Apples and oranges
So Westbury people should be happy about a prison five kilometres away because Deloraine doesn't mind Ashley four kilometres from their town? Comparing a maximum security prison complex of 270 inmates with a detention centre holding a handful of juveniles, is like comparing a watermelon with a grape, or a snake bite with a flea bite. Sorry, but they are really not the same.
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Heather Donaldson, Westbury.
Does distance matter?
So we're hoping the people of Westbury will be happy that the prison is no longer going to be built on their doorstep at 2.1 kilometres and moving to 5.2 kilometres. I'm wondering whether they are still happy to have the major highway so close at under two kilometres and that huge drug production facility also under two kilometres?
John Collins, Perth.
Prisons are problematic
I can't understand why any working-class person is in favour of Minister Elise Archer's prison. Prisons are a 19th century answer to a problem that they had with working classes getting uppity. Either hang 'em or imprison 'em! How many of today's prisons in Australia are home to any of the hugely rich bankers who commit millions of dollars in crimes that range from money laundering to arms sales? I'll tell you: none!
If you're wealthy, you can skip prison and just give the impression that you've lost your job and must leave the stage with suitcases of cash. It's time we realised that if we spent the money on lifting people out of poverty, provided adequate mental health programs and improved education then the 'lower classes' wouldn't need to revert to crime.
I don't deny that there'll always be a need to incarcerate some dangerous people, but seriously, look around the world and see where prisons are being closed, and why.
Peter Wileman, Westbury.
Cheap shot
What a petty comment from State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson (The Examiner, June 20) when adding to the story about the proposed new prison. He said, "It would be fair to say that there would be some people in this state who would not support it anywhere".
I beg to differ and would argue not one person in Tasmania is against a new prison being built, somewhere. Those sorts of comments from a politician are just cheap shots at those who are opposed to this going ahead in their community.
Daryl Camino, George Town.
The real sin?
WE have to assume that Christopher Brohier's objective in his letter opposing voluntary assisted dying (The Examiner, June 16) is to minimise what he sees as the sin of suicide. If so, he needs to remember that dishonest scaremongering is also a sin. He also needs to recognise that in arguing against voluntary assisted dying, he is arguing against his own objective.
The main impact of the legislation proposed will almost certainly be to increase the proportion of the unfortunate people who qualify for assistance who die naturally. A substantial number of premature suicides and, often disastrous, suicide attempts are made because the patients can see no recourse to assistance while they they are still capable of acting. Where they have the confidence that help is available in ultimate need, they are more likely to hold on and die without assistance.
That is why most of us want the legislation to be passed.
It will reduce the suffering of the patients and their families and contribute to minimising premature suicide and attempts.
It fits perfectly with the excellent palliative care that should always be available but is not always sufficient.
Bill Godfrey, New Town.
Independent Legislative Council
KERRY Finch is so right indicating the Legislative Council should remain a robust fully independent 'House of Review' and not become merely another parliament full of party members, of whatever persuasion, all toeing the party line becoming just a rubber stamp for the government of the day (The Examiner, June 18).
If this occurs it may as well be totally abolished as it would no longer fulfill its traditional role and become nothing more than an unnecessary drain on taxpayer funds.
I urge the Rosevears electorate to consider carefully and on August 1 vote for a truly Independent candidate, and such people are standing, so that Tasmania's upper house can continue in the role it has long practiced and for which it was originally established.
Jim Collier, Legana.
Lazy politicking
SENATOR Eric Abetz needs to check his style guide before throwing around hackneyed expressions like "Virtue Signalling' (The Examiner, June 16). Yes, it doesn't take long for such expressions to become meaningless, especially once politicians get hold of them.
To quote Wikipedia, "Its overuse as an ad-hominem attack during political debate has rendered it a meaningless political buzzword".
It follows the demise of other divisive meaningless expressions such as "Champagne Socialist", "Latte Sipping" and "Woke" which politicians are also eager to use.
Politicians perpetuate and thrive on division in the community by using such language, creating a demonised, anonymous "other", which benefits their need to get re-elected. Communities are complex and, on most issues, we are "all in this together" - a unifying expression.
The senator also managed to create division by portraying the critical Black Lives Matter issue as a Right-Left issue, equally to his own advantage, not BLM.
Roll on the next pejorative buzzword to discredit the messenger, ignore the message and artificially divide the community.