Rapidly growing Legana is the ideal location for a second for the North. Soon there will be a new primary school and nursing homes nearby. A recreational facility for all ages to enjoy. I'll even put my hand up for caretaker.

Rob Booth, Riverside.

THROUGHOUT my long life, having experienced numerous treatments for a variety of injuries and illnesses, including open heart surgery, I have always felt confident, knowing that doctors are not permitted to kill, or authorise the killing of their patients.

While there was no requirement to keep me alive on life support machines, ending my life was never a treatment option. Mike Gaffney's assisted dying bill overturns that. It adds the ending of the patient's life to the doctor's list of treatment options.

I am not persuaded by claims that vulnerable people would be protected by a multitude of safeguard clauses. We are told that the decision is for the person to make, personal autonomy is the key, coercion of any kind would be against the law.

But no legislation can stop that. People break the law all the time. This is evidenced by domestic violence, mobile phone use while driving and drink driving - all are against the law.

Old and frail men and women who do not wish to be a burden are especially vulnerable to responding to the needs of others and at risk of manipulation, subtle or direct, by needy, sometimes greedy, family members. Physical frailty, reduced mental strength or perhaps feelings of guilt or regret, can make manipulation easy.

The safer course to pursue is to extend the provision of accessible high quality, well-funded and well-staffed care for the dying and their families, presently vastly inadequate in this state.

Pat Gartlan, Battery Point.

IT was interesting to see in the Australia verse Brazil Davis Cup match, the players were left to handle their own towels, rather than the ball-kids having that responsibility - obviously as a precaution against coronavirus.

It is to be hoped that this will lead to an end to ball-kids having to race back and forth like slaves with players' sweaty towels. Virus or no virus. It has been a ridiculous and unhealthy part of the game for too long.

Ian Macpherson, Newstead.

I HAVE lived, worked and paid taxes in Australia for over 40 years and am an Australian citizen. I have not claimed the Australian pension for several reasons.

As a recipient of the aged pension I immediately become a welfare recipient and subject to extraordinary restrictions on what I can and can't do - in short I lose my independence - something I value very much.

The application process for an aged pension requests personal and sometimes sensitive information about your relationships, which has very little do with assets and income, which I fully understand are accessible to be eligible.

As such I need to continue to work in order to survive, but even this (being tourist related) has taken a very steep decline.

I do have a part UK pension, which although small does help to pay a few bills.

Recently, I realised that as a pensioner I am eligible for quite a number of discounts electricity, motor vehicle, medical - certainly very worthwhile when your income is low.

But only if you are on an Australian pension or receive some other government payment.

As a UK pension holder, even though I do not cost the Australian taxpayer anything at all.

I am not entitled to any worthwhile concessions and any business or government body will only accept an Australian pension or concession card.

Paul Grigg, Launceston.

SO gatherings of over 500 are to be banned because of the virus. What is the first item on the TV news?

The fact that AFL games won't take place and it sounded as though the world had ended.

Very sad for the fans, but what about places such as the theatre, Dark Mofo and other events which have been in the making for months, with people putting in so much time and money?

At least one can watch AFL on TV if one wants to without affecting anyone and as one game is much like another it won't be such a disappointment.

As one can tell I'm an ardent sports fan.

Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.

A 28 day comment period before going to a vote in May? And a government review into the Tasmanian Planning Commission open for the same 28 day comment period?

I agree with Peter McGlone, it's all a bit too quick for something this significant. Have a look and have a say before the cut off time of April 9.

Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (and others) are preparing information to assist understanding and commenting.

In 2017 (The Examiner, September 21) commenting on a previous draft of the bill, Premier Peter Gutwein (then planning minister) said: "If a project would make a significant financial or social contribution as a result of it being tall, then the fact that it's tall basically rules it out because I have got to disregard height."

The new draft leaves high rise (and cable cars, prisons, large suburban and rural developments, developments in national parks and reserves) as eligible criteria for minister appointed/limited public comment decision making.

Victoria Wilkinson, Grindelwald.