Wonderful when your commission is soaring, not so wonderful for the people who bear these increased costs. Although I believe that Mr Blacklow was spruiking the commercial market, this does impact on the private market as well, the outcome is house prices climb and the average working people find it increasingly difficult to purchase a home of their own.

Whilst our prices don’t approach Sydney or Melbourne, $1 million or more, was not long ago an unheard of price in Launceston, now to our dismay they are more commonplace. Negative gearing in turn must impact the market, imagine if the benefits of this were repealed, there would be glut of houses on the market and the rule of supply and demand would lower the prices.

Ron Baines, Kings Meadows.

BEST wishes to George Town and West Tamar councils, who appear to be approaching the task of working together for a possible merger in a well considered manner - endeavouring to efficiently deliver services for their municipal areas in future.

Although Launceston council desires being the head quarters of a greater northern council, which would be good for the city and suburbs, the missing element is sound evidence (so far) that rural outskirts would be equally blessed or perhaps become a lost voice in a very large corporate business.

Meanwhile, (The Examiner, April 8) Launceston must be the only council body with city status regularly whinging about neighbours who are not city-dwelling ratepayers, who cross their boundaries using Launceston’s city infrastructure and community facilities.

This small-minded attitude is so unhelpful regarding merger proposals. How much community infrastructure in Launceston was wholly financed by city ratepayers, and which facilities have been established with public dollars from state and/or federal government investments and grants, etc?

Maybe Launceston council would be entitled to set up toll gates to ensure outsiders pay a fee to visit the city for business, shopping, have a coffee or dine at restaurants or attend sports events.

O G Parish, Sidmouth.

THE EXAMINER front page (April 12) on the state’s public health system exaggerates not one bit.

In April 2015 I received a cardiac stent, and was re-admitted to the angiography department at the Launceston General Hospital in March 2016 with chest and left arm pain. The angiogram revealed in stent stenosis and I was referred to cardiac rehabilitation for a course of exercises and lectures.

This department is so badly understaffed, caring as it does for the entire North of the state, that it was only towards the end of February this year that I was finally admitted for assessment, finishing the eight-week course two weeks ago.

Like so much of our public health system, the LGH accident and emergency, angiography and cardiac rehab departments are so chronically understaffed that double shifts and skipped meals are the norm, rather than the exception, just to keep up with the workload. 

I have nothing but the greatest admiration and gratitude for the dedication of these people, without which I for one wouldn’t be penning this letter now. Health Minister Michael Ferguson (who, in true Yes Minister fashion is actually an ex-teacher) crows about an extra seven beds for the LGH. 

More like 70 are needed and the staff to service them.

Richard Hill, Newstead.