Politics
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MY heart was breaking when I watched the poor MLCs stating how unappreciated they felt with people not being happy with them and what they do, topped off with the almost tear-jerking statement that the greater unwashed public don’t even know what the MLCs do.
Sorry, but if you want to accept cash from the public purse then you have got to expect flack.
To me it’s merited criticism of them.
— MAX WELLS, Sorell.
Heads must roll
RE: "Heads must roll at ABC"
What a change from a couple of days ago when the Prime Minister in question time was singing the ABCs praises.
The contrived situation where a political party seems to feel that they have the right to intimidate and threaten an independent broadcaster should be cause for alarm.
Is not the ABC independent of government?
Does this not mean that it is not answerable to government?
I am utterly disgusted by this latest attack on the ABC.
I hope all those who appreciate the ABC stand up and protect it.
We need dissenting voices, not yes men in our media.
— ELLA MILLER, Exeter.
Cyclists
IN the conflict between drivers and cyclists what hope does either of them have when the cyclist rides at night dressed all in black with no lights?
Imagine if a black motor vehicle went around at night with no lights.
They would be branded a threat to themselves and others and pulled up by the police, and rightfully so.
Is there some reason bike riders should be exempt?
— DAVIS SEECAMP, Launceston.
Power
ABOUT Neil Burdon's question about the drop in power prices, well my mother on the aged pension got a lovely letter telling her because our Prime Minister has axed the tax, ie carbon tax she will be better off a whole $80 a year.
Mum was besides herself with joy.
Such riches.
Then a letter from the power company, they are going to reclaim this bounty by upping the charges because of the tax going.
Can't win them all.
— PETER M. TAYLOR, Midway Point.
Heating
I WOULD like to reassure Ms S. Goebel (Letters, June 20, Heat Pump Woes) that Community Housing, who now control many former Housing Department properties, acted very quickly after the front page The Examiner story "Heat on Housing for Cold Properties" (June 19).
Thone call mid-morning of the day of publication.
By lunchtime the same day a heat pump had been installed and she was sitting in her lounge room 'toasty warm' and breathing easier.
I visited her in her home today and she was both very grateful and very warm wishing to thank Community Housing for what they had done and so soon.
— DR ANDREW JACKSON, Northern Suburbs Medical Service, Mowbray.
Salaries
I HAVE had a long held respect for Tasmania's Legislative Council until viewing the ABC Tasmanian nightly news (July 24) with regards to MP salary increases.
To pass legislation effectively enabling MPs to interfere with an independent process is one thing.
But to claim that an MP is vulnerable to job insecurity, in my view, is not justification to give themselves power to veto the Industrial Commissions decision.
That is absurd.
In fact, almost as absurd as justifying it by comparing our democratic society to that of countries like Libya and Syria under the influence of ISIS, as Western Tiers independent MLC Greg Hall did.
To suggest what MPs do for a living gives them the right to veto an independent decision on pay outcomes is nothing less than a slap in the face for all working Tasmanians.
It's no wonder, as claimed by Apsley independent MLC Tania Rattray that some Tasmanians don't understand what MPs do.
Because we don't.
— AARON TURNER, Hadspen.
Pensions
WHAT a brilliant piece from Barry Prismall on June 24.
The present attack upon the incomes of self funded retirees is the outcome of unusually low interest rates, with the deeming rates currently between 1.75 per cent and 3.25 per cent.
As a result people with around $1 million are temporarily able to supplement their depleted incomes, an entitlement they will lose without any need for legislation as soon as interest rates rise, as they surely will.
So those affected by the current interest rates will draw a small part pension for a short time.
The new legislation will at least tempt these people to spend an additional $500,000 or more on the family home, thereby establishing a part pension entitlement greater than that which they received before the legislation, and likely to continue indefinitely.
The new legislation is counter-productive.
— M. CHUGG, Prospect.
Children
I AM very sad to see the Catholic Church using innocent children as couriers to hand deliver your message on marriage equality.
Wasn’t it enough to deliver the message directly to adults at Mass last weekend.
“Don’t Mess With Marriage” is a publication that will create unnecessary conflict in families.
How do you expect children of same sex parented families to feel delivering this sort of material to their parents?
As an organisation funded to the tune of 80 per cent by the public purse, you are choosing to act in a non-productive and totally inappropriate manner.
Every child deserves to have their ‘normal’ valued and respected.
You are attempting to remove this and creating conflict .
Respect for all is the heading of your “Don’t Mess with Marriage” brochure.
Does that include all people or just those you prefer?
— DEIDRE MURRAY, Chair person Rainbow Communities Tas Inc.