Exploring all avenues
IT is sad and disappointing to hear family members tell of loved ones having horrible deaths. Why, in this day and age, is this happening?
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The death of a loved one is, understandably, a time of grief and sadness. But this can be lessened considerably if that person has been cared for with dignity and respect and has received excellent symptom control.
I firmly believe the request for voluntary assisted dying would be reduced if a person approaching the end of life could be reassured that they would not suffer a distressing death. It is evident that this is not always happening and the system is letting the dying person and their loved ones down.
Certainly people should have choices for their end of life care. These choices must include excellence in end of life care, wherever a person chooses to receive that care, be it at home, in an aged care facility or a dedicated hospice (which is not available in Northern Tasmania).
All avenues need to be explored (and made available), not just VAD.
Barb Baker, Longford.
Cruel word games
SENATOR Wendy Askew is being cute with the truth when she claims there is no cut to JobSeeker (The Examiner, July 28).
In September the JobSeeker coronavirus supplement will be cut from $550 a fortnight to $250 a fortnight. It will be cut again in December. Senator Askew may think herself clever by claiming it's the supplement being cut, and not JobSeeker itself, but what it means is $300 less in the pockets of unemployed Tasmanians at the same time Australia goes into recession for the first time in 30 years. No-one's impressed by these cruel word games. They want to see a plan for jobs, and while they're looking for work they want to be able to pay their bills.
The fact is, tens of thousands of Tasmanians have joined job queues this year alone, including many who've worked their entire lives. I am sick of the lazy Liberal chant that "the best form of welfare is a job". It is a tired cliche that is demeaning to the vast majority of unemployed Tasmanians who desperately want a job, and the many others who desperately want more hours in the job they have, but must live with the grim reality that for every 20 unemployed Tasmanians there is just one job available.
I urge Senator Askew to treat Tasmanians doing it tough with more respect.
Brian Mitchell MP, Labor Lyons MHR
Matter of most urgency
WITH the global climate emergency, land management is of the greatest importance.
A lot of people, especially youth could and should be employed in fuel reduction, weed eradication, rehabilitation and wetlands and river improvements. This means boots on the ground, people onsite all the time.
It's not fair to expect volunteers to look after things in their spare time, or to expect firefighters to put themselves at risk because of the present lack of management.
Surely it's more cost effective to put resources into prevention than into chasing up law breakers after the event. This is more urgent than new bridges and roadworks.
Peter Needham, Bothwell.
New lease on life
CONGRATULATIONS to the George Town Council for their forward thinking.
I live near and look over the venue of the old RSL. It has been sad to view the building which is slowly showing it's unoccupied look with fading paint, and grounds not maintained on a regular basis since being purchased by an out of area group.
It will be wonderful to see such a well known building have a new lease on life in such a productive manner for the growth for the George Town community.
Dot Smith, George Town.
Wonderful health care
AS a recent patient in Ward 6D at the Launceston General Hospital, I wish to acknowledge the professional care given to me at all levels during this time.
We are fortunate to have access to this wonderful health care.
Len Read, Newstead.
Taking care of children
FROM reading the grandmother's account of taking care of her grandchildren (The Examiner, July 31) it seems to me nothing has changed in the past 50 years.
Our government only pays out for the care of children in care to those who meet certain criteria - such as religious organisations and those who are chosen by government.
Doreen Baker, West Launceston.
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