When he had to stop, he proceeded to tell us that, as we weren't a "Mack truck", he apparently had every right to pass us, despite the sign suggesting "no overtaking or passing". One assumes he would not have done so if we were in a Mack truck.

It's difficult to say what he would have done if we'd been driving a similar small car as he was, but I can only assume the worst. His suggestion that we should use the footpath would have been hard - it's a one-lane bridge. There was no footpath.

I'm not sure if the driver of this car has ever been on a one-lane bridge when a car has attempted this manoeuvre, but it's pretty scary and dangerous. Regardless of the fact that this is against the law, I think perhaps driver attitude is the real issue here.

NO SURPRISE that Kazakhstan outperforms Australia in maths and science as long as physical education trained teachers are retired to teach maths and science when they get too old to bounce basketballs. Same applies to English as speech and drama teachers take over. Completely disproportionate number of both represented in school administration encourages ongoing dumbing down.

AN organisation, Safe Pathways, given $240,000 to look after a 12-year-old for six months is enough to employ a team of full-time carers, new clothes every week, fees for a top private school and  three restaurant meals a day and still have plenty of money left over at the end of it.

But this child attended a free public school, had inadequate clothing and was cared for by a staff member in her small flat. It's no surprise that economic vultures circle the government ready to pick over the carcass of any neglected issues dead to government oversight.

But it is the government's fault for swinging the doors open and inviting a feeding frenzy on taxpayers’ money; Safe Pathways gouging the taxpayers for $70 million to look after a handful of children who have to get their clothes from charities and beg for food.

The money given to this organisation was more than enough to cover all the state's wards in abject luxury. If ever a government wanted to demonstrate incompetence and an inability to monitor spending this is it, they should hang their heads in shame.

I FULLY support the concerns raised regarding the current works being carried out on roadside grass verges on highways around the state.

Contact has been made with the Infrastructure Minister relaying widespread community concerns with the nature of this year’s cut and the decision by the contracted provider to undertake a one strip cut effectively leaving significant amounts of long grasses on our verges.

Unfortunately these concerns are not shared and my information is that the instruction from the highway maintenance contract holder doesn’t allow for the previous level of cutting to be carried out. We know this raises a serious safety issue as the exceptionally good growing season has delivered an abundance of growth.

I would expect Tasmania Fire Service and local government to have concerns. I would urge any community members to contact the Minister’s office and add their voice to the issues that have been highlighted around the hazard of fire, safety for drivers and the aesthetics for those travelling around our state.