Living in Launceston, the North of this great state, I find it very offensive when the headline reads Hobart Heroes - our state side does not consist of just Hobart.

The team should have been named for all of Tasmania. 

I suggest the name be changed to Van Demon’s – in a nod to Van Dieman’s land – which would fairly include everybody living in this wonderful state.

I find it very difficult to watch and cheer the Hobart Hurricanes as I don't feel a part of this team.

Vent over.

Gillian Todman, Trevallyn.

IT IS ironic that every state election Labor finds Tasmanian hospitals’ elective surgery waiting lists.

Even as far back as when Lara Giddings was premier.

She also promised a health shake-up, reduced waiting lists, and a better economy

Labor did nothing as usual, and was voted out, leaving one of the biggest deficits in Tasmania’s history.

Wasting Tasmanian taxpayers hard earned taxes in huge interest payments for years.

We are now interest free. 

Labor has proven that it is lacking in ability to successfully manage the economy.

And the party did nothing to improve health and waiting lists, which they are again promising to do.

Meaningless rhetoric, hoping the people of Tasmania have poor memories.

Peter Doddy, Trevallyn.

I THOROUGHLY agree with Richard Hill (The Examiner, February 8) and especially the last paragraph.

It is about electing the party that will do the least damage.

To me as an undecided voter at the moment, the status quo seems the best option.

“Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.”

But why are the Liberals resurrecting the TasWater takeover and wasting their political oxygen?

To put it bluntly, it hasn’t got a snowball’s chance in hell of getting through the Legislative Council.

Please give up on it, it is a dead duck.

Concentrate on other matters, especially health.

Malcolm Scott, Newstead.

THE LIBERAL Party’s promise to introduce legislation to remove Tasmanian Health Services boss David Alcorn and the Tasmanian Health Services governing council is a sad indictment of a health system that is no longer responding to the needs of the community.

Studies estimate that some 30 to 50 per cent of those diagnosed with a mental illness also have a drug and alcohol problem. 

It is clear the festive season has adversely affected the numbers waiting to be admitted to the state's hospital psychiatric wards.

The appointment of a new health services leadership must establish an integrated approach to mental health and alcohol and other drugs service delivery. 

Currently there is nothing in place to help individuals and families to deal with their loved ones’ dual diagnosis. 

It is imperative that mental health professionals are trained to a level where they are competent in both mental heath assessment and alcohol and other drugs treatment options. 

An integrated model of health service delivery will result in savings from reduced hospital admissions and re-admissions for psychiatric care.

Ed Sianski, West Moonah.

REGARDING Labor's grandiose plan to spend a fortune on replacing the Charles Street bridge, one would ask, with what? 

Another two-lane bridge, or if it's three, are they also going to add further lanes to Goderich Street, parts of Bathurst and Wellington streets? 

Surely one of the simplest changes to increase traffic flow off the bridge would be to close off the entrance to St John Street through the Esplanade, and remove the traffic lights, doubling the distance between traffic lights, in the stretch between Lindsay and William streets. 

We all know Wellington Street is a nightmare due the overabundance of traffic lights, 10 from the bridge to the southern outlet, so one less would have to be a winner.

Brian Ralph, Swan Bay.

I WAS amazed to see the annual Mountain Cattlemen’s sign in High Street, Campbell Town, fastened with hexi screws into one of the old oak trees near the Lake Leake turnoff.

Any second-hand cowboy should know that nails or screws of copper will kill trees if driven into trunks.

George Baker, Campbell Town.

I RECENTLY watched Parliament question time on television for some political enlightenment on our esteemed politicians’ behaviour in the house. What a shocker.

They came across as a pack of unruly juveniles arguing in the schoolyard. The insults came thick and fast, not to mention the sniggering.

Are these the individuals that are making decisions for the benefit of this nation? We the taxpayers are without doubt not getting value for money.

Jo Ford, Legana.

I CAN 'discover' a coin on the ground.

That doesn't mean I am saying no one else has seen it, just that I am seeing it for the first time. If we all stopped twisting wording perhaps we could get on with making the world a better place for everyone.

Carol Pittman, Newnham.