Seize the moment
NEVER let it be said that our Prime Minister lets a populist opportunity pass by. I suspect that as a pitch for the Hanson vote in the Senate that the tough stance on supposed terrorists has been announced and now after many years of known abuse of both young and old Aboriginal offenders in custody an expose by the ABC suddenly sparks the need for a Royal Commission.
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Sadly, a Royal Commission into the treatment of asylum seekers in the off-shore hell holes would not be anywhere popular enough to even warrant consideration.
A. Carter, Mowbray.
Don Dale Centre
GOOD on Malcolm Turnbull for calling a Royal Commission into the appalling events at the Don Dale centre in the NT. This time he didn't dither and showed that he can be strong.
Watching Four Corners last night one may be forgiven for thinking it was taking place in the US and that the people being tortured were terrorists. For a country like Australia to have a territory that condones such methods is shameful and for the Chief Minister to say he had no knowledge beggars belief.
The whole show up there should be disbanded and everything handed over to the federal government.
Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.
Refugees
RECENTLY I watched a show starring David Attenborough. In the show, David did a segment on the Japanese macaque, a small monkey, which lives in temperatures that fall below -20C, the macaque find comfort from this weather in volcanic springs, which hold an average temperature of 41C.
David said that only the most affluent monkeys and their offspring were allowed to use these springs. The monkeys assign a guard to make sure that the status quo remains. The show forced me to think about our thriving situation here in Australia.
Also my thoughts where with those in less affluent parts of the world that are facing persecution and therefore forced to seek asylum. At the moment Australia is ranked 63rd in the world for the number of refugees we accept into our country, (per capita). Are we Australians as uncompassionate and immoral as a group of monkeys?
Thomas Cole, South Launceston.
Australian’s shame
NEVER in my 70 plus years as a proud Australian have I felt ashamed of my country until witnessing the cold blooded treatment of children in custody in the Northern Territory graphically shown by the ABC’s 4 Corners program, and what is worse is that this will be shown around the world and lowering the opinion of all who view it of the “Australian lucky country”, an opinion which has taken many years to obtain, stemming from our lack of self esteem because of our convict roots and or heritage.
Another Royal Commission? Just round up all the perpetrators of this torture of these kids and punish them severely, including all those who knew of it and purposely suppressed it, and include a full enquiry into all similar institutions.
Don Davey, Launceston.
Solar Con job
THE government incentive to install solar power rises and falls, depending on how many people install systems. In other words, we have been conned in terms of solar not being efficient and sustainable.
My yearly bills have dropped by over two thirds, and my system has been paid for in the three years I have had it. Whats not to like? The problem is of course, they know if they stop digging coal, we have mass unemployment and the market they keep telling us they have in India will be lost. Which is all bulldust and short term, as India have stated that they also intend to embrace solar.
It’s all about the stock market and short-term profits for those who have investments in the coal industry.
