No jokes
I AM in complete agreement with Jo Palmer (The Examiner, June 17) that the television clip “Go Away Launceston” is not in the least funny.
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Too many mainlanders view Tasmanians as sub-human, here to be treated with derision and contempt.
We might see the joke because we know the truth, but too many mainlanders will take it as confirmation of their ignorant opinions of us.
A few years ago I had an email conversation with a mainland journalist holding these derogatory views, to try and change his perceptions, but in the end he refused to think any differently.
Calls to mainland call centres have resulted in the following questions, “do you speak English in Tasmania”, and, “do you use the same currency as we do”?
It seems derision and derogatory humour is the “in thing” these days, it comes very close to bullying, doesn’t it?
Barbara Brozek, Launceston.
Council notes
I DO NOT usually like to make comment on the way other councils run their business, but for the benefit of Meander Valley ratepayers, I thinks it’s important for me to respond to Dorset mayor Greg Howard’s comments in The Examiner on June 12, where he was reported as saying “The decision by Meander Valley council was described as ‘poor management’”.
By way of comparison, if the rate applied at Dorset Council in 2018 was applied to Meander Valley ratepayers, the average residential property would already be paying $249 a year more in rates, and the average primary productions property would be paying an additional $584.
Similarly, Meander Valley Council employs 3.9 fulltime equivalent staff per 1000 ratepayers compared to Dorset 7.9 FTE, in 2016-2017 our rate revenue per head of population is $440 less than Dorset’s and our operating costs were $288 per rateable property lower. If running an efficient council and keeping the costs down for our ratepayers is ‘poor management’, then guilty as charged.
Craig Perkins, Meander Valley mayor
Waiting list
I READ in The Examiner (June 18) of the gentleman waiting for a colonoscopy at the hospital.
He should worry. I am 83 years of age and have been waiting 18 months for a similar appointment. I have been given all the medications for a preparation.
Unless one has private health insurance we just have to be patient and wait our turn. I had a shunt put in my brain in January, six weeks later I had a check up back in Hobart. I was there for five minutes.
This morning I got a letter requesting me to return to Hobart, I assume for another check up. A four-hour trip for five minutes is a bit much, don't you think?
Cecil Neil Guy, Youngtown.
Violent video games
AUSTRALIA has most all of the same violent video games that America has, and even the ones border security try and prevent from reaching our shores can be easily viewed online.
Yet there is very little in the way of gun violence. The same story can be seen in Canada, Great Britain, France and Japan. All very open to violent media and low violent and gun crime.
However in the divided States of America it is considered their duty to arm everyone with as many guns as they could possibly want, and with how high tensions are with a madman as president and how the Land of the Rising Gun, who may as well be in the midst of a civil war there is a shooting for every day of the week.
Sunday shooting. Monday massacre. Tuesday terrorism.
Are violent video games to blame? I don't think so.
Davis Seecamp, Trevallyn.
RSPCA
THE RSPCA is again in trouble financially and is talking of closure, let’s hope some way can be found to keep it going.
It’s scary to think what will happen to all those poor pets that will be dumped as there will be nowhere to take them to help, get them new loving and caring homes.
One suggestion would be that TasWater, Aurora Energy and the council put their charges on hold for a while.
David Parker, West Launceston.
Unemployment
THE Australian Bureau of Statistics should conduct an unemployment survey based on the number of people receiving unemployment benefits (Newstart Allowance), full or part-time payments.
Only then will we know the actual unemployment percentage figures.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics, May 2018 unemployment rate of 5.4 per cent or any other month based on the so called positions creating full/part-time jobs, not on the actual Newstart Allowance recipients figures.
K. Nunn, Newnham.
An understatement
IF YOU feel that the Labor Party is floundering under its present leader and that its pathetic policy platforms are in disarray you join in the "understatement" of the century.
Surely the fact that Bill Shorten is not within a mile of being prime ministerial material is becoming more obvious by the day.
Clearly we have no choice for an alternative federal government in an opposition that threatens us with a return to their overtaxing economic incompetence under a puppet leader, whose strings are being pulled by some very dubious characters.
Len Langan, Longford.
One Dayers
HAVING just watched the third one day internationals in England, I've just realised that a gloating Pomme is just as bad as a whinging Pomme, if not more because it doesn't happen that often nowadays. Come on Australia at least giving them a game that worthy of us on English soil.
Anthony Galvin, Mayfield.