A Fair Go Jacqui?
JACQUI Lambie's deal with the Morrison Government to waiver Tasmania's housing debt is a welcome boost to public housing, though it remains to be seen how other state funding will be reduced by Canberra.
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In striking her deal, it must not be forgotten that she agreed to the passage of grossly unfair tax laws that will in the longer term overwhelmingly benefit high-income taxpayers like herself.
On her salary of $200,000, her weekly tax cut will be $220 while the great majority of taxpayers get a tax cut of only $20 or less - and the poorest taxpayers (under $37,000) get a weekly tax cut of a mere $5, a cup of coffee. Ms Lambie refused to support Labor-Green proposals to increase tax cuts to lower and middle-income supporters, and to exclude the contentious tax cuts for high-income earners.
The tens of billions of dollars that will now go to the rich will be taken from funding that is needed by hospitals, aged care, schools and social welfare generally.
Ms Lambie's dealmaking regarding the tax package completely neglected welfare recipients such as those struggling on pensions or the unemployed on the grossly inadequate Newstart.
And now it seems she is considering her support for singling out Newstart recipients for drug-testing and a cashless welfare card.
Senator Lambie likes to portray herself as representing the battlers in society.
However, her recent decisions have not been in the best interests of the most needy - in fact, just the opposite.
Patrick Naughtin, Sandy Bay.
National Reconciliation
THE state government seems to have run out of ideas with reconciliation. Despite Crown lands being seized through ethnic cleansing, genocide and murder, no land has been returned in fourteen years.
No effort on truth telling, no treaty talks, no engagement for seats in Parliament.
On Aboriginal place names, Premier Will Hodgman wants to fine Aborigines and the public for "unauthorised use". No warning of the punitive plan, and Aboriginal opinion ignored.
The state shows no interest in engaging the Aboriginal Land Council as managers of the West Coast Aboriginal Landscape Area.
The Robbins Island wind farm threatens tens of thousands of mutton birds yet Aboriginals are not including in planning processes. And during NAIDOC week, not a word of encouragement was heard from the Hodgman Government.
Michael Mansell, Aboriginal Land Council chair
GSBC debt to ratepayers
SO this is how the Department of Treasury and Finance brings the budget into surplus? Loans to local councils, ratepayers now footing a $5 million bill for big business, Tassal.
One has to ask what the cost to ratepayers will be if the Cambria Green development goes ahead? Who knows what deals were done. Wake up Tasmania before you are completely sold down the Swanee.
