Unions
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TREVOR Gauld (Letters, November 16), states unions finances are disclosed publicly each year.
Not so according to the Royal Commission into Trade Union corruption.
— B. A. ELLIS, West Launceston.
Cricket
DID anyone else notice the demeanour of Ross Taylor, the New Zealand batsman, on passing the 200 run mark?
No running the length of the pitch, no jumping in the air, no punching the air, no kissing the New Zealand emblem, just acknowledgement of the crowd and a handshake from his partner.
I found it very refreshing.
— K. B. DAVIS, East Launceston.
Petrol
AFTER spending 18 weeks on the mainland and buying diesel in Victoria, NSW and Queensland we noted that diesel was always around 10 cents a litre cheaper than unleaded.
On returning to Tasmania in September we noted that it is still around 1-2 cents higher than unleaded.
Will the report currently under review on fuel prices by Dr Michael Schaper mentioned in (The Examiner, November 14) let us know who is making this extra 10 cents a litre difference in price between diesel and unleaded.
— VERONICA ROWBOTTOM, Cressy.
Attacks
ONCE more the world is reeling from a terror attack involving people innocently going about their business.
The Paris attacks where scores of people have been left dead and injured is an affront to humanity and to all the values held dear by people of goodwill throughout the world.
This further attempt in France to destabilise and undermine democracy must be met not only with waves of revulsion but also with a steely determination to never allow terrorists to have their objectives realised
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference must continue to be held in Paris from November 30 to December 11.
This event will not only be the opportunity to address the crucial question of how to address human-induced climate change, but will also provide a unique opportunity for the leaders of the nations represented to affirm their solidarity and support for the French people and visitors caught up in this crime – particularly those who have died and those who have been injured, including Hobart teenager Emma Grace Parkinson.
These murderers of innocent victims have nothing to do with religion, but are simply a group of thugs who relish terrorising the population for the benefit of territorial gains and the dissemination of a warped ideology.
The world gathering in Paris will help affirm that terrorists will never succeed in spreading a climate change of fear and anxiety.
— ED SIANSKI, West Moonah.
Climate change
JOHN Coulson (The Examiner, November 7) says the climate is changing, "always has and always will".
What he omits in his statement is the unprecedented rate of change, (World Meteorological Organization-2013), with the planet warming faster since the turn of the century than ever recorded.
The likely rate of change will be at least 10 times that of any climate shift in the last 65 million years. (Stanford-2013, Diffenbaugh/Field-2013).
"Ecosystems have responded to a few degrees of temperature change over thousands of years", now that change is "to occur over decades" (Marcott-2013).
With regard to the emotive issue that is climate change, it is very important to do your own research on the subject.
Indeed, do not take my word or other correspondents on this subject.
But please ensure that what you read has been properly peer reviewed.
This process reinforces the veracity of the research.
— MARTIN HAY, Rosevears.
Drugs
WOMEN and adolescents are being sent to interstate drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities because of a shortage of services within Tasmania (The Examiner, November 16).
That’s only if you can afford it.
What happens to those who can’t afford it?
Pathways Tasmania offers a Hobart-based addiction program Live Free Tassie, but it is open only to young men.
Why?
A Launceston couple hope to open a dedicated rehab centre in the former Meander Primary School to deal with the issue.
Let’s hope they’re not as selective with who they offer treatment.
— A. R. TROUNSON, Needles.
Australia Post
ON Wednesday morning, November 4, I took a card into the counter at the George Town Post Office.
I asked how much for a stamp, the address was checked (a post office box in George Town 7253), it was a standard sized card so no extra was required.
I paid for the stamp and left it with the staff member and left.
The card arrived at it's destination, the above PO box on the following Tuesday, November 10.
The card only had to be taken out the back of the post office and posted into the private box, yet it took a week to be delivered.
I queried the delay in delivery, from the front counter to the back office, and was told that unless I specify that it is for local delivery, all mail goes to Hobart for processing and then is returned for delivery.
Now I'm no rocket scientist, but should it really take a week to deliver something posted in the local area for delivery in that local area...especially given that the address was checked at the front counter.
— JANET McMULLEN, George Town.
ISIS
EVER wondered why a lad born in Australia would want to become a violent radical and join groups such as ‘' ISIS” ?
Lack of parenting is one answer.
Monday’s Four Corners (ABC) showed some of the violent video games most popular with young men, with “killing” as the main objective.
Killing, in every way possible, but mostly with guns such as AK rifles, rocket launchers and so on.
Parents should not allow such viewing.
Better still, the government should ban such videos that depict this violence, just as John Howard did did with guns.
Problem is this ”criminality “ generates huge profits, and profits are much more important than a few lives.
— DON DAVEY, Launceston.
Invasion
SPEAKING of the evil Islamic terrorists who killed in Paris, The Examiner rightly said ‘our world is not for some crazy, deranged extremists to hijack and subjugate, in pursuit of warped totalitarianism’.
But, the editorial could equally have been directed at the Americans and their allies who stupidly invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, killing thousands of innocents and thereby creating the vacuum that this new group has filled.
Put troops on the ground?
It will take a lot deeper thinking than that to find a solution.
— MICHAEL MANSELL, Launceston.
Quadrant
I WAS rather appalled when I read about the plans for the Quadrant Mall.
I work in this area , and people are constantly saying what a pleasant area it is, to sit and eat, or just contemplate life.
Why modernise what is a rather unique area.
If the cobbles are a problem, why not re-grout and clean them.
The seats and lights suit the area, particularly with the decorations to suit.
Save our money and leave this area as it is.
— CHRISTINE BEST, Launceston.
Court costs
THE editorial in (The Examiner, November 13) was spot on, suggesting that criminals should contribute to court costs of $50 or $150.
Someone has to pay, why should it always be the long suffering taxpayers.
The decision to commit the crime was theirs, so they should at least cover some of the costs.
As for the Legislative Council voting it down when it was part of the government’s agenda that it took to last election, I can only say how left wing some MLCs have become.
It is on record that our local member voted against the legislation, so he will never get my vote in the future.
We are fast moving towards a society where criminals have more rights that the majority who are law abiding.
— GRAEME BARWICK, Riverside.
Border protection
THOSE that criticise mandatory detention of asylum seekers that come to Australia by illegal means (such as by people smugglers supplying boats) must now understand with the recent events in Paris why Australia must continue to take a hard line on border protection.
Seekers of asylum (and this includes those migrating across Europe to other countries) can no longer expect to be welcomed with open arms by the country of their destination.
This latest Paris terror attack has now made certain of that.
To the people of France, we feel you pain; continue to sing your anthem with pride for you are a nation the rest of the world have always been proud of, an icon of democracy.
— ROBERT LEE, Summerhill.