Ockerby Gardens
WHILE I welcome the co-location of Calvary Private Hospital to Launceston General Hospital site, it gives the hospital the opportunity to attract specialist medical practitioners to our city.
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The LGH has had the “private patient plan“ operating for many years, which has attracted specialists and enabled them to also practice at the two private hospitals and still have the advantage of a teaching hospital.
Hobart Private co-joins the Royal Hobart Hospital - why not the North of the state?
In relation to Ockerby Gardens, former Launceston General Cemetery 1841-1945, an assurance was given to Anglican Bishop Barrett when he agreed for the hospital to acquire St. Pauls Church in Cleveland Street for development of the new LGH that it remain as parkland.
A chapel was built in the hospital and the stained glass windows and church furniture were removed to the new St. Pauls by the sea at Low Head Ainslie Nursing Home, which is a credit to the builder Geoff Petterwood.
Over the past month I have constantly seen patients and their families along with staff on meal breaks relaxing and enjoying this lovely park land.
Brian P. Khan, Former Chairman Northern Regional Health Board.
Lavender Farm
A FRIEND has recently retired so it was suggested that we have a day out for his first taste of freedom.
We decided to go to the Bridestowe Lavender Farm, then on to the Lost Farm for lunch.
We tootled off and arrived at the lavender farm, one of our best tourist destinations.
We planned on having morning tea and buying a few things, to send to Japanese friends at Christmas.
Imagine our disbelief when a rather officious little man at the entrance told us the entry fee was $10.
Out came the purse then he added that was for every person in the car.
Needless to say we turned tail and went off for a lovely lunch and a walk at Bridport, where a lady in a shop told us that if you were locals you didn't have to pay to enter the lavender farm.
Sadly that enterprise missed out on our limited shekels.
If it had been mentioned that locals were exempt it would have been fine.
It's still discrimination but at least the lavender farm would have had our money.
Please be more succinct in the future as the car we had followed there also left.
Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.
Company Tax
I AM no accountant, but I wonder about who the lower company tax rate actually benefits.
As I understand it, company tax payed on profits means that the company has less cash to reinvest or to distribute to shareholders.
Shareholders receive their dividends with that tax already removed but get an income tax credit for that company tax already paid.
The company tax rate is irrelevant to them. Except when they have off-shore tax havens.
A lower company tax rate might really be a boon for individuals with off-shore tax arrangements and for off-shore shareholders.
Franked (taxed) dividends helps to stop tax avoidance. As for the companies themselves, the small cash flow reduction from taxed final profits, I would expect to be a relatively small impost on their overall reinvestment strategies.
Treasurer Scott Morrison was besides himself with joy at the prospect of following President Trump’s initiative to lower US company tax rates, so I suppose it was at the prospect of following the US into a small government, small social network fiasco where the poor get what they deserve, and the rich get richer.
M.Fyfe, Riverside.
LGH Heat
I WAS a patient at the Launceston General Hospital during a heatwave.
It was incredibly hot and uncomfortable for both patients and staff and their sick charges. I couldn't believe that in our modern times there was no air conditioning.
Lying sweating and feeling so unwell, was terrible. On inquiry I was told that it was not possible to install air con because the building was too old to allow installation.
Something has to be done to alleviate this situation, fans and closed curtains just does not impact sufficiently.
With an election pending - over to the polls to sort this out.
Peta McEwan, Longford.
Free Trade Agreement
ANOTHER Free Trade Agreement just signed.
Free Trade or FairTrade?
I feel this does not mean prosperity and progress. Australian citizens and authorities are being led to believe that free trade is a wonderful arrangement, which would mean jobs, jobs, jobs and more jobs. These jobs will go to those earning $5 per hour. The bottom line in all these agreements is that we are not in charge of our economy anymore and foreign global corporations can take Australia to court if they don’t get their way and circumvent our laws for their benefit, not Autralia's.
Mrs Elizabeth Verhoeff, Latrobe.
Double Parking
I AM of the belief that it is illegal to double park in Tasmania.
But this is happening on a regular basis in Campbell town. Trucks are the main offenders.
They are double parking to access JJ'S bakery, and the take-away shop in High Street,(the main highway).
This makes it extremely difficult, dangerous and nearly impossible for cars, pedestrians bikes and people on mobility scooters to enter this road from King and Queen streets.
The parking outside of JJ'S and the hotel by larger vehicles is also making it difficult to exit King Street as you need to proceed to far onto high Street to be able to see.
Someone will be seriously injured or worse if this is not rectified soon.
Julie Apted, Campbell Town.