Some of us were privileged at 19.

I’m still privileged, and we all see the world through different eyes Ian O’Neill (Letters, The Examiner, April 28) but I’m not sue why you attempt to explain away the powerlessness and horrors facing the young today.

“Young’uns of today get it too easy, back in my day.”

From convicts to 21st century Australia, so much yet so little has changed.

I never joined the military, but for nearly 40 years, on occasions, as a passive volunteer, I’ve witnessed the horrors of battle alongside our military personnel, and I’ve listened to Only 19.

I sure as hell would not want to be 19 in 2018 Australia. We believe by winning wars we save our children. No-one wins wars.

The battles of World Wars alone still echo through Australia. The added impact of more recent battles, the Korea and Vietnam.

The dark side of every-advancing science, technology, church, state, banks. Extreme expectations placed on families.

There are signs Australia and the world are beginning to listen to the wisdom of the young.

We need to nurture their wisdom, and together with the genuine wisdom of the elders there would be fewer addictions, suicides, royal commissions, stiff necks and wars.

Deb Johnston Andrews, Newnham.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with F. O’Sullivan (Letters, The Examiner, April 30).

Why is our government talking of building a new jail in Launceston? We have homeless people who are in urgent need of housing.

I guess it is easy for our politicians, who are sitting in front of a warm fire on these extremely cold nights, to not think about those Tasmanians sleeping cold and hungry mostly through no fault of their own.

What of the very sick people travelling in the back of an ambulance to Hobart or to Melbourne, because there are no beds in Launceston and no one to care for them?

Many of our specialists have left the Launceston General Hospital to seek work with better conditions.

We have been promised at every election for a clean-up of our filthy river. I believe our politicians should get their priorities right.

There are many things needing urgent attention - a jail is not one of them. 

P. Skeggs, Youngtown.

AN increase in the number of semi-automatic weapons in the general population is a genuine reason for people to be concerned about the government’s proposed changes to gun laws.  

As the ABC recently reported, in the past 10 years there have been 2084 gun thefts in Tasmania, 9 per cent of national figures, so people should be concerned about changes that may weaken existing gun laws and increase the risk of illegal guns becoming available.

Jeffrey Blackmore (Letters, The Examiner, April 16) feels that it is “laughable” that people should be concerned about changes to gun laws, but it is not acceptable that a decision that so widely affects the general population was only made in consultation with the beneficiaries of the changes.

While there are genuine needs for farmers to reduce the number of wildlife and feral deer on farms, a vast amount of money and research has been spent on alternative methods that should be more widely tested and resourced. 

If the licence durations are to be extended there should be random checks and reporting on the suitability of the licence holder, checking for instance mental and physical health. This would be similar to Japan, where the annual number of guns deaths is less than 10.

Malcolm Cowan, West Launceston.

PRESENCE into reasons for the introduction of the Banking Royal Commission by the Coalition doesn’t hold water with the public any more than the commission’s final outcome and penalties. The Prime Minister is one of that family along with the many wannabees in the government.

Terms of reference by the government on the trade unions were more severe than those on the banks. 

There rests the story.   

Wally Reynolds, Perth.

THE walk bridge between Seaport and North Bank should be named: “All for the tourist walk way bridge”.

Charge the tourists a gold coin toll and have it free for the locals.

K. Nunn, Newnham.

REGARDING article “Resort divides East Coast" (The Examiner, May 1).

In response to the proposed Cambria Estate eco development, East Coast Tourism CEO Ruth Dowty is reported to be "flattered" that developers believed in Tasmania and the East Coast enough to want to invest "to that level". 

Tasmania already has the highest level of foreign-owned farms of any state in Australia.

Now with the support of local and state government and organisations such as East Coast Tourism, we face the prospect of our coastline going the same way and becoming foreign owned enclaves for high-end mega tourism resorts. 

No thanks.

Todd Dudley, President North East Bioregional Network Inc., St. Marys.

DOESN’T Australia have any companies capable of building ships?

If not, why not?

If so, why are the two new Spirit of Tasmania vessels being built overseas?

Why aren’t the vessels that are being replaced being turned into shelter for the homeless?

One in the North and one in the South.

It’s not rocket science.

F. O’Sullivan, Riverside.