But the last time I fell pregnant I just thought I could do the same thing until I was informed that it wasn't available in Tasmania anymore, but the medical abortion was (tablets to miscarriage).

Luckily in my case I had financial support to pay for a flight to Melbourne and back, accommodation and my appointment costs.

I cannot imagine how hard it would be for young first timers without family or financial support to find any help information regarding termination.

I was 17 when I had my first and 30 when I had my last and every time I made the right decision for me and my future and have absolutely no regrets.

Although I'm not a mum still I'm happy with my choice at the time.

More information and woman's health should be available in Tasmania for free, there's a lot I wasn't told even though I paid good money for specialists.

Jessica Aitchison, Victoria.

WHAT wonderful logic expressed by the Department of State Growth (The Examiner, February 13) as to why the department completely ruined Launceston's Metro bus services - it was to make bus travel easier for passengers.

Referring to complaints of West Launceston travellers no longer able to travel to the LGH with the new system, they were told to travel into the city, then transfer to another bus to take them back to the hospital.

How much easier is that?

The West Launceston bus previously stopped at LGH, travelled via Normanstone Road.

But there are no longer any buses travelling Normanstone Road, even with two retirement villages there.

This means when I go to town or grocery shopping, my only route home is struggling up the very steep hill of Lithgow Street, which in my 80th year is not as easy to do anymore, particularly laden with groceries.

So as a result of the intervention of the department, Launceston Metro is now getting a little less money from me and the taxi services a little more.

Good on you Department of State Growth, I think perhaps it is time to consider a name change.

W Devlin, South Launceston.

THE solution to the termination of pregnancy services problem is ridiculously simple.

The service should be accessible through our three major public hospitals.

Women with an unwanted pregnancy should be able to present to the emergency department, which should have a protocol to directly contact the obstetric registrar (without needing to involve an emergency doctor hence the four-hour wait) who can schedule an appointment in the next public obstetric clinic.

Here the appropriate consultation can occur and the patient set on either the medical or surgical termination pathway.

Public hospitals are the most efficient, anonymous, and most importantly the safest environment for this service.

Stand-alone termination clinics are a ridiculous, archaic concept.

These patients more often than not present a high anaesthetic risk, and they deserve the best environment, equipment, and personnel to minimise their risk as much as possible.

I suspect that the only reason termination services are not easily accessible in public hospitals is that a few religious wowsers at the top want to punish women for having sex without the intention to procreate.

It's funny how men never get punished this way for the same crime.

Tom Hall, Launceston.

I THOUGHT our politicians acted on our behalf and in our name.

Why is there so much secrecy?

Why don't our politicians answer straight questions with a straight answer?

Why is there so little transparency in the way our money is spent?

I fear for the future of our democracy.

Too many Australians don't question the way we are heading .

We all need to confront our representatives to change the direction Australia is heading.

Horst Schroeder, Devonport.

LABOR MHA Alison Standen isn't doing a thing to encourage landlords to invest in rental properties.

Her recent report on Housing Affordability includes capping the number of short stay nights and making it easier for tenants with pets.

Most pets are a nightmare, with owners having to put up with scratches on doors from dogs locked in or out, cats clawing at carpet around doorways or stairs, and "accidents" staining carpets beyond repair.

The smell won't even come out of a concrete slab. I once had a tenant who let his cockatoo loose in the house, and he gnawed a huge hole in a Baltic pine floor.

If big brother wants to step in and override the present system, landlords will leave in droves, and then where will you be?

Rod Force, Sandy Bay.

GENERAL Motors would have been eligible for some federal future submarine funding to prevent its brand from sinking.

Ed Sianski, West Moonah.