Crime
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LAUNCESTON police are using a large electronic sign to urge people to lock their cars overnight (The Examiner, August 27).
Inspector Michael Johnston said ``We have placed the sign on busier roads because we want the message to be the last thing people see driving home after work before they get home”.
And it could very well be the last thing motorists see, causing a distraction to motorists at the busiest and most dangerous locations.
— A. R. TROUNSON, Needles.
Politics
IT WAS a wonderful feeling to come away from a political meeting feeling optimistic, full of hope and pride.
Yesterday, along with approximately 100 others, I attended the gathering to introduce the new Australian Greens Leader, Richard Di Natale.
He`d been met by a large enthusiastic crowd in Hobart, and again in Deloraine.
Here is an intelligent man, doctor and farmer, with a very positive agenda for Australia, and Tasmania`s future.
Humanity towards asylum seekers, the elderly, sick, pensioners and those in urgent need of medical help.
Also, like the majority of thinking Australians, embracing global warming that would bring our country, out of the dark ages and in alignment with the rest of the world.
Fair, practical financial solutions to our, so-called debt problems.
Our Liberal Prime Minister is bent on leading our country, not only backwards, but also in a very dangerous direction........as for the Labor Party, sadly, too weak to do anything about it.
Keep hope Tasmanians, the Greens have 21 per cent of the vote, Peter Whish-Wilson, Nick McKim, Carol Beaumont, and Andrea Dawkins.
The big shoes Richard had to fill.....are already well on the way there.
— JULIE YATES, Launceston.
Flag
THE New Zealand Prime Minister John Keys rightly claims that many New Zealanders cannot distinguish their flag from that of Australia’s.
Forty designs have been prepared, one of which for acceptance by vote.
Some New Zealanders believe this will happen because they are "more socially progressive than Australians”.
I would add further to that.
Sixteen of the 20 Commonwealth Nations have changed their flags.
The Scots, Irish, Welsh and indeed the English have their own flag.
It is time for Australia to shake off much of what has been (for Indigenous Australians no less), a very sad colonial past in the main.
Replace the Union Jack with the Southern Cross, the remainder of the flag to incorporate the colours of our first Australian flag (black, red and yellow) with the Commonwealth coat of arms central to that.
Grow up Australia, change also the date (Australia Day) and the constitution (recognition).
It is inevitable that these changes will happen.
— SYD EDWARDS, Launceston.
Economy
A BASIC principle to a successful, healthy economy is to maintain the circulation of capital throughout the community, this benefits small business guaranteeing employment.
This is achieved through people spending.
Working and middle class individuals contribute most to the circulation.
Working class have little residual capital and consider it futile to attempt any savings, so spend all of their income.
Middle class contribute approx 80 per cent of their residual capital, investing the remainder.
The more wealthy citizens have most of what they need and are seldom impulse spenders of which many are those small business beneficiaries.
Being aware of these simple facts, one would think the government would go out of their way to protect these contributions, especially as they allege to be facing financial head winds.
Why then is the Government hell bent on crucifying these people?
In the past two years they have increased tax to these workers.
They now seek to remove their penalty rates, lower wages and increase the GST.
This will have the effect of removing cash from the economy and exacerbate the financial dilemma they claim is looming.
— WALLY REYNOLDS, Perth.
Nursing
I READ with interest the list of graduates in (The Examiner, August 22).
I was particularly interested in the wide range of nursing graduate certificates and diplomas being offered.
I think I counted at least 12 different fields.
With our relatively small hospitals, and small number of patients in the specialty, how can they be offered?
Following a graduation as a registered nurse in 1961, I did a six month certificate in Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat nursing at Melbourne’s Eye and Ear hospital.
The whole hospital is devoted to the speciality.
We were given lectures by a specialist sister tutor and the Professors of Opthomology and Otorhinlaryntology and supervised in practice by specialist ward sisters.
Before getting the certificate, we had to sit both state and hospital written examinations, as well as oral examinations by the professors.
As well, ward performance was assessed with month long placements in operating theatres and outpatients etc.
I would hope that nurses gaining a Graduate Diploma in Oncology Nursing, for example, would have been seconded to both the Austin and Peter McCallum hospitals in Melbourne, where fantastic developments are taking place in this field.
— MALCOLM SCOTT, Newstead.
Religion
MR ROB Ward, spokesman for Access Ministries, today protested the Victorian Government’s removal of religious indoctrination from the formal primary school timetable.
He based his claim on the idea that we older citizens have been exposed to the Christian claimed ideas illustrated in the stories of the Good Samaritan, David and Goliath and of course the Golden rule, and so also should future generations.
In true religious cherry-picking style he failed to mention the biblical myths described in Genesis, unhistorical stories such as Moses, Noah’s Ark, Jonah and the whale and people rising from the dead.
Nor did he mention Old Testament homophobia or the second-class status of women.
He further said that the bible stories should be introduced in primary and comparative religious studies was suitable for older children.
I believe it was a Jesuit who said, “Give me the boy for seven years and I will show you the man”.
Yes and I’ll bet he will be confused, conflicted, and probably fully infused with guilt and shame.
He will have to unlearn unscientific nonsense and discard ancient morality to become a well-adjusted member of a modern thinking society.
Well done Victoria.
— M. FYFE, Riverside.
AFL
I HAVE to full heartedly agree with Martin Flanagan in regard to the lip service we get from AFL, Gill Mc Laughlin and the AFL itself.
They have relied for too long now on participation figures and the proud football heritage that was once evident in this great state, but not so anymore.
To say we can’t afford a team is an easy out Gill, too many for too long have said the same.
If it is truly a National competition, then you would have supported us and put your big bucks behind a Tassie team.
They used to say the same thing about Tassie with the Cricket, that we could not support a team and not have the talent base.
Just check out our cricket record Gill.
The local competition is followed by only the staunchest of supporters and members and that is dwindling every year.
Clubs all round this state are folding and the support is not forthcoming.
The junior numbers are decreasing each year to the point of some sides not being able to fill all age groups, but the soccer numbers are continually on the rise.
Surely Gill, I implore you and the AFL, to just check with a few different qualified football people this time, who are not in your employment, to get the real story about the current situation of football in this proud and great state that we love, without fear of reprisal.
Ask the clubs themselves directly how they see the future of Australian Rules football in this state! I can’t just say football anymore as soccer is gaining in popularity each year, and how a Tasmanian AFL side would help all clubs involved and get the junior participation rates back up.
Don’t just sit back and pick the best talent out of our state and leave us high and dry, it’s time to start giving something back to what once was a proud and thriving Australian Rules State.
We need fresh people with fresh ideas and that starts with the CEO.
For Tasmania to go forward, we need someone that the general community, different football leagues, the club presidents and the players have confidence, trust and belief in.
Give us a team to call our own and unite us Gill, you have the power, you have the ability, but do you have the will?
— JAMES BIRD, Launceston.