On her own she holds the entire stage and audience like none before her. How could one not have a tear in the eye?  Magnificent and no props.

WHEN cavemen went out to hunt animals for food, somebody got to stay in the cave next to the fire, painting a picture. Funded by the hard work of the rest of the tribe, the artist was able convince his leaders that art was just as important as their basic needs.

IT IS heartbreaking that the Anglican Church has made the decision to sell off so many beautiful and well loved churches around the diocese in order to raise funds to pay the victims of their vile deeds.   

Bishop Condie and the Anglican hierarchy are derelict in the area of good leadership, they are in fact punishing their parishioners for others’ sins. The church ministry was the guilty party they defiled the children, of the very people whose places of worship, they now want to sell off, to fund their debt to their victims; further abuse as I see it.

It would be more in keeping with the Lord’s teachings, if they were to sell off the many properties they own in Hobart and move all the priests and the bishop into very modest little houses around the diocese, into and among the real community, demonstrating genuine humility and true faith in Christ’s example, for all of us Christians. 

Here is an opportunity for the Anglican Church and indeed other denominations, to show authentic remorse and retribution, which would have the effect of encouraging more people to trust and perhaps return to the practice of their faith.

Leave the little churches to the faithful who, have lovingly maintained them over so many years both financially and physically.

REPORTER Rob Inglis (The Examiner, May 14) and Malcolm Cowan (The Examiner, May 12) have every right to report and comment on and question the Liberal Party’s new policy on “proposed” changes to our Firearms Act 1996, and we are pleased they do. 

Former police minister Rene Hidding met with both police and firearm owners over several years before announcing the Liberal policy. However, they are not a “fait de complet” and must stand the rigors of being reviewed and debated by our upper house, a considerable hurdle. That’s the democratic process under which we live. Mr Cowan also comments on the suitability of licence holders, but has overlooked what systems have been in place for more than two decades now. To own a semi-automatic rimfire only category C firearm, is not an easy process to complete; nor is it inexpensive.

The actual firearms and licence fees are dearer; security at home and in transit must be increased at much expense and the needs and suitability of potential licence holders is scrutinised by our Tasmania Police ‘permit to acquire’ system. Mental health issues are already included in our current legislation.

The firearms that were used in nearly all mass shootings that we hear about are centerfire firearms, not rimfire, and are heavily excluded from their availability for wildlife control and recreational shooting in Tasmania. They are category D firearms and are not included in the Liberal Party proposed amendments. If you ask now for a category D firearm permit to acquire, you won’t get it nor will these proposed changes allow it.

Scaremongering is counterproductive. And do not forget, firearm owners are also concerned about public safety and do not want to jeopardise that.

SUE Hickey’s denial that she has been disloyal to the Liberal Party and that she had no prior knowledge of her nomination to the position of speaker is laughable.

It matches the comments of Messrs Smith, Warner and Bancroft when they stated they were the only persons involved in the ball tampering fiasco.

The position of speaker and subsequent election of Ms Hickey highlights the factional divide in the Tasmanian Liberal Party.

One can only imagine what Rene Hidding and Mark Shelton must think of the process.

AT THE risk of aggravating a severe case of “post traumatic wedding disorder” it just seems appropriate to wish the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex all the best for their marriage.

Hopefully this young couple would have been encouraged by Bishop Michael Curry’s rousing  sermon to become a force for good in a world that can be pretty bleak at times for so many people.  

WITH elections  due in October 2018 voters should organise their thoughts to improving their local council.

Several suggestions for improvement are:

Elect at least two pensioner ratepayers to each council;

To reduce costs and increase the council’s revenue,  replace council staff who resign, retire or leave for any reason with volunteers, similar to that practiced by the Tasmanian Library. Perhaps retired town clerks or similar;

Increase significantly fees and charges for all building applications and double any fees for multiple dwelling applications;

Reduce councillor allowances and payments to reasonable levels and;

Cap any rate increases to no more than any pensioner allowances for any given year.