Parking Solution
HERE'S a suggestion to solve the university parking problem in the future.
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Why not approach the owners of the Kmart complex to see if they would agree to a multi-story car park being built on the back half of the existing car park?
The upper levels could be leased by the university with its entrance via a boom gate for staff and students.
It would look similar to the new parking at C.H. Smith development.
Kmart would still have the same amount of parking on the ground level but would gain extra parking at Christmas when the university is on holidays.
Greg Mitchell, Kings Meadows.
Say No To New Coal Mines
I SUPPORT a motion to ban all new coal mines in Tasmania.
It is ludicrous that the government would provide monetary support to explore for coal in the state - this is sending the wrong message to coal investors.
Considering that almost 5 per cent of the state turned out at climate rallies last month - we must listen to the people.
Coal is a stranded asset. Instead of supporting coal, the government must invest in renewables and move towards a just transition and keep coal in the ground.
Fiona Beer, Mount Stuart.
Seniors Week kick
MONDAY was the first official day of Senior's Week.
How many of our seniors will board a Metro bus and show their seniors card - only to be told they have to pay to travel?
After nearly two decades of free travel for seniors during seniors week the Hodgman government has axed the service.
There has been no advertising to explain to seniors they must pay to travel this year.
How many will be caught out on Monday?
It is a slap in the face for our senior citizens and another cruel cut by the state government.
I know that a token effort was made to justify this decision: seniors who filled out an online survey received a $5 credit on their Metro Green Card (limited to 1300 cards).
Assuming 1,300 seniors with internet access did the survey, that $5 only equals two trips.
Home and back from a single senior's event - when there are 500 activities and events planned for seniors week.
The Council for the Ageing deserves every accolade for that 500-event program across the state.
Last year 11,000 seniors used the free Metro travel service - vital to them to attend the hundreds of wonderful events planned by COTA.
This year, how many will be sitting at home reading the program instead of attending the events it lists thanks to the state government?
Our seniors deserve better.
Carol Brown, Labor Senator for Tasmania.
Creating opportunities
Senator Helen Polley's letter about Tasmania's so-called "full-time jobs crisis" (The Examiner, October 14) paints a picture of dire unemployment proportions, but does not mention any of the employment solutions the Morrison Government has initiated in the state.
Since the government was elected in 2013, employment in Tasmania has increased by 8.1 per cent, with figures released on October 17 showing 248,000 Tasmanians employed as of August this year. Full-time employment has increased by 4.7 per cent, over this period, while part-time employment has risen by 13.8 per cent.
Our government is investing more than $525 million in the Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow Skills Package, which was announced in the 2019-20 Budget.
Senator Polley called on the government to demonstrate a commitment to Tasmania's regional communities. This commitment is addressed in part through our $50 million trial of new Industry Training Hubs in 10 regions across Australia, with one set to be placed in Tasmania's North-West. These training hubs will improve job opportunities for young people by creating better linkages between schools and local industry, developing much-needed skills for the occupations that are in demand within Northern Tasmania.
Under the Regional Employment Trials program operating in Tasmania's North and North-West, employment facilitator James McCormack is working with Regional Development Australia and local stakeholders on projects that address the regions' employment challenges.
These projects are supported through a $10 million Local Employment Initiative Fund. To date, eight projects have had contracts executed, totalling $826,317 in funding. The Stronger Transitions program also operates in North and North-West Tasmania, helping workers who are facing retrenchment to transition to new jobs and prepare for future jobs. Between July 1, 2015, and August 31, 2019, Jobactive providers achieved more than 44,000 job placements in Tasmania. In particular, employment in construction in the state's North and North-West is projected to grow by 1000, or 21.6 per cent, over the next five years to May 2023.
Instead of a "crisis", our employment figures, programs and projections show Tasmanians are preparing for work now and into the future. This activity supports the state's continued economic growth, which was highlighted as "good" in the Deloitte Business Outlook, published on October 14.
Senator Polley should be encouraging growth in Tasmania instead of attempting to incite fear in job seekers.