Considering loss of business due to this virus, but obviously not thought so by the City of Launceston council who have raised car parking rates to $2.40 per hour.

None so blind as those who refuse to see, and should be remembered come next council elections.

A BIG thank you to the Metro, state government and taxpayers for the free bus rides I and other were given for the last three months.

To the bus drivers, you are marvellous, always friendly and cheerful.

Thank you.

THE mood of the Ross community has changed from a week ago.

People are now hopeful that consultation with the council will be the path to seeing the pool remain open into the foreseeable future.

The pie in the sky $1.1 million upgrade will be a sticking point though as long as councillors keep banging on about it and using it as an excuse to close the pool.

They just don't get that the pool doesn't need a bucket load of cash thrown at it.

There is a much less expensive way to fix the few things that require attention.

The gold plated fix isn't needed and the community doesn't want it.

THE outstanding handling of the pandemic by Premier Gutwein has been compromised by permission for entry of unscreened workers from Victoria. The optics are awful.

Not only does it appear like a deal for business donors seeking cheaper labour from Victoria when there are qualified local tradesmen available, but it indicates an elitist entitlement.

Mr Gutwein's petulant response to criticism underlines the problem.

If the import of Victorian labour leads to an outbreak of the virus here after such success, he will be even more annoyed. And so will the public.

I WAS not surprised, but saddened by Senator Abetz's plea for Christians to rally against what he called "state sanctioned suicide", proposed by independent Legislative Councillor, Mike Gaffney (The Examiner, June 28).

Clearly the senator believes suffering terminally ill non Christians should just put up with their stressful condition, despite the pain and complications induced by their terminal condition and the drugs they are being offered to alleviate their pain and emotional distress.

Constipation, nausea, impaired thinking compounding their distress are just some of the things suffered by these unfortunate people.

The senator's plea comes despite a number of nationwide surveys which clearly show a large majority of Australians want the right to die peacefully, painlessly and at a time of their choosing.

Rather than cajoling the diminishing number of active Christians to oppose this choice the senator should be encouraging them to support the bill.

One hopes that Senator Abetz and his followers do not find themselves terminally ill, suffering beyond anything they could have imagined, despite palliative care and desperate for someone to help end their suffering.

THE article in (The Examiner, July 2) on Year 11 and 12 data appears not to recognise that the extension of high schools to Year 12 is about keeping more students engaged in education for longer. Our government policy of extending high schools to Year 12 is working. Our students are benefiting from many innovative partnerships between colleges and high schools.

Our policy has never been about high schools versus colleges, rather it is about providing diversity and choice and reinforces the message that education does not end after Year 10. Education provision is not a one size fits all model.

Many students in both urban and rural areas want to be able to access Years 11 and 12 at their local school. Extension schools are offering these students valuable alternative learning options. High schools and colleges are working together to support shared enrolments, course options, and access to specialist facilities.

I am very proud of the work of the staff in extension schools and colleges who are united in their aim to ensure every Tasmanian student is able to complete Year 12 or find an appropriate pathway in training or employment. We understand the benefits to the community and economy of continuing education and as such, we owe it to young Tasmanians to do all we can to engage them for longer in education in a model most suited to their individual learning needs and aspirations.

THERE'S all this noise around Tasmanians supporting tourism businesses in these hard times, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Channel 7 news on Thursday night interviewed businesses down on the Tasman Peninsula that were reopening now with restrictions being eased off. I was disgusted to hear the operators of the Tasmanian Devil Zoo say they would not be reopening until the planes are flying again. Obviously us Tasmanians aren't good enough for them. I'm happy to spend my dollars at the Tasmanian Zoo up near Launceston and hope all other Tasmanians do the same.