Tiger Trap
WHY would anybody buy a Tasmanian tiger trap?
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The last one died in 1937. It seems pretty morbid to me.
Although some people have a strange fascination for the extinction of our species.
I heard just recently that some hunters were down the south west of Tasmania and reckoned that they spotted a tiger.
I would have to see a closeup photograph of one before I become a believer.
Cecil Neil Guy, Youngtown.
The fix is in
BILL SHORTEN must have had a crystal ball when he said “when Malcolm Turnbull says he’s not going to change his mind, get prepared for a change of mind”.
Or perhaps this government really has become a caricature of itself.
So at long last we are going to have a Royal Commission into the banking sector.
Good. However, I wouldn’t pop the champagne just yet.
A few “minor” details concern me. This commission has been called by the government, has been asked for by the big four banks, and has been given just 12 months to run – a timeframe that would see the results in well before the next election is due.
Now, given that a Royal Commission reports to the cabinet rather than the Parliament, and that it can only make recommendations, this is sounding a lot like a political fix is in.
I have little doubt that unless we see a change of government in the next 12 months, and any recommendations the commission might return are presented to a Labor cabinet, then this whole exercise will be little more than a farce.
Cody Handley, Hadspen.
Forestry Jobs
IF RESOURCES Minister Guy Barnett is serious in his claim jobs are the number one priority for the Hodgman Government then his focus surely should be on the tourism industry.
This is where the jobs of the future are; they certainly aren't in forestry.
The government foolishly and unnecessarily hastened the decline of the forestry industry when it tore up the hard won forestry agreement upon taking office, against the best advice and urging of industry leaders, conservationists, and public opinion.
It was a decision that made no sense, and has zero economic benefit.
Tourism is now far more important for Tasmania's economy, and employs considerably more people.
Mr Barnett needs to seriously reflect on why so many people choose to visit Tasmania.
The reason, as so many travel and tourism articles have confirmed in recent months, is to experience our unique native forests and wilderness regions; priceless natural assets he, and his colleagues, sadly still appear to consider of so little value.
Anne Layton-Bennett, Swan Bay.
Missed
THIS island must miss its Aboriginal people. Conservation and sustainability was their way of life. Oh, how this island must miss them.
Elsa de Ruyter, St Helens.
Loss of Respect
LOTS of things have changed over the past 50-years, some for the better.
I am struggling to think of many, and some for the worse, including a loss of respect.
In the 1960s we wouldn’t dare call our elders by their first name, it was always Mr and Mrs - out of respect. The same applied to managers, a male would be called manager and a female called manageress.
We would also address a nurse as nurse or sister.
Notedly back then there were fewer manageresses and fewer male nurses than nowadays, which is probably a change for the better.
A.R. Trounson, Needles.
Invermay Traffic Chaos
NO TRAFFIC management has been completed for the new university site, and has been approved by council. Ratepayers gift in excess of $8 million, given to UTAS for return of zero rates. Don't think ratepayers are expected to subsidise new bridges, new roads, new overpass - state and federal governments will have to come to the party. New projects are great for the economy. Motels and commercial properties at least pay the council rates.
Paul Spencer, Prospect.
Scuttled
THE article in The Examiner (November 27) refers to the fact that the Tasmanian Master Builders were among those disappointed with the failure of the government’s legislation to take over TasWater. In the article, it is claimed that MBT was “a local supporter of the Liberals botched plan to take control of the state’s water and sewage infrastructure.” Silly me. I thought that the plan failed thanks principally to Labor party members in the Legislative Council whose primary concern was to follow the dictates of their party rather than playing the part of members of a House of Review?
Why “botched”, Mr Inglis? Assuming you are a reporter rather than a player, perhaps you might have more accurately reported that the plan was “scuttled”?
W. M. Griffiths, Launceston.
Million millionaires
I HEARD there are now more than a million millionaires in Australia. It must be assets besides the principal residence, as just about everyone who owns a home in Melbourne or Sydney would have assets worth a million dollars. By contrast, I watched the program Struggle Street on SBS and was appalled at the gulf between the rich and the 4 million people who live below the poverty line. I wonder if the really wealthy are happy and doing exciting and interesting things with their money. I know money doesn’t buy happiness, but at least you can be miserable in comfort sometimes luxury. As the Bible reminds us “we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can take nothing out”, but we don’t think about it in this materialistic secular society in which we live.