The outstanding address by Alderman Robin Mc.Kendrick, along with a studied brief of his subject, was in contrast to councillor Williams and Alderman McKenzie.

Property owners in the CBD and those from the Launceston casino (Country Club Tasmania) and other accommodation providers such as Errol Stewart could only be impressed  by his vision for the city, region and whole state.

Alderman McKendrick’s address and right of reply reminded me when The Examiner and the council stood up to the brotherhood of public servants, that is state bureacracy, who by attrition captured the minister with their advice and is capital centric.

Launceston would not have the University, Launceston General Hospital and Mowbray Racing Centre had they at that time not took a stand for the North of the state and its region, that is deputy Prime Minister Lance Barnard, The Examiner’s editor at the time Michael Courtney and then-Premier Robin Gray.

Alderman Sands made valid criticism over the Treasury report . Mayor van Zetten is commended by reminding aldermen and councillors they are their “to make decisions”. When debate came empty shops I was surprised female councillors did not mention the demise of Gunns and loss of its economic benefits to the city.

Alderman McKendrick had they been listening alluded to not the revolutionary issue but the evolutionary issue of tourism to replace this economic loss.

Dorset council must understand what Jennifer Westcott chair of Business Council of Australia states “big business builds and benefits small business.  For example, Bridestowe Lavender Farm attracts 85,000 visitations a year. In the Herald Sun (October 2 and 3) it revealed how both Liberal and Labor are taking advantage of the $1.75 billion state-federal regional rail revival improving tracks which I raised at that meeting. The jobs that this investment will create is in line which UTAS pro vice-chancellor David Adams and former Bass member and cabinet minister Warwick Smith have been initiating in towns such as Queenstown.

Brian P Khan, Bridport.

What a great article in (The Examiner, October 5) by John Hewson on the very many shortcomings of Donald Trump. The current US president is totally out of his depth with everything from economics, diplomacy and virtually anything else that can bring his very divided nation together in harmony, let alone on the international stage. It must be hell to be a White House staffer, a bit like trying to predict where or which way one of those Chinese firecrackers is going to bounce next. Mind you, we must remember he is in love with Kim Jong Un. What a wedding that would be.

Richard Hill, Newstead.

I AM intrigued to learn the response from child care centres and parents to Bill Shorten’s proposal to fund three year olds’ kindergarten participation. I recall strong agitation opposing any lowering of starting ages when our state government made this proposal, it being claimed that three year olds were too young and child care centres would go out of business. What has changed?

Dick James, Launceston.

WHILE it was significant that 100,000 plus signatures were received for the petition regarding the Opera House advertising, I would suggest that the figures flatter somewhat.

It seems to me that the response was invoked more by the exhibition of thuggery by the notorious media bully and the abject rollover by the NSW Premier. Neither part of the equation should have been unexpected in view of the influence of Macquarie network on all things Liberal. Once again the Prime Minister’s comment was a three-word slogan “you’re too precious”.

D Palmer, Newnham.

NOW we’re all quite clear who’s running the country.

Not the Prime Minister, either this one or the previous one for that matter, or indeed the Premier of NSW.

No not at all, the decisions, it seems, are being made by a bullying little shock jock with an audience of barely a few hundred thousand. So the rest of us, some 24.5 million, can go hang.

Who cares what we think. Oh, just a minute, perhaps these politicians might have pause for thought at the upcoming elections, who knows?

After all, it’s not the bully behind the microphone who’ll be trying to get re-elected is it?

Sandy Healey, Wynyard.

ADVERTISING at the Opera House - why stop there? Why not a tasteful Pentecostal Church neck tattoo - for Sco Mo.

A coal is the new black fashion line for Julie Bishop. Lowest prices are just the beginning - for Pauline’s Burqua.   Nothing to see here on Barnaby’s Akubra. 

Smuggler free zone - on Peter Dutton’s shiny pate. Fossil fuels forever - on Tone’s budgie smugglers. The piece de resistance - a permanent light on Alan Jones derriere to reflect the long held belief of the conservative faithful that this is the place from which the sun always shines.

Tony Newport, Hillwood.

USING the Sydney Opera House for advertising would set a dangerous precedent (The Examiner, October 9). At the opening of the Opera House due recognition was made of the significance of Bennelong Point to Indigenous people. Advertising would be, to say the least, in bad taste.

Mike Turner, Invermay.