Fundraising
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LISTENING to the state and federal governments discussing fundraising shortfalls in all areas of government, my suggestion is that they approach the federal speaker Ms Bishop as she seems pretty good in fields of raising funds.
— MAX WELLS, Sorell.
Sharks
COULD the reason for increasing shark attacks be something to do with the depletion of fish in the fishing ground because of super trawlers?
It’s worth thinking about surely, for super trawlers really to take all.
— BETTY WORSLEY, Devonport.
Slipper
THE hypocrisy of the government is never better illustrated than the hounding from office of Speaker, Peter Slipper including the AFP conducting a criminal investigation and subsequent conviction, against which an appeal was successful.
According to the present Speaker, Bronwyn Bishop, she is only guilty of an error in judgement and repaying the ridiculously high charge is to be all she is required to do.
Her only regret is that her actions diverted attention away from the leader of the opposition. No apology required.
The ABC also admitted, for some reason, an error in judgement and “heads must roll” according to the Prime Minister.
Hard to figure isn’t it?
— A. CARTER, Mowbray.
GST
ONCE again we see our politicians unable to live within a budget, seeking to raise more revenue by increasing the GST to 15 per cent.
New Zealand did increase their GST to 12.5 per cent, but does Australia need to follow.
I think not.
Certainly some anomalies can be corrected, by broadening the base.
For example GST is charged on raw milk, then absorbed into the price of manufactured milk, rather than being shown in the price.
But federal government charges like company registration renewals etc. cools have GST added.
Thus with GST shown on milk and bread, being consistent with rules for manufactured products, plus government charges will add millions to the revenue.
However, vegetables, fruit and fresh meats should continue to be exempt from GST.
— JIM CAMPBELL, Ulverstone.
Climate
ALEXANDRA Humphries must live in a different world to the one I live in.
In her article (The Examiner, July 21) she states categorically “….. that although the science is settled…” referring obviously to her opinion that climate change is fait accompli, how does she respond to the statements made by Tim Flannery, when he said that we will not get the rains to fill the dams we have and now we have dams in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne running at over 80 to 90 per cent capacity.
Also Queensland and Victoria have mothballed desalination plants that are mothballed and costing taxpayers billions of dollars in maintenance costs just to sit there.
In addition, if one cares to go online one would find that India has plans to increase their own coal production so that could account for India reducing its reliance on coal imports and whilst China’s growth is slowing it still relies on coal for 68 per cent of its power plus hydro, nuclear and other forms of power generation.
But we in our infinite wisdom will not allow dams to be built for hydro which is a clean energy nor will nuclear be countenanced and wind, whilst it sounds good, is not reliable for total power generation so it has to be backed up with other forms of generation.
Much work needs to be done in this area, least of all by reporters who only spruik their own ideology and philosophy.
— KEN BALL, Trevallyn.
Como Cres
DO THE gurus who shut the access to Como Cres at Newstead understand why people were using the diversion. Obviously no.
If they have travelled up Hoblers Bridge Road or down David St to the light’s, they would understand.
The traffic lights are far too slow, if you are in a long line you can be there for five minutes plus. Not acceptable these days.
Why was this not tested before you shut the street off.
Bureaucrats in offices without windows need to get out into the real world.
— BRIAN HARPER, South Launceston.
Winter
AS a person experienced in homelessness, this time of year it seems like everyone wants to be your friend, Winter Relief appeals, CEO sleepouts etc.
But it’s a different story come summer, those same people who say they are about you through winter are nowhere to be seen.
I’d just like to remind those caring souls that summer can also produce an overnight low of minus five degrees.
Yes winter can be tough (my toothpaste has been frozen every morning lately, and it’s kept inside a bag, inside my car) but summer can be just as cruel sometimes.
— A. R. TROUNSON, Needles.
Politics
WHERE did our politicians go wrong?
We once had governments who cared for their population.
They planned for the future, consulted with the public regularly and in an intelligent manner.
Today they speak at you instead of to you.
They say a lot that is unintelligible using weasel words, referred to as “political speak”. Many are professional politicians, unfamiliar with having to face the reality of having to budget and allocating their finances, instead use entitlements as a continuous monetary reserve.
The Coalition appears autocratic, portrayed as puppets or apparatchiks, seemingly predisposed by big business, personal wealth or media popularity polls.
Labor seems to have ignored their core supporters and appear devoid of pragmatic policy becoming reactionary to individuals.
Greens transpire as dinosaurs with an endearment to embracing trees, talking to fishes and insects and longing for a return to the past.
Surely the answer must be more real life experiencing independent members, chosen by and answering to the people, instead of pandering to the party politic, media barons’ or wealthy individuals and corporations.
— WALLY REYNOLDS, Perth.
Heritage
LAUNCESTON has been named the garden city and we are fortunate to have such a picturesque place with historic significance due to the preservation of unique and interesting buildings and sites which speak of our early settlement.
Having visited Italy and Paris I witnessed many people paying to take photos of the buildings and churches there.
Last weekend my family walked along the riverbank past the Seaport with its recently built sympathetic architecture.
We were then affronted by the large concrete monolith - a block structure with no thought or style being constructed in the site of the Inveresk Railyards.
This site is frequented by many as they enjoy a weekend stroll to the Museum or view the city across the river including the old buildings which have character.
These buildings speak of a time when artisans and specialised trades people took time to make aesthetically pleasing and functional places that last.
In contrast, the concrete slabs and rapidly built structures which are being constructed have no real design - rather a functionality which could be found in any place in the world.
What was wrong with the original University only five minutes from the city centre which has purpose built areas for specialised education with millions of taxpayer money already spent?
Will the new behemoth remove the history and flavour of the city area?
What will become of the Alanvale site?
Is it part of a strategy to relocate more of our University faculties to Hobart?
Hopefully the developers will partly redeem themselves by integrating the existing railway and unique buildings and make some effort to landscape the area with trees and shrubs of worth, or even some native plants, or include something of Aboriginal significance rather than the modern trend of rows of ubiquitous flax plants.
— LEE BESWICK, Trevallyn.
Contrast
I AM almost ashamed to call myself an Australian after watching 15 minutes of television "From Braybrook to Bishop”.
Braybrook is a low economic suburb in Melbourne in other words, a word we hate a slum.
High rate of imprisonment, high crime rate, drug problems, low educational standards, inadequate housing and social problems galore.
Then there was the other, Bronwyn Bishop, the $5200 helicopter flight and costing us in expenses $800,000 a year.
It is completely outside community expectations, as well as out of touch with reality.
I fear she is not alone amongst our elected representatives.
On the same news, Tasmania’s homeless being turned away by charities to sleep in the freezing cold.
The whole sad business draws your attention to the obscenely wealthy, the five per cent whose cars, homes, dining out and wedding cost beyond belief.
I hope they give secretly to charities as there will be a judgement day.
I am reasonably well off, but my budget allows $5000 a year, the cost of one helicopter flight, for luxuries like holidays, dining out, magazines, donations and new clothes.
I think for many Australians today, Donald Horne’s "The Lucky Country” could now be called "Struggle Street”.
— MALCOLM SCOTT, Newstead.