Hawthorn’s Tasmanian Economic Impact Report, based on four home and away games, plus one JLT game in 2017, compiled by accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, and commissioned by the beneficiaries: Hawthorn Football Club, Events Tasmania, and the City of Launceston, did not mention the cost of the report, who paid, what amount, and the ubiquitous pie-chart.

Mr Kennett did not state the various, but inevitable financial projections, and estimations that are key ingredients of any such report.

An independent report, perhaps by the Auditor General with special dispensation if required, could have compiled such an independent report on government expenditure, the economic pros and cons of such an arrangement with the Hawthorn Football Club, and alternatives to such expenditure of Tasmanian people’s money.

Mr Kennett did say crowds at UTAS Stadium needed to improve for AFL viability and acceptance, but a cursory examination of official attendances at last weekend’s games, were 10,046 for GWS v Brisbane, and 15,741 for St Kilda v Hawthorn. 

Kenneth Gregson, Swansea.

TONY Abbott’s push to have the 190,000 immigrants into Australia lowered is on solid ground, and needs to be taken seriously.

This number was selected in our days of prosperity when Australian was debt free, and jobless in their lowest numbers.

The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition cannot deny that these figures overwhelmingly speak for themselves.

We owe billions, an impost on every Australian man, woman, and child, and still we maintain these ridiculous immigration numbers.

We borrow every last cent to accommodate them , with our budget overwhelmingly in the red, and we pay interest.

Blossoming welfare and housing budgets, Abbott makes sense. Lower the immigration intake, focus on Australia’s debt, stop paying exorbitant interest rates.

An intake of 190,000 that is almost two MCG stadiums full every year.

Peter Doddy, Trevallyn.

The case for the teaching of STEM subjects has been well demonstrated by the letters of Greg Mansell (The Examiner, April 17) ‘The Gospels as evidence of Jesus’, Julian Oosterloo (The Examiner, April 13) ‘take as gospel what happened one billion years ago’ and Robert Lee (The Examiner, April 10) ‘Disbelief of the furthermost star’.

Our survival depends on our ability to differentiate between evidence and irrelevance. 

Instead of justifying our beliefs and desires, and relying on misleading intuitions and limited senses, the way we progress is with the STEM skills that allow us to work out what is really going on. 

Science is about exploration, experimentation, challenge and verifiability – no gospels needed. Religion is about conformity, authoritarianism, dogma and faith – gospels mandatory.

As a skeptic, I don’t have beliefs; instead I observe and evaluate the evidence, then act appropriately - no bitterness, much happiness; escaping the constrictions of imposed and unchallengeable beliefs leads to clarity, respect, compassion and tolerance, regardless of ethnic origin or sexual orientation. 

Lastly, the churches should be so ashamed that they should liquidate their extensive assets, distribute them to the needy and take up sack cloth over their inaction on poverty, inequality and their abuse of the vulnerable.

Steve Saunders, West Launceston.

THE photograph of vehicles approaching the Charles Street Bridge (The Examiner, April 24) demonstrates a major problem with merging traffic.

With a red light at Lindsay Street, city-bound traffic on the main arterial road is backed up to McDonald’s at Forster Street, yet vehicles can still turn onto the bridge.  

Too often when the lights on the highway turn green, the bridge is already full and vehicles on the main highway remain motionless. The same occurs at the Forster Street intersection. Surely the aim should be to keep through traffic moving.

Robin Claxton, Dilston.

IT IS good news that West Tamar and George Town councils have been  seriously considering merging but how sad they seem reluctant to even consider including amalgamating with Launceston to establish a single genuine greater Tamar Valley Council (The Examiner, April 28).

With the greatest portion of West Tamar municipality rate payers actually residing at Riverside and utilising many of Launceston’s facilities and amenities, it is commonsense for these two councils to at least include Launceston council in their discussions.

Or is it a case of self preservation, protecting their backs and looking out for their own interests?

Jim Collier, Legana.

MOST motorcycle club members are law-abiding citizens who pay taxes and support a variety of community groups.

It is hypocritical to target bikers because of a few bad eggs, while doing little to monitor clegymen and bankers.

Leon Cooper, St Leonards.

BARNBOUGLE Dunes Golf Links at beautiful Bridport would be an ideal venue for President Donald Trump to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. 

Security and privacy would be assured and a round of golf on the stunning course followed by a spa would cap off the historic meeting for both gentlemen.

Ed Sianski, West Moonah.