Life-saving Global Fund
Congratulations to Ross Hart on his maiden speech in federal parliament (Bass Labor MHR Ross Hart delivers first speech, September 1).
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So great to see he is looking out for the welfare of Tassie battlers. He has also showed concern for our international counterparts in the world's poorest communities, already expressing support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
This fund aims to end the three diseases as epidemics by 2030, and potentially saving up to eight million more lives within the next three years, pending adequate funding from world governments at its replenishment conference in two weeks.
Australia's contribution for this period equates to $300 million. I call on the Turnbull government to meet this amount, and demonstrate the kind of generosity and concern for the world's poorest that Mr Hart has already demonstrated in his short political career.
Marie Gregory-Naum, Austins Ferry.
Albert Namatjira art works
It's nearly 70 years since legendary Aboriginal Albert Namatjira captivated the country and indeed the world with his unique style of landscape watercolor painting, (depicting such scenes as the MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory) yet his works may be lost to insects boring into the canvas, dust settling over the works, and deterioration caused by no temperature control in the building where they are housed, that's if something isn't done soon.
Australia cannot afford at any cost to lose these iconic artworks to decay, which are displayed at the very birthplace of Aboriginal modern art, Hermannsburg (Ntaria) in the Territory. According to authorities, urgent funds are needed to save these national treasures; well let's hope that happens, so it doesn't become a national disgrace.
John Denne, Longford.
Meander River
THE state of the Meander River either side of Deloraine is an utter disgrace.
Choked with willows, siltation and every weed you could imagine. Full of man-made rubbish of every description. The recent record flood has exposed a multitude of man’s neglect. A shopping trolley here, a rotting cow here.
The townfolk don’t drink the water, it’s too polluted for them. So please spare a thought for the native platipi, fish, birds and animals relying on such slops for survival. Many of these natives also fall victim to roadkill, because we’ve built roads, cleared vegetation and fenced off access to their survival, for our own benefit.
A.R. Trounson, Needles.
Gardening column
THANK you for Noel Shaw’s helpful and informative gardening column, but Sunday, September 4 it nearly made me choke on my toast and marmalade. In short, I think his advice on the use of glyphosate is very ill-advised.
Appearing in the Sunday Examiner in March 2015 (Roundup cancer fears’ March 22) was a report on findings from the UN’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. According to IARC, Roundup (which contains glyphosate as a principle active ingredient) is “probably carcinogenic”, along with malathion and diazinon.
IARC also named tetrachlorvinphos and parathion as “possibly” carcinogenic. Erring on the side of caution would seem to be sound advice when it comes to the use of pesticides and herbicides. And as far as I know oxalis probably isn’t carcinogenic.
C. Luck, Ringarooma.
Backpacker tax
THERE are plenty of unemployed Australians who can pick fruit instead of backpackers. If employers arranged for a minibus to pick them up from the city.