It appears that some councils have maximised this financial windfall to manage their finances better while others see it as an opportunity to increase ratepayer borrowings.

Accolades to the former, but the latter appears conveniently oblivious to the fact that the same group are still expected to pay the dramatically increased costs being levied by TasWater.

Unfortunately, the paying group remains predominantly ratepayers.

IT KEEPS coming back to haunt us. That is the C.H. Smith building. I think that the heritage people would like to see the eyesore remain in Charles Street.

I have previously written about this. I am 81-years-old and was born here. I have been abroad and I still love Launceston.  But ...

CAN I suggest Malcolm McCulloch reads the Greens’ forestry policy. When he does perhaps he will understand that far from being opposed to the industry, the Greens do in fact support forestry. (The Examiner, August 9).

What the Greens oppose are brutal forestry practices that result in long-term devastation and barren landscapes.

The Greens have a vision for a forestry industry that shows far more respect for the resource being harvested and its workers, and an understanding that attitudes have changed, and so have global markets - so the industry must adapt accordingly if it is to survive.

The Greens’ proposals could have seen a revitalised and diversified forestry industry established, but the stubborn refusal of both our government and forestry industry leaders to recognise the need for such changes has instead cost this state millions, to the detriment of our public services such as health, hospitals and education.

Rather than assuming there is a need for heavy industry like the controversial pulp mill to see us out of the economic doldrums, a far better way forward for Tasmania is to continue to embrace and support those smaller to medium-sized industries and businesses in agriculture, tourism, the arts for example, which are using our natural resources in a more sustainable and respectful way better suited to 21st century demands.

IT IS easy to see why the LGBT community does  not want a plebiscite. They have run a very successful campaign to stifle any contradictory discussion.

The media has helped. Anyone who disagrees is ignorant or even worse, unreasonable. Look, for example, at the poor Archbishop of Hobart, daring to offer his church’s attitude.

In a plebiscite, the opposite opinion will have to be mentioned. Oh, no, we can’t allow that.

A plebiscite is the most democratic action possible. A result will clear the air one way or another.

It beats all the news polls. Look at the results in Ireland. No news poll would have predicted that. 

MORE money for the Midland Highway; this time between South of Perth and Symmons Plains. Surely it would make more sense to divert the millions of dollars towards upgrades of statewide potable water supplies.