Hung Parliaments
WHY DO we so fear power-sharing or minority government?
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Australian politics was designed as a two-party system, but in today’s complex society minor parties and independents have come to represent interests and values that the two major parties don’t represent.
Yet we still see majority Labor or Liberal government as the only way government should work. Where that doesn’t happen parliament is said to be ‘hung’, as if the life of good governance is slowly being strangled.
Scandinavian countries have multiparty systems, where issues are addressed by cooperative discussion and negotiation; legislation is accordingly better.
But we don’t have to go overseas to see minority government working.
Julia Gillard in minority government, despite the misogynist vilification from the Coalition, in one term passed more positive legislation than any prime minister in recent memory.
All that was torn to pieces by Tony Abbott in a majority government.
If politicians were more cooperative with each other, instead of tearing down the opposition and playing no-speaks like sulky children, our polity would be a much better place.
We should stop clinging to a two-party system that simply isn’t working in today’s society.
John Biggs, Sandy Bay.
Codeine changes
THIS IS pure ridiculous, that people will need to obtain prescriptions to get pain killers, just to protect a few overdosing.
There is more people needing urgent pain killers, and more people will suffer or end up going to hospital emergency departments when in pain, especially after hours.
Medical centres will have the added burden of people sitting for long periods adding to the queues just to obtain a prescription.
Many cannot afford especially those with young families and paying off homes.
It will be like a merry-go-round, passed back and forth adding to the huge Commonwealth medical bill.
All they need to do is make those prescriptions pharmacy only where a computer log of usage is maintained on person and address.
Walter Christy, Shearwater.
Waste of Plastic
HUNGRY Jacks in Devonport has only disposable coffee cups.
McDonalds serve most dine-in customers with disposable coffee cups.
It is about time these large corporations take the waste problem seriously and use disposables cups only for takeaway customers.
Horst Schroeder, East Devonport.
NM Council and Climate Change
I REALLY wonder just what the Northern Midlands Council is on about, joining with 34 other councils, when they are from a state already with about 90 per cent hydro power and a fair whack of wind power.
A state that is so far out in front on renewables and has been for decades, it is daylight second.
By comparison, all the other states are placegetters in some other race, 'the feel-good consolation stakes'.
They say they are aiming to reduce their carbon fuel use, but being in the most heavily forested, green state, the carbondioxide emissions are probably the most quickly re-absorbed into the biomass of trees and Northern Midlands pasture as anywhere.
Hey, but they got a headline and then there will be trips (in fuel guzzling aircraft) to all sorts of gatherings.
Please forgive my cynicism but surely Northern Midlands has more pressing matters.
Then again they could just plant a lot of trees.
M. Seward, South Launceston.
Election
WEST TAMAR voters effectively disenfranchised from March election.
Yes they will vote for the five members for Lyons.
But soon after the election the West Tamar area will be redistributed to the Bass electorate.
The result the West Tamar area will represented by the five members for Bass, with West Tamar voters having had no say in their election.
Don McInnes, Kayena.
Star Theatre
ARE you ready, Launceston?
Invermay’s historic heritage-listed, art deco theatre is about to explode onto the local cultural scene.
At long last (thanks to the new owners, Paul Lee Archer, Ben Davis and Andrew Quaile) we will have a cinema to be proud of.
Quality film, courteous staff and of course comfortable seats.
The new owners are intent on providing you, the patron, with a memorable personal experience when attending The Star.
All staff will have a commitment to customer service, something one doesn’t always find these days.
Hope to see you all at The Star soon.
Peter Reigh Bomford (ex-Star employee), Invermay.
Gorge
SOME TIME back maybe 12 months, our City of Launceston council asked what they could do with our Gorge area, the overwhelming response was “leave it alone”.
They then suggested they could just tidy up the footpaths and some of the overgrown shrubbery this was met with tacit approval.
Once again the council intends to ignore ratepayers and residents alike with another airy fairy idea to change something that is very clearly not broken.
Nature doesn’t always make our planet perfect, but she did a great job with the Gorge.
I repeat: “Leave it alone”.
Ron Baines, Kings Meadows.