Marriage
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SINCE the US Supreme Court did not come up with the original definition of marriage, God did, how can they redefine it? Same with Australia.
— JACK SONNEMANN, Lucaston.
Abbott
IT IS really amazing to hear Prime Minister Tony Abbott talking about "heads should roll" even though it is an expression.
I don't think with all the beheadings going on lately, he of all people, should use this expression.
— WILLEM RAAK, Clarence Point.
Q&A
WITH respect, I disagree with Eva Miller’s (The Examiner, June 25) point of view in regards to June 22 Q&A program, as in my humble opinion a grave error in judgement was made by the ABC in daring to provide this "self confessed” and "convicted would-be terrorist” with transport, access and a platform for what is essentially a "public forum".
— DON DAVEY, Launceston.
Corporations
WHAT a week for the federal government, making decisions that make you wonder whose side they are actually on.
Last year a senate committee strongly recommended a royal commission into the way banks and various advisers went about investing ordinary people’s money in various schemes.
This committee saw and heard compelling evidence that serious action needed to be taken.
So this week in the senate they voted against the recommendation once again indicating how corporations control governance of the people by the politicians.
It is another shameful episode.
— PETER M. TAYLOR, Midway Point.
Launceston City Council
I WOULD like to give the Launceston City Council an accolade.
A few weeks ago I rang to say that the Trevallyn shopping centre roundabout was in a disgusting state and the one at the bottom of Bald Hill Road where half of the blue pacific had disappeared.
A couple of weeks later I received a phone call from a very nice man to tell me that they would be doing work on them.
Since then the awful vegetation on the side of the road near Kings Bridge has been 'tamed' and the Bald Hill Road roundabout has had a facelift.
I guess next is the small, weed-infested one at the shopping centre.
As Trevallyn Road is one of the roads tourists use to get to the Gorge and Trevallyn Dam area, it's good to know that now it will look good.
Thanks Launceston City Council.
— GLENNIS SLEURINK, Launceston.
Drugs
IF PROVEN beyond doubt our footballers are taking or involved in the taking of forbidden drugs, it should be an immediate life ban from ever playing any code again
We spoil them rotten with large salaries and treat them with respect and adulation.
And the young look up, and revere them like gods and mimic their every action.
The flawed ones think they can walk on water and betray the very people who help pay for their lavish lifestyle.
Zero tolerance for idiots should be the policy, protect the vulnerable young from the glorifying of drugs, that kills.
We keep on making excuses for these highly paid egotistical athletes that taint the game.
Party drugs such as ice and cocaine are unacceptable in our sport and should be eradicated.
— PETER DODDY, Trevallyn.
AFL
THE AFL is creating a new game of handball and stoppages.
The attempt to speed up the game has backfired, they are destroying the spirit of the game where the ball player, including ruck-men with eyes on the ball, are not being protected.
Stoppages and boundary throw-ins are taking valuable time away from the real contests the game was designed for.
Perhaps the AFL should contact St Patrick’s reserves side who kicked 56 goals at the weekend, showing how goals can be scored going straight down the middle of the ground.
— HUGH BOYD, Launceston.
Local government
TASMANIA must stop thinking local government and progress onto regional government.
Local government leaders must take note of the general demand of the Tasmanian community to get rid of most of our present councils in the name of state progress.
State government is increasingly having to take the lead on matters that should have been managed by local government.
Firstly, 25 years ago, 20 Tasmanian councils were abolished.
Secondly, with the shocking state of the state’s water and sewerage services, the state had to create a separate organisation to provide a modern service, which most council’s proved unable of doing.
Thirdly, the state has had to display common-sense in putting together a single planning scheme for the state.
Leading economist Saul Eslake (The Examiner, June 26) says the state can do with less councils but council leaders appear to have trouble accepting any practical suggestions on how to move the state management into the 21st century.
— BILL CHUGG, Campbell Town.
Marriage
UNLIKE the Irish referendum on gay marriage the recent decision in the US in favour of marriage `equality’ (for which all US states must now abide by) was made by just nine persons of the US Supreme Court in a split decision 5-4.
Let’s face it, at least in Ireland opponents couldn’t argue with the decision for it was the people’s choice.
Yet by contrast in the US, nine people making a decision on such a contentious issue on behalf of a nation is absurd, leaving room for conflicting views to surface.
Top marks to our Prime Minister Tony Abbott who is unfazed by the decision and states his views on marriage; being that between a man and a woman, haven’t changed.
— ROBERT LEE, Summerhill.
Shorten
NOW that Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has been caught out, big time, lying about his involvement during the fiasco years of the Rudd-Gillard government, he must immediately resign.
To make it worse, Mr Shorten only admitted to his deceit due to it being found out during the screening of the Killing Season on tv and not because he willingly came forward any time within the last two years.
Any Labor supporter who thinks Mr Shorten would make suitable material for the Lodge, must have rocks in their head, because if he’s already been caught out once, then what else is he hiding from his backers?
I trust those who scream their heads off every second day in their demands that Prime Minister Tony Abbott resign, for some trifling reason, will now turn their skewered vision in the direction of Mr Shorten, demanding the same.
So far, their silence is deafening.
What hypocrites they are.
— CARMEN FRELEK, Launceston.
Export
TASMANIAN exporters must be most concerned with the changes being talked about with the port of Melbourne.
One also must have concerns about Port Phillip Bay, and the need for dredging of channels and widening the entrance, as ships get ever larger, all with sinister environmental implications.
The time appears ripe now to look at Hastings, Westernport, and the potential it offers for cheaper, more accessible shipping, catering especially for entrepot purposes.
The ideal would be for the Commonwealth to own and develop this port as it has implications for the entire south-eastern seaboard and would service possibly four states.
Surely an issue for government politicians in Tasmania to pursue.
— DICK JAMES, Launceston.
Terrorism
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott may not be in everyone's jar of sweeties, but to me with the Islam issue and refugees, he is so right in what he has been saying.
If he fails to take action everyone would be at him if Australia becomes a place of terror.
With his saying, "Death Cult is on its way to Australia", he should not back down to appease the onslaught of opinion against his views.
What makes a good leader is one takes action to protect Australians.
The trouble is we already have a huge amount already sitting in the wings for the right time to strike.
One does not need terrorist training in Australia when they can get it in Indonesia.
One does not get to hear all the gore in what is happening and Mr Abbott would have lots of information that we do not hear about.
Your future and your children's safety relies on your good judgement.
— WALTER CHRISTY, Shearwater.