellect in comparison but do we really want Tony Abbott to be the face of Australia on the world stage?
— A. CARTER, Mowbray.
Welfare card
THE Federal government should create more jobs Instead of wasting money on a debit card that is designed to prevent the unemployed from taking drugs, drinking or gambling.
Newstart recipients will simply set up Facebook accounts, solely for the purpose of selling cheap groceries.
They will then be able to gamble and purchase drugs and alcohol.
— LEON COOPER, St Leonards.
Health insurance
DITTO L. and P. Scales (March 24).
Why is it that those who continue to do the right thing (private health insurance) are forever being punished?
We should be rewarded for taking the strain off the public health system.
It takes up a fair bit of this self-funded retiree's pay each fortnight.
I dream of the day I can grocery shop without having to add things up as I go.
Ho hum.
Frustrating to say the least.
— PAM CORRICK, Kings Meadows.
Problem solving
EVERY Friday a group of five people get together for a couple of hours.
As a group we can solve all of Tasmania's problems (and most of Australia's).
The state and federal politicians have to have inquiries, advisors and committees to sort things out, and six months later a review and still nothing changes.
If the politicians need advice just come and see us, we can solve all your problems and it will not cost a cent, but bring some bikkies for morning tea, chocolate ones preferably.
— JOHN DENNE, Longford.
Parliament bullying
FRIDAY is the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence and Prime Minister Tony Abbott has released a video in commemoration of the event.
He might be well served to look towards the actions of himself and his party in Parliament were he serious on bullying.
Actions such as comparisons to the Nazis, accusing Jewish members taking exception of such comments of the same thing, or punishing those who had taken exception to the comparison.
How can any of us take the Prime Minister seriously when he himself indulges in the same bullying he says to condemn?
— DAVIS SEECAMP, Trevallyn.
Health
HEALTH Minister Michael Ferguson has flagged changes to the health system.
He talks of consolidating complex operations in a central location.
No doubt this will leave other areas like the North-West Coast to be treated as second class citizens expected to travel excessive distances in order to have themselves or loved ones treated.
On discharge most likely to be told “find you own way home buddy”.
How many professionals will leave under this plan?
Travel will mean many will pick up other illnesses as I did recently, placing an additional cost to the health service.
— JIM CAMPBELL, Ulverstone.
Anzac myths
THE Gallipoli campaign had little to do with modern notions of freedom (Letter to the editor 20/3).
Australia saw itself as part of imperial Britain.
Gallipoli was an invasion of a sovereign nation aimed at supporting Europe's most autocratic regime, Tsarist Russia.
The idea that Anzacs fought for freedom becomes doubtful given their decisive role in the suppression of the 1919 Egyptian revolt against British rule.
Defending freedom has been used, rightly or wrongly, to justify Australia's involvement in recent wars.
We can commemorate our fallen at Gallipoli without confusing their sacrifice with the ideological concerns of the present.
— OWEN POWELL, Scottsdale.
NBN Rollout
WHILE businesses might support the NBN scheme, I think the government should have held a referendum to ask ordinary householders whether they were interested in also being connected, instead of just being forced to do so.
I am quite happy with my existing landline phone and computer speed, as are many other people I talk to.
What an incredible waste of billions of dollars, forcing this NBN roll-out on every household, without knowing whether it is widely supported by home owners and not just businesses.
— JEAN CROSIER, Launceston.
Holden car
I HAVE always been a supporter of Australia’s own Holden having over the years owned at least eight Commodores.
However, the appalling advertisement, the latest in the “let's go there” series, has left me disgusted with the brand.
The ad shows a man, with a young son on board, towing a caravan at reckless speeds along dirt roads, through water and bushland, before bursting onto a highway.
Finding himself behind another caravan, he smirks “bloody caravaners” before charging past and burning away into the distance.
What is worse the camera then focuses on the young lad who mimics his father’s “bloody caravaners”.
— IAN WALLACE, Swansea.
Swordfish
THE article (March 23) on the swordfish that was caught in Tasmanian waters on the weekend highlights the double standards of our society.
Whilst it is not seen as acceptable for the Japanese to harpoon whales, it is apparently something to be celebrated when a huge swordfish, weighing far more than another species we don't kill - the dolphin, is tortured for hours, being hauled along by a hook in its mouth.
When will animal cruelty laws catch up with science?
Fish feel pain, no matter their size, in much the same way that all land-based animal do. This cognitive dissonance has to stop.
— KAREN BEVIS, Cygnet.
Education
IT’S A sad state of affairs when higher education is used as a political football.
The deregulation debate, in my view provides a convenient excuse for all sides to do what they want to do anyway.
The current university management have pursued constant restructuring over the last three years resulting in hundreds of staff made redundant and it looks like this will continue, even though it is seriously affecting services to the students.
Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic suggests that de-regulation is some sort of panacea for the problems faced by UTAS, which are symptomatic of a grossly underfunded higher education system.
UTAS is a regional university wanting to compete with the big boys, but like all regional universities it will suffer under deregulation.
I think it is time university management became more realistic and invested in getting its basic administration systems right and building on the capabilities of its many dedicated staff.
Having said that, I have some sympathy with management of universities.
Funding for higher education needs to be increased as recommended by the Bradley review, but funds continue to be cut, forcing managers in a zero sum game of "robbing Peter to pay Paul".
I and my colleagues in the North work extremely hard to hold together an institution under pressure.
Nursing and education continues to subsidise many less profitable activities at the university, and to some degree we accept that reality.
But threats to close the North down or accept deregulation?
That's a Sophie’s choice if I've ever seen one.
— JOHN KENNY, Senior Lecturer Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania.