It was concerning to hear her say that she 'could not function' without her mobile phone as she organised everything on it.

When I said I have never had one and therefore don't miss not having one the lady was amazed, and looked at me rather strangely.

I say this: if a middle aged lady can't go without her mobile phone (not even for a day ), heaven help our Generation Y who have been born with one practically shoved into their hands.

Robert Lee, Summerhill.

THE disruption of our life support system through a number of interactive feedback systems means that our lifestyle has to change radically and rapidly.

For anyone who cares to investigate, the facts are obvious.

Ignorance is a form of denial, and denial is a form of prejudice. We no longer have the luxury of time.

Decades have been squandered, during which we could have been making the transition to a more sustainable and stable society.

The situation continues to deteriorate, making us more vulnerable to catastrophic events.In the interests of survival, we need a truly democratic system, but those in power will not allow it. They're committed to the economy, not the people. Without people there is no economy.

Without a habitable environment there will be no people. Surely it's obvious where our priorities should be.

Peter Needham, Bothwell.

WITH the euphoria of re-entry to the National Basketball League by a Tasmanian team, is it a classic case of "socialising the losses and privatising the profits".

Larry Kestelman, a very successful property developer, with his ongoing Capitol Grand, $800 million property development in South Yarra, may have also mixed business with his sporting NBL pleasure in Hobart?

Kenneth Gregson, Swansea.

A FRIEND of mine from fire affected NSW Mid North Coast travelled to Canberra to sit in the visitors' gallery, in time for the first week of federal Parliament.

Each of his party wore a shirt with a letter on it, together when sitting it would have spelt 'no more coal'.

They were prevented from entering, it would demean the house and dignity they were told.

So he changed his shirt and went back in.

He was appalled at the behaviour, stupidity and shouting of the collective house.

He is baffled at how anyone could demean the dignity of the house any more than politicians do?

Peter Taylor, Midway Point.

WE are always hearing about the endless economic development in Hobart. We in the North have been waiting endlessly for our turn to develop tourism.

Suddenly our government is realising the North's appeal to tourists with the expansion of the Launceston Airport and a $200 million dollar project on Cradle Mountain.

Like Burnie and Devonport the towns of Prospect, Hadspen, Hagley, Carrick, Westbury, Birralee, Exton, and Deloraine have waited for our turn for tourism development, and here it comes.

Now for some ungodly reason our government wishes to place a maximum security prison smack in the middle of the route to the GWT in an historic town full of young families and older folks.

This is a huge mistake. It will undoubtedly destroy Brand Tasmania.

The prison will not only dominate a simple town, but it will be a horrific disfigurement on the route to the Great Western Tiers.

The truth is that no one stops in or near a prison town.

On your holiday do you stop into a prison town or quickly drive through?

Hence, the fact that other towns around this monstrous prison will forfeit all economic benefit if they vote for the Meander Valley maximum security prison.

The Liberals are now dictating to the Northern residents that we are not entitled to endeavour or plan on our own lucrative Airbnb businesses as they themselves are heavily invested in Hobart.

Let's all wake up because we all wish to prosper; not just Hobart.

Brandan Cormack, Prospect.

WITH the state rapidly heading into coronavirus recession and chaos, it's time to put the brakes on the Northern prison plan.

The $270 million-plus of hard-earned taxpayer's money into a concrete warehouse for prisoners is not going to kickstart a prison-led recovery for the whole state.

It won't fix the budget, or help the state's economy escape from the cuffs of the financial downturn.

It was never going to solve overcrowding at Risdon prison this side of 2026 or later.

And never the best plan to give access to prisoner's families.

Not much good for Westbury either or Smithton, Hobart and most of the state.

It's time for the premier to have the courage of his convictions, and bail out of a bad plan.

Peter Mackenzie, Westbury.