Australia is so over-governed it’s farcical and apart from state government needing abolishment, the fact that there are 30-odd Tasmanian municipal councils catering to a mere 500,00 residents is appalling and a massive drain on taxpayers pockets.

But it will not change? Until the apathy that pervades our society receives a well earned jolt. So come on fellow citizens, voice your opinion and let’s put a stop to these “ snouts in the trough “ junkets.

PLEASE can someone tell why the word “voluntary” has been dropped. I seriously believe, as do many that if one’s life is close to ending, and they are just living on life support, if their wish had always been, and next of kin should know this, they should be allowed to go.

This would be voluntary euthanasia, not murder as some mainly religious people suggest. There are those who believe in a life after death and meeting their particular God, but most clear thinking people don’t have those beliefs and their wishes should be granted and their suffering ended voluntarily.

WHAT a sensible letter from Peter Godfrey (The Examiner, September 17) about the plebiscite. He’s quite correct, I’m sure, in saying that the average Australian very seldom thinks about same-sex marriage at all, as it doesn’t personally concern them, and they know that those whom it does personally concern have devised other strategies to cope with it.

It seems incredible that our government is thinking of spending $160 million on a non-binding opinion poll, and, even worse, is going to give an extra $7.5 million for the two sides to advertise their beliefs. Surely we elect our governments to make decisions and act for us, not to ask us what we would like them to do. But our current government is so indecisive that its current mantra must be “you lead, so we must follow”.