Forgive me for questioning whether he is really silly enough to begin electioneering eight months out from when a election is likely to be.

Malcolm Turnbull learned his lesson with the five byelections taking forever.

Voters turn off and if we have to see Mr Shorten’s face on TV for the forthcoming months it could be a big mistake.

It would also be very interesting to see where the dollar tree is that is going to give him all this cash.

It's certainly not at the bottom of our garden after the husband decided to prune the lemon tree.

Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.

SCOTT Morrison has mooted he is considering a change to immigration policy whereby fly-in migrants will be required to live in a region outside of the major cities for a period of time to help alleviate problems being caused by rapid population growth (mainly as a result of immigration rates) in particular in Sydney and Melbourne.

Will Hodgman has welcomed the idea of immigration targets or quotas for Tasmania as long as it is "sustainable" given the state government’s goal of increasing Tasmania’s population to 650,000.

No doubt the Property Council, Housing Industry Australia and Master Builders Association would be supportive as unprecedented population increase as a result of this policy would create demand for more housing and could be used as a justification for more "planning reform" that is fast track planning laws to allow rezoning land for urban development.

The problem with this policy is that instead of trying to stabilise Australia’s population the federal government is going for a band-aid solution that will benefit property speculators/developers but have numerous adverse impacts for the environment and for the amenity of current residents.

There needs to be plebicite on Australia’s population policy rather than leaving it up to governments in collusion with vested interests.

Todd Dudley,  North East Bioregional Network president, St Marys.

WHAT is one required to do to obtain some action from City of Launceston council?

I have been trying for over a week to have the containers refilled for doggie toilet bags.

The container at Tamar Street bridge was finally refilled on September 29.

But we are still patently waiting for the container at Caledonian Square, Invermay Road, opposite Mayne Street, to be refilled.

I went into the council and after a further four phone calls we are still waiting.

Surely someone must be responsible for refilling the containers and maybe we could have a few installed in the city proper.

It is very frustrating when one tries to do the correct thing, most residents are quite good, but when there are no bags available, people don’t bother to clean up their dogs mess unless you take your own.

Doggie bags please.

Peter R Bomford, Invermay.

I REFER to Geoff McLean’s letter (The Examiner, September 28) in support of the nine-year-old girl for deliberately failing to stand for the national anthem.

I find it quite reprehensible beyond belief that Mr McLean is supporting and encouraging the removal of a very important and basic form of discipline and respect, which has been instilled in us for decades, for Mr McLean to just jump on board such a controversial issue with a view to trivialise change for the sake of change sends a very poor example, in particular to our younger generation, there are enough minority groups in this country now who continually buck the system, harping for change on a whim. Mr McLean may have scant regards for the anthem, however there are thousands if not millions who do. It is ludicrous to suggest that just because we are a free and open democracy that we should throw away basic values that has been part of our society, for decades, at least until we as a whole nation speak for change. When it comes to our younger generation Mr McLean would be far better served encouraging conformity with a view to unite rather than divide, there are enough spot fires within the country at the present time without adding to them for no real reason, just to be flippant.

Allan Carey, Riverside.

HOW dare we insult children of the world by referring to politicians as “childish”. Thank heavens for children courageous enough to question the words of an anthem that do not reflect the holistic reality of Australia.

Our beloved country reaches back to the Dreamtime, so we are definitely not young and no one is truly free until we are all free. No one should need luck to be shown humanity. Why do we have royal commission after royal commission, only for our successive governments to set too few guidelines, too little support for training. For example: aged care, staff ratios. Too few, too little and too late for those who have lost loved ones from lack of care and human respect.

It’s not too late for those people in positions of power who value economy more than human rights and responsibilities to take responsibility for their greed and lack of humanity. Stop patting each other on the back and attempting to convince the people of Australia they are trying. We don’t need convincing. Yes, very trying and appalling.

While we focus more on budget surplus than humanity, how on earth can humanity possibly thrive. Damned if I will sing the words, let alone stand to an anthem that does not reflect the holistic reality of Australia.

Deb Johnston-Andrews, Newnham.