The various position statements invariably say nothing substantive of a policy nature, but are almost always a collection of motherhood statements that are absolutely no help to a voter trying to differentiate between candidates.

The majority of candidates have no publicly available email or phone numbers to enable comparison of their positions on matters of interest. This situation hardly encourages one to vote.

WITH respect to the article "Nurse stand-off continues" (The Examiner, October 13), I would like to reassure the public that it is perfectly safe for patients to be operated upon when nurses are working overtime. There is not a shred of credible evidence to the contrary.

THE combined federal and state government spend on mental health is estimated at $9 billion annually. I welcome the upcoming inquiry into whether it is delivering optimal outcomes for all individuals with mental illness. Throughout my psychiatric nursing career I have witnessed the Richmond report advocating for deinstitutionalisation (1983), the Burdekin inquiry into human rights (1993); and five national mental health plans. I experienced philosophical change firsthand – working at Rozelle and Gladesville hospitals (aka institutions), as well as inner city community teams.

On a positive note there is now more assistance for young people. Early intervention makes sense by any social, wellbeing, and economic measure. At the other end of the spectrum, disadvantage remains for the middle aged and elderly who live with enduring psychosis despite treatment. Many of whom – unable to secure the specialised community, and/or or longer term professional residential care they so require - find themselves isolated, homeless or incarcerated. Numerous studies over the past decade have demonstrated that more within this demographic occupy prison cells each night than receive therapeutic care (reversing historic trends and surely an unintended consequence of mental health beds reducing from 30,000 to 8000 since the 1960s).

AN ARTICLE regarding the young Liberals (The Examiner, October 7) mentioned a motion by the Hobart branch to abolish all the councils and replace them with a government enterprise overseen by a board was quashed.

What a great shame this idea wasn’t put on hold to be researched some more, as I remember reading some years ago of a country that is run by a board of business people and then after the term of office was over, I think four years, they then made recommendations for the next group of members. I believe that no remuneration was involved, only normal expenses, so they had to be quite successful in their own field.

I was scammed

I am a reasonably intelligent person and if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone, so beware.

I do not feel a fool as it was so convincing and “professional” even down to what appeared to be official forms from my bank.

I got the Telstra scam.

I was convinced my phone banking was unsafe.

I was rung on show day and as it was a quiet day, thought I would have it checked.

Boy, was it checked.

I gave away personal information and horror of horrors my PIN.

The procedure was very thorough and lasted for over two hours as I had difficulty understanding the Indian accent.

The procedure so infuriated me that I rang Telstra and complained immediately it was over, and just as well I did and found out I had been scammed.

The very next morning I went into town and saw my bank and Telstra, and corrected every thing as far as possible to stop money from being taken.

My only other concern is Identity theft.

But so much information is available on social media and often today organisations have their systems hacked anyway.

I now have maximum security on my devices and check my phone banking every day.

I don’t mind my story being told as a warning to others.

Beware.

Warning signs” persistent phone calls that will not take no for an answer especially about your internet connection.

It was so professional and convincing I almost admired them.

I saw on SBS program Insight an intelligent good looking lady got fleeced of $260,000

Telstra does have India-based staff so did not suspect the Indian voice.

It seems ironic that I am reporting this during Seniors Week, but if it can save one other from being scammed it will have been worthwhile, the criminals are so very plausible, so beware.