It is a tragedy that our governments cannot see past the next election.

Infrastructure takes many years or decades of planning, yet no one seems to be doing it. Sydney’s road and rail is a disgrace.

When Tullamarine was built they were advised to reserve a corridor for a future rail link. Now see the mess Melbourne is in.

Who saw the Landline program a few months ago?

The subject was truck driving with safety.

A person who has a trucking company in Sydney commented that in 10 years, the Hume Highway would be a parking lot.

The governments’ are still talking about a decent rail service without any progress.

Back home with the industrial centre at the aerodrome, various suggestions were made about traffic movements, including a parallel road to connect the Breadalbane roundabout with the Western Junction-Perth link road.

It was recommended to build two B-double roundabouts on the airport road.

Only one was built, thus restricting truck movements in the industrial estate.

Now, a new subdivision at Evandale is planned to double its population.  

How are the roads going to handle the extra traffic? Introduce passenger trains, Perth to Launceston?

Before approving a subdivision work should be done on infrastructure.

Water, sewerage, power and roads.

WHATEVER happened to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s proposal to transfer the Australian Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem?

Was the thought-bubble a failed attempt to secure the Wentworth by-election or a continuum of American subservience?

Australia, regarded as a middle power on the world stage, with Indonesia (the most populous Muslim country), as a close neighbour, the proposed, self-indulgent foray into foreign politics seems to be one riddled with unnecessary and unknown consequences.

Part of the statement that accompanied the proposal included the jingoism “that we will determine our own foreign policy”, reminiscent of former Prime Minister Howard’s slogan, “that we will determine who will come to this country” re the Tampa affair, with a common element that both Prime Ministers are and were in electoral difficulty at their respective times of pronouncement.

IT’S that time of year that many of us would sincerely like to thank those in our community who go out of their way (or normal routine) to create joy and wonder for families with children by displaying a magnificent array of Christmas lights.

Such an example is the 10 or so homes that have got together at Eastfield Drive at the end of Franmaree Road, Newnham.

I say, to all those that have given their time and effort to switch on enchanting displays, thanks a million, from the bottom of every child’s heart. 

Wouldn’t it be good if a certain energy company sent a discount voucher to all homes listed for display?

Santa via the North Pole would gladly deliver it.

HOW can Tasmania’s recreational fishers claim to have independent representation when our representative body, TARFish, is entirely government funded and reliant on year-to-year handouts in order to survive?

As the government is TARFish’s employer, whose interests do you think they actually represent?

In my opinion, the model is wrong and recreational fishers continued apathy towards this current state of play will be to the detriment of us all.

As was demonstrated in the last federal election, fisherfolk in Tasmania are a powerful voting block that can influence outcomes politically.

So as you enjoy fishing with your family and friends over Christmas, I urge you to give some thought to how precious this pastime is too many of us and what you as an individual can do to protect it for generations to come.

Please don’t stand idly by as this precious resource continue to be taken away from us with our bag limits increasingly reduced in favour of corporate greed.

AN aged lady pensioner visits a local service station in Beaconsfield the day before her pension is due and had only $10 in her purse.

 She cannot stop the fuel pump in time on the sale at $10.12 cents, she is “bailed up” and the 12 cents is demanded, she becomes quite upset and can only offer to use her ATM card for the 12 cents.

This is accepted and paid.

She visits me in tears, I express my sympathy and forget about it, or so I thought.

I myself had to stop for fuel at the same service station a few days later and quizzed the staff over the 12 cents, and pointed out it’s really not the Australian way, am told nothing.

I call United and ask if this is the typical policy, “of course it's not”, then bugger me I have a polite visit from the local police telling me I am banned from using the fuel facility.

Where has Australia with some degree of customer care and common sense beyond greed gone?