In Tasmania (as of 30 May), 228 cases of COVID-19 have resulted in 13 deaths, translating to a death rate of 5.7 per cent. Across the rest of Australia, 6957 cases have resulted in 90 deaths, a death rate of 1.3 per cent.

The death rate in Tasmania is more than four times higher than in the rest of Australia. How might this be explained? An older, sicker, poorer population. Not really. A state government failing to take action? No. A cruise ship? No more so than anywhere else. Medical incompetence? No evidence of that.

The explanation must lie in the incapacity of the health system to respond in timely and appropriate ways. We have witnessed for years (under the watch of governments of all sides) the funding, staffing and policy crises affecting our health and aged care systems.

Add the consequences of the forced casualisation of much of the workforce and we have the ingredients of a disaster waiting to happen. In all the rhetoric about Tasmanians needing to respond to the pandemic, we have heard no political leader or health care policy-maker address the need for proper levels of funding, staffing, training and equipment for our hospitals, medical centres and aged care facilities.

For this, our leaders should stand condemned, regardless of our appreciation for many of the other aspects of their response.

LAST Friday, Mr Stewart Robert, federal Government Services Minister, announced 373,000 Australian income tax payers would now be refunded $721 million raised against 470,000 debts illegally levied against them. That's an average of $1933 for each and every person illegally charged with a debt they did not owe.

If I am ever short changed by any amount I rightly feel swindled. If I am typical then what must each and everyone of these 373,000 victims of government feel?

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday: "I think the government has great regrets about any pain or injury that has been caused here. We are making it right". What an utterly weak and pathetic response from Mr Morrison.

The so-called robodebt was an illegal action perpetrated by officers of the bureaucracy for which Morrison has ultimate responsibility. It has caused immeasurable pain to so many people over a protracted period.

This disgraceful breach of administrative procedure, exercised by the highest authority in the land, should be pursued to the maximum extent possible and, if necessary, to the Federal High Court of Australia in order that adequate compensation is paid to all of those who remain its victims.

This whole sorry episode is an example of gross mismanagement by the current federal government led by Prime Minister Morrison.

I WISH to know if the proposed Fragrance Hotel is being built on the premise that tourist numbers will return to 'normal', post COVID-19. My concern is that it won't.

Many people will be afraid to travel, particularly overseas.

I suspect that the days of cheap airfares may also be behind us.

Also, many unfortunate people may have had their employment hours reduced, or indeed terminated.

All of these factors don't augur well for the future of tourism, as we knew it. Launceston is unique with it's beautiful architecture, and few high-rise buildings. Why risk this for a doubtful future in tourism?

COVID-19 has already demonstrated what happens to tourism when the world goes into lockdown. Let's not make the same mistake in the future.

As for employment, I suspect that casual work in the tourist season isn't exactly what most people need.

Let's think more deeply about the way forward in Launceston, and not cling to past ideas and values. Ideally, I would love to see a vibrant, busy Launceston, with local businesses employing local people.

That way, the money also remains in the state.

FRAGRANCE Hotel appeal to proceed after Tasmanian government rules out intervening (The Examiner, May 31). It appears that the Property Council has no respect for the importance of the separation of powers which are a key element of any functional liberal democracy.

Not content with an already significant influence on state government "planning reform" policy it appears now the Property Council wants the government to interfere with the Tasmanian Planning Commission and Resource Management Planning Appeal Tribunal processes whenever it doesn't suit development interests.

History has time and again shown that unlimited power in the hands of one person or group in most cases means that others are suppressed or their powers curtailed. The separation of powers in a democracy is to prevent abuse of power.

The desperate attempts by Brian Wightman to ostracise local people exercising their democratic right to object to development is more than just a little disturbing and more like outright bullying by an organisation that represents the interests of multi-billion dollar property development companies and has a staff of around 100 people nationwide.