Our government has not been managing critically endangered species effectively as demonstrated by the logging of the critically endangered swift parrots' Tasmanian breeding habitat in the last 12 months. 

The next stop for these birds is extinction. 

We have a brief window of opportunity to bring these and other birds/animals back from the brink of extinction. 

Individuals are encouraged to voice their concerns by making a submission to the Senate inquiry on this matter. Submissions close on August 13. 

No special knowledge is required; just a heartfelt statement calling for action to protect the wild places that is home for these species. This is where we can have our voices heard.

Kelly Foxcroft, Launceston.

WENT into the bank last week to apply for a second credit card with a limit of about $200 so I could buy some golfing gear online and not worry about the scammers, only to be knocked back because I’m not earning any income. 

So here’s the catch I have $700,000 in superannuation and $600,000 in cash and a house at Elphinwood worth about $600,000 and we live off the wife’s income at the moment. 

So about $1.8 million in assets and can’t get a Visa card with a $200 limit, what a joke. 

C. Delanty, Launceston.

I HAD a lovely moment walking my dear old black labrador recently at Trevallyn Reserve.

Night descended quite quickly and I resorted to wearing a headlight (more later) when a very vulnerable little animal (bilby, bandicoot?) got caught in the light. 

Sammy moved forward, sniffed, wagged his tail - I think he even licked it and moved on having made a new friend. 

There is a lesson for us all there.

Confronted with something unfamiliar he embraced the differences and moved on. 

That dog doesn’t have a skerrick of malice and is in actual fact at a higher stage of evolution than every thing else - even roses have thorns.

I got into the car and forgetting I was still wearing the headlight, panicked a bit as driving through very dark bushland, I couldn’t shake the "car" that was following me in the rear vision. 

I was reassured by the fierce and protective pup that was already asleep with his head on my lap.

Adventures occur where we find them as do lessons.

Rod Fenner, East Launceston.

THE City of Launceston council has given the visual and performing arts, architecture and furniture buildings, as well as the Willis Street museum and car park land to the University of Tasmania.

A bridge has been built so that Silo Hotel customers do not have to walk all the way to the Charles Street bridge to get in to town.

Money has been borrowed to change the Cataract Gorge, Civic Square and Brisbane Street Mall, while the swimming centre, York Park and museum still run at a loss.

Leon Cooper, St Leonards.

WITH reprehensible AFL crowd violence during the 2018 season, and a connection between violence and excessive alcohol consumption, it was proposed that supporters be segregated according to club loyalty.

What would happen to couples who go hand-in–hand to the MCG for instance, in club colours of opposing teams?

During an Anzac Day game between Essendon and Collingwood, we had the misfortune of witnessing a Collingwood supporter offering unintelligible advice to Essendon players, when a father sensed his son’s distress by saying “don’t argue with a fool son, as a casual observer may not be able to distinguish the difference”.

Kenneth Gregson, Swansea.

WILL the finals become more of a battlefield, with strength and muscle being the deciding factor?

The AFL must be aware of the increasing push, shove, blocking, niggling, holding. Primary school children will copy these unpunished actions.

Is the overzealous commercialisation a factor that influences decisions the AFL is obliged to make?

Health and safety is the responsibility of all organisations, this includes the AFL. There is a known risk that clashes of unprotected heads can result in concussion.

Research at the University of California Los Angeles shows concussions are proven to cause loss of brain function. 

This can lead to physical and emotional symptoms such as attention disorders, depression, head aches, nausea and amnesia.

If an organisation knew or should have known the risk of head injuries and did nothing about it, lawsuits could be filed against them.

Hugh Boyd, Prospect Vale.

SURELY the disgraceful behind the play punch by West Coast's Andrew Gaff on Fremantle's Andrew Brayshaw, which broke Brayshaw's jaw and knocked out some of his teeth, is enough to stir the AFL into the long overdue decision to bring in the send-off rule.

The attack left Fremantle one player short while Gaff was allowed to play on. Suspending Gaff for a number of weeks later on only advantages other teams.

Apply the penalty to the guilty player on the spot and then suspend him until his opponent has recovered and returned to playing football again. Gaff would go to jail if he did that on the street.

Ian Macpherson, Newstead.