It is quite likely that she joined up in good faith, but Hodgman’s statements especially towards the end of the election campaign and after, such as “I have a mandate for all those 200 policies I haven’t yet announced” and “when corporate or other interests hand over cash to a political party they are entitled to expect that it will act in their interests”, made her see that she’d hooked up with a party leader lacking the most basic knowledge of parliamentary principle.

The Liberals in general have a tendency to enact extreme legislation on the run: witness the Anti-Workplace Protest Bill thrown out by the High Court, one judge describing it as of “Pythonesque absurdity”.  

Thanks to Sue, the Liberals will now have to slow down to a reflective walk and that can only be a good thing.

John Biggs, Sandy Bay.

“DISAPPOINTING”, says Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein referring to George Town and West Tamar councils deciding not to go ahead with amalgamation (The Examiner, May 5).

Bouquets to West Tamar Council however, for wishing to pursue the possibility and deep shame on George Town Council for rejecting the proposal.

It is obvious few councils will willingly accept amalgamation and the only way to make this happen is for the state government to be strong and draft up the appropriate legislation to ensure it actually happens.

Mr Gutwein also says amalgamation “…must be driven by local communities and their councils”, yet if local communities are never consulted how will council amalgamation ever eventuate, certainly most councils, and councillors, will not voluntarily bring about their own demise.

In these straightened financial times Tasmanian rate and taxpayers are sick and tired of carrying the undue economic heavy burden of, what they see, as too many unnecessary politicians and councils; especially given Tasmania’s minuscule population.

Jim Collier, Legana.

TASMANIANS generally will applaud the government’s decision to heavily invest in TasWater. 

We are told that successful politics is the art of succeeding in the face of adversity and in this regard the state government has pulled off a coup, bypassing a recalcitrant upper house now inclined to act beyond its accepted role as a house of review.

We all look forward to improved water-waste management without the rapidly escalating prices we’ve faced in recent years. 

Electors, I am sure, will strongly support the government’s initiative. We can expect other similar moves if the Legislative Council continues to be an impediment to passing legislation. 

As the old saying goes, ’There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

Dick James, Launceston.

MOTORING fines for politicians and public servants last year amounted to 1300 instances.

Cost undisclosed, according to media reports. They already have a com car fleet of luxury chauffeur driven cars at their disposal.

Are we to believe they have carte blanch credit cards for the use of hire cars as well? Who checks the legitimacy of these claims? Do they have a purchasing department like authentic businesses?

Does the Australian public have any idea of the limits of the rorts available to the public service and the cost associated with it?

Will the budget contain the cost of the extension of the Canberra trough and extensions to the political snouts that frequent it?

Wally Reynolds, Perth.

WHY is the Anglican Church leadership proposing closure of so many rural community churches while leaving multiple and property-rich city churches untouched?  

Would it not be better to amalgamate city churches than to rip the heart out of small rural communities?

Janis Huggettr, Windermere.

WITH the use of the traditional church building in decline, the Parish of the Annunciation, Traditional Anglican Communion, is way ahead of its time. 

It hires The Harry Abbott Scout Center Saint George 's  Square for $12 a Sunday. 

From bitter experience parish council meetings are more about property than souls. 

Malcolm Scott, Newstead.

WITH the sheer volume of Telstra scam calls having now reached pandemic proportions it must be asked for the sake of those who are genuinely working for the telco company what is being done by it.

Due to the simple fact 99 other phone calls are from scammers the one caller that is genuine will cop abuse because of the complete and utter flood of criminal activity.

If only to try and protect their staff now will more be done to stop these cold call scams?

Davis Seecamp, Trevallyn.

WHAT a slap in the face for Pauline Gouldthorpe and her family.  

How offensive to allow Matthew Gouldthorpe's killer free on Mother's Day to visit with his own mother when the Gouldthorpe family do not have their son to be able to visit his mother.

I struggle to understand why it is so important to allow this murderer out on leave to visit particularly on Mother's Day.  

It could be any other day except this day.  

I sympathise with Pauline Gouldthorpe and wonder if the powers that be would be happy with someone who had murdered their son leave on such a special day.

Gale Singline-Binns, Jetsonville.