Prompt action
NOT only the Aboriginal community but no doubt also all principled citizens of Tasmania commend both the Central Highlands residents and the Department of State Growth for the prompt action in removing the racist degradation of the dual name sign Yingina/Great Lake earlier this week.
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It is a depressing fact that there are still elements in Tasmanian society who are very slow to accept and appreciate such demonstrations of Tasmania's black history through signage of authentic names of places in palawa kani, the language of Tasmanian Aborigines.
On the flip side, it is encouraging to see the overwhelming positive response from and active uses being made by diverse sectors both within and beyond the state of over 200 original names shared directly by the Aboriginal community with the public on the pulingina, lutruwita webmap at www.tacinc.com.au/pulingina-to-lutruwita-tasmania-place-names-map/.
The public embrace the fact that they no longer have to wait for a handful of dual names to eventually become available through state government administrative processes, but can freely access hundreds of genuine Aboriginal names of places on the spot through their phones and other devices.
Annie Reynolds, coordinator, palawa kani Language Program.
People Power
CONGRATULATIONS to the residents at Invermay who were going to be impacted by the council's decision to allow Veolia to relocate to the old cement site.
Hats off to Danny Gibson who took the time to go and talk to the residents affected and to listen to their concerns.
It's about time our council listened to their rate payers rather than debating, quite often in closed meetings, decisions which affect our city.
Giving away various sites to the University of Tasmania is one example.
With every university in the country crying poor and getting rid of hundreds of staff, our university is still hell bent on spending millions at Inveresk for students who are invisible at the moment and for courses which probably won't be of any use.
They have a perfectly positioned site at Newnham, above flood level, not sitting on a swamp, and they only need to revamp that site at far less cost.
As students themselves say, they don't have the money to spend up big in the city and the council will have to spend millions trying to do something to offset the traffic problem at Inveresk.
Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.
Tasmanian Death Duties
ALL Australians are encouraged to accumulate savings for retirement through superannuation during their working life, to take the pressure financially off government in their retirement .
This is accomplished by the government setting up super schemes and personal organised super schemes, subject to all current gazetted taxes and declaration laws. Death duties?
Surely this comes under the double dipping accusation a tax upon a tax.
It is fundamentally wrong on so many fronts.
Self-funded retirees to avoid relying on the public purse have frugally acquired their retirement nest egg, and without question should be free of all additional taxes.
Saul Eslake expressed fairness (The Examiner, September 17), but how unfair is it to double dip on those who have made the sacrifice to save meeting all the rules.
It is also changing the goal posts laid out clearly over many years.
Tax reform is a great idea but be fair on those who have followed the rules.
Follow up on those who are not paying their fair share of tax and tax avoidance, plus a better rate for those who are.
Peter Doddy, Trevallyn.
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