In the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay region, the cashless debit card applies to people aged 35 years and under who receive Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance (job seeker), Parenting Payment (single) or Parenting Payment (partnered).

It does not apply to people on disability support. The article says that the card has been “coloured as a government response to minimising ‘social harm’ through attempting to limit the purchase of alcohol, tobacco and gambling services”. 

This is also incorrect.

The cashless debit card can be used to purchase tobacco but cannot be used to buy alcohol, gambling products or some gift cards. Lastly, your report says there is “no evidence” of the card in addressing “social harm”.

An independent evaluation of the cashless debit card trial in the Ceduna region, South Australia, and the East Kimberley region, Western Australia, show the card was having a “considerable positive impact”.

Of participants surveyed, the evaluation found: 41 per cent of participants who drank alcohol reported drinking less frequently; 48 per cent of participants who used drugs reported using drugs less frequently; and 48 per cent of those who gambled before the trial reported gambling less often.

Anecdotal evidence shows that people are better able to save money; parents have more money available to buy essential family items like nappies, food and clothing; police report fewer domestic violence callouts and health workers report fewer domestic violence presentations; and people say their town feels quieter and safer with less public drunkenness.

It is no use complaining about Australia Day being held on January 26 unless you can come up with a better date that suits both sides. Of course if the worst came to the worst, we need not have a national day but that would be extreme. 

I suggest Wattle Day, September 1. The wattle is Australia’s national flower, it is a symbol of patriotism, it is on the badge of the Governor General, the flower is common all over Australia and the date is the first day of Spring and not near any other public holiday. 

I HAVE noticed some letters lately complaining about TV programmes.

Whilst I agree with their comments, they do not go far enough.

Programs are shocking, punctuality is terrible. Audio is up and down during shows (have to watch with remote in hand).

Some ads are far too loud, EPG is an absolute disgrace. Look a time up a week ahead and it is listed as TBA. Then when day and time comes around, it is still listed as TBA.

Repeats are far too common (do not show EPG as repeat). Some shows are repeated, then repeated again on same day.

Let’s all complain together, maybe somebody will listen then, or maybe all of us should demand a Royal Commission or something. How about that?

Surely there is an answer as to why peoples pets are dying while on the Spirit of Tasmania.

Does someone have to turn on ventilation? Is there a carbon monoxide monitor? Are vehicles left running to keep refrigeration on? It’s time for answers, time for changes in line with a modern world.

Not good enough minister Jeremy Rockliff  

An effective and ongoing solution to the corruption and misconduct identified by the banking royal commission would be to jail the chief executive, chief financial officer and senior board members for a minimum of five years, though they probably deserve longer.

Future misconduct by their replacements should have an additional two years added to their sentence for stupidity.

Nine service requests to Telstra about the dismal service via NBN since October 2018, and not one response.

Unless you count a notice of account payable.  

Willing to take my money for a service they do not provide but unwilling to fix the problem or even help fix the problem. 

Telstra it’s how we connect, not.

It seems like most of the media coverage originates from Sydney and therefore mostly focused from there. 

The last time Tasmania had floods it was described as once in a century event and received limited coverage across most forms of the media.

The fires now, even though no lives have been lost, are receiving a limited coverage with little follow up as they are saying 3 to 4 per cent of the state has been damaged.

A lot are in World Heritage areas where no fires have been reported for well over a century. 

The destruction will take generations to recover if they ever will.