On the one hand, we have; the scare campaign saying that Labor will start up the people smugglers and people will die at sea.

Yet, on the other hand, we have our Prime Minister telling us, day in and day out, that they have been removing refugees “quietly”.

So, my questions are; as a result of the above have the boats started coming?; if they have, why are we not being told?; is the government paying the people smugglers to turn back the boats?; is this another scare campaign to turn the Australian people against refugees?; How can we make decisions made on fact when we have such mixed messages?

I HAVE lived in the northern suburbs most of my life with the past 25 years at Mayfield and have witnessed the poor supply of mains water to our suburb.   

To complain to TasWater only means that they send a couple of workmen out and test the water supply pressure, and sometimes admit that we are receiving about one-third of the pressure we should be getting.

It’s so bad that I have to hand water my veggie garden because the water pressure won’t rotate the sprinkler head.

And when you’re showering and next door turns on a tap, we actually feel the loss of pressure in the shower and you’re the only one home at the time.  

I know that to fix the problem would take a lot of money, but it will have to be done as the water pipes don’t last forever.

IT feels good.

Thank you to all those fantastic local businesses who donated produce to provide a magnificent free Christmas lunch at City Mission. It is a day when the meaning of goodwill shines.

The haves gives to those who have not.

Ham, turkey, baked vegetables, puddings and pav’s, food that would not grace the table of some of these struggling less-fortunate people.

A talented chef and a group of volunteers, make it happen and it is a privilege to be one of the volunteers. City Mission management join in and it is a joyful occasion made possible by those who care.

I personally get to see the appreciation on their faces, and it makes the effort extremely worthwhile and rewarding.

Christmas is a special time for most, but there are some who do not have a roof over their heads and a warm bed.

Merry Christmas.

MALCOLM Scott (The Examiner, December 12) bemoans the fact that the term alderman (from the old English alder meaning old, plus man, i.e. an elder) is not being used for council members.

Personally, I am beastly careless what they are called as long as they do a good job.

In any case with a number of dynamic younger members such as Janie Finlay and Danny Gibson on the council, I think the term alderman doesn't really suit.

I WOULD like to know why Australia is meddling in Israel’s politics.

We should support the United Nations’ recommendations, and concentrate on our own problems.

The Liberals started this nonsense to win the Jewish vote in a by-election.

Now they make it worse by trying to save themselves but not in the interest of Australia.

Please don’t destroy the respect we enjoy with our neighbours, for domestic point scoring.

THE old melody “someone to watch over me”.

The late Don Chipp, a former Liberal minister and founder of the Australian Democrat Party famously coined the expression – “we will keep the bastards honest” 40-odd years ago.

The culture has not changed.

The question being: who will keep the integrity commissioners honest? 

Will bonuses be paid to operators, to catch a thief?

Likewise the banks.

REMEMBER when Carols by Candlelight, Festivale and the Deloraine Craft Fair were small, local, community events?

They have become so big and expensive that they now exclude the people they were intended for.

HERE we go again.

It has just been announced that Scott Morrison has flagged the announcement of ex-Army officer David Hurley, as the next Governor-General of Australia.

While I do not doubt the service and record of contribution from General Hurley, riddle me this.

How come, of the entire list of individuals holding this high office, since 1901, all, bar one, have been men?

The only exception (out of 26 appointees) is Quentin Bryce.

This appointment will make it one out of 27, in the 118 years since Federation.

No doubt it’s all based on merit, with not a sniff of institutionalised misogyny in the wind.

Does it pass the pub test? You decide.

As for Scotty, please, someone beam him and his motley crew up – fast.