Letters to the editor | February 25

If we cry or not, angered or not by injustice, react differently to what is deemed normal by the powers that be, we are too often encouraged to accept for ourselves the labels of mental illness.

Just as Princess Diana was so cruelly labelled.

Just as Lindy Chamberlain was labelled throughout her outrageously cruel and unnecessary experience of our archaic legal system.

These may seem extreme examples, however, similar experiences continue for too many women, too many people who dare blow the whistle on the code of silence.

Who dare challenge our legal system and work toward creating a civilised justice system here in this state and country.

Justice, no, not just for some but for everyone.

Our legal system is based on an archaic, always was broke, dinosaur that needs to become extinct.

However, much we dress up a dinosaur to look civilised, it’s still a dinosaur.

There are many and varied reasons why crimes are not reported, including the fact that too many Tasmanians, too often women who dare recognise injustice too close to home enough to blow the whistle are condemned, not by accident, but by loved ones or colleagues protected by the code of silence who wouldn’t hurt a fly.

We can no longer use “children are so resilient”, or “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” to explain away, justify behind closed doors, crimes committed within the code of silence, nor outside it.

No legal system can ever be perfect, however, our victim-survivor blaming broken beyond repair dressed up dinosaur needs to become extinct, and we need to create something resembling a civilised justice system.

To survive the injustice of abuse and the secondary wounding perpetrated by the dinosaur can at times be a rocky road, but this road to freedom, whatever form it takes, is sure as hell worth the effort.

There is support on the road to freedom.

Above all, believe in yourself.

HOW lucky are we to have a gentleman like Sir Peter Cosgrove to represent all things Australian in this country.

Each and every time that he attends a function or speaks publicly he demonstrates a strength of character that is to be admired.

If we should ever need to find a president for this fine country it would appear that it would be a real task to find a person in the corridors of Canberra that would have the respect, personal qualities and public presence of Sir Peter to take control.

I am sure that most, if not all Australians wish him well in his retirement.

WELL said Peter Newsom (The Examiner, February 20) "Launceston CBD plans needs reviewing". Launceston is in danger of becoming a moribund place.  

The reasons for this decline are various and complex but mainly due to the expansion of shopping centres within the suburban population centres (with free parking).

The days when people had to come into the city for shopping are gone.  

To revive the CBD we need to fill all those unused upstairs areas of buildings with apartments, thus giving resonance and new life to the city.  

Perhaps the council could consider a public meeting for ratepayers to contribute their ideas on revitalising the CBD?

A proposal for an extra 139 car parking spaces will be welcomed by some LGH staff.

Many hundreds of patients, family, carers and visitors attend the hospital daily.

Where are their nearby parking facilities?

Many are sick and elderly.

Walking long distances and challenging hills make access difficult for them.

For some, it has become necessary to take a taxi or others park where they shouldn’t.

Ockerby Gardens seems a large, under utilised space.

Launceston and Northern  Tasmanians would benefit greatly from a co-located private hospital and several multi-storey car parks such as the ones in Paterson Street.

Landscaping would no doubt create garden sanctuaries for outdoor enjoyment and respite, one area even dedicated as a memorial to the gardens; and initial use as a cemetery.

Councils and governments should get together and provide these first-class facilities.

UTE Mueller (The Examiner, February 21) does not understand the subject of imputed credits which the Labor party intends to abolish if it gains government.

Public companies pay tax on profits and then distribute dividends to shareholders from remaining profit.

Self-funded retirees should not be expected to pay a second tax on these profits.

That is called double dipping.

If the income of a retiree is just over the threshold to qualify for a pension, the changes proposed by Labor would create many more pensioners who would then be eligible for all the associated benefits plus the pension.

How would this be funded?

All income earners would then be expected to pay more tax to fund this scheme.