Gay marriage
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MANY politicians and Australians alike believe we should denounce the Queen as our Head of State.
Relax.
We are now rehearsing for a new Head of State.
The Pope.
— WALLY REYNOLDS, Perth.
Tramway history
IN reference to the article (The Examiner, July 3) relating to the history of Launceston trams, one outstanding blemish on its recent history is the decision made three weeks ago to lock out an overwhelming majority of a dedicated and long serving voluntary workforce.
A security guard still refuses entry to the workshop facility and the museum to the very people who have created everything that exists on the site.
The silence from the committee is deafening and still no explanation has been forthcoming.
— KERRY THOMPSON, Western Junction.
Insane law
ANY moral superiority the ALP thinks it may have over the Coalition is simply a fool’s paradise following their abhorrent support of the legislation concerning children in detention camps.
This is new low for the ALP and they should ashamed.
This new secretive legislation to stifle child abuse notifications will result in some dreadfuls thing happening.
The stupidity of the legislation allowing a person to be gaoled for two years for reporting that insufficient women’s sanitary items are being supplied highlights the totalitarism style of law this represents, what would Gough think?
— MAX WELLS, Sorell.
Careful wording
TASMANIAN Liberal Senator Eric Abetz has begun his public awareness campaign to let everyone know they are going to kill any legislation of a same-sex union bill passing.
His public comments are crafted to indicate all the studies he has seen condemn such unions, but of course no one has asked the children.
The studies no doubt commissioned by the Christian right would be soothing to the Coalition sensitivities, but something is amiss here.
No mention of the religious core being as upset at the conditions for children in detention centres, no mention of the amount of couples who are simply appalling parents.
— PETER TAYLOR, Midway Point.
Commitment
I HAD two friends, one I will call TG as he was a theatre guy, the other SG as he was a security guard.
They had been together for 30 years when TG was diagnosed with cancer.
When he was in intensive care, SG was not allowed in to see him as TG's sister insisted she was next of kin.
She also sued and took all of TG's property despite the fact that TG and SG had worked for it together.
This is one of the reasons we need marriage equality.
A civil ceremony does not cover the rights available to other people.
Surely if two people commit to each other that is all that matters.
— MICHAEL HISCOCK, Richlands, Queensland.
Elections
I NOTE with particular interest lawyer Ross Hart being pre-selected to represent Labor against incumbent Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic at the next federal election.
Does a lawyer understand the real world outside legal speak?
The common worker?
The electorates day to day needs?
Mr Hart mentions that Mr Nikolic has aligned himself alongside Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Isn’t that what we would expect?
Hasn’t Mr Nikolic subsequently produced many deliverables since coming into the position with the Prime Minister facilitating funding for Bass and coming here personally to deliver it on a number of occasions?
And might I ask, who will Mr Hart align himself with?
Bill Shorten?
A political dead man walking with no vision for our country?
— TONY GRIGGS, Flinders Island.
Economy
BEHOLD I tell you a mystery.
While the world is watching Greece, something very strange is happening in New Zealand.
New Zealand recently had an economic restructure raising its GST and over-hauling its welfare system.
Some economists held it up as an example for Australia to follow.
For a nanosecond it worked.
One Australian dollar 99.6 cents New Zealand.
Today the Australian dollar buys 1.13 New Zealand dollars.
Nothing much has happened to the Australian dollar, so what is happening across “The Ditch” in New Zealand?
As far as the Greek situation is concerned, I doubt if it will have much effect on Australia, maybe an influx of Greeks from Greece into Melbourne, which already has more Greeks than Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece.
— MALCOLM SCOTT, Newstead.
Marriage
NONE of Tasmania’s seven federal Liberal MPs have publicly declared support for same-sex marriage.
However, Braddon Liberal MHR Brett Whiteley said the matter should be subject to a “community vote”.
I applaud Mr Whiteley for joining with Senator Jacqui Lambie in calling for a referendum-style vote, advising the other “two Amigos” to take a leaf out of their colleagues book.
To all politicians, both state and federal, whatever party (including independents) they belong to, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz, Corey Bernadi and 50 per cent of the Coalition firmly attached to the Christian right, you would be wise to consider some facts.
Polls have shown that around 78 per cent of Australians support marriage equality.
Australia lags most other “free world” countries on this issue.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says “the government’s job is to focus on things we were elected for”.
I suggest that as Mr Whiteley has said, the first and only focus for all politicians is to listen to the people and ensure their voices are heard in parliament, and thus be one with them.
It has become more than just a “talking point” Prime Minister, end the discrimination now.
A country is judged by the way it treats its own minority groups.
— SYD EDWARDS, Launceston.
IVF
IN relation to the incredibly successful IVF program many men and women have donated their sperm and eggs on the strict condition that they remain anonymous for all time.
This is a fair request, and helps IVF clinics to boost donor numbers.
Yet now as those that have been born to IVF are becoming older themselves, there are several questions that need addressing.
Should not those that have been born from reproductive technologies have a right to know, upon request, who their biological mother or father is, even if their biological parent has requested their own identity never be revealed.
It is discrimination or ethically wrong for those requesting, receive an answer to the effect “We are not able to do that”.
Whose rights should be protected?
You tell me.
— ROBERT LEE, Summerhill.
No rocks
BASS Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic stating that anyone who supports same sex marriages has rocks in their heads is insulting people and their rights to think on their own and to support what they choose.
Does he not support happiness?
How would this effect him personally?
What I would like to know is what is the difference between couples living together for decades and sealing their union?
It's not good to see that Prime Minister Tony Abbott has such a hold on his party that anything he doesn't support, his counterparts don't support.
That is unless it's scaring the people with terrorism talks all the time.
It's the change of time now, things are much different than the hide behind closed doors days.
Mr Nikolic, how does two people of the same gender sealing their union and living the remainder of their lives happily in their own homes effect anyone?
After all, they where already living together, many for a very long time with no effect on everyday society.
The only difference between marriage and living together is one piece of paper.
Everyone has to right to agree or disagree with this, but this is merely sealing a union, nothing more, nothing less.
— SUSAN GOEBEL, Invermay.
Marriage
AS FAR as I am aware same-sex partner unions are as legally binding as heterosexual unions but if this is not the case and a legislative motion was put before parliament and passed in the affirmative, would same-sex couples require that the word marriage be included in their demands?
Marriage has always been between a man and a woman.
This word means a lot to many heterosexual couples who have lived as a family, created children together and watched as their children had children of their own.
Two men cannot produce a child, two women cannot produce a child.
A third person is required and that is where the word marriage does not go.
It is between a man and a woman.
To take the word marriage in my mind is a selfish act that achieves nothing.
I have many friends who are gay and most agree with me that the word marriage is a step too far.
The same-sex lobby has taken the word gay, rainbow and now wants the word marriage.
Come up with your own word.
Please don’t disrespect the meaning of the word marriage?
— B. A. ELLIS, West Launceston.