Polo Pony Deaths
BIOSECURITY Tasmania has accused TT-Line of breaching animal welfare laws (The Examiner, December 9).
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The ponies are alleged to have suffocated on a voyage across Bass Strait in 2018
TT-Line chairman Mike Grainger could have helped his cause by releasing the vehicle-deck air quality reports and other information under Right to Information.
He has failed to do this. I still don't have them. Become annoyed as much as you like.
This action alone is damaging your brand.
Clive Stott, Grindelwald.
Non-fatal strangulation Law
NON-FATAL strangulation, choking and suffocation in an abusive relationship are huge red flags that you are with a violent and dangerous abuser and a precursor to escalating violence and death.
As well as causing serious harm to a victim such as physical injury, loss of consciousness, traumatic brain injury, wide-ranging psychological and emotional health impacts and death, strangulation is the clearest indicator of abuse that leads to the murder of a partner (overwhelmingly a female partner) and/or children.
The new criminal offence for strangulation, (taken up by all Australian states other than Tasmania), comes after research found that women suffering such abuse were seven times more likely to die by homicide, compared to other family violence victims.
This is why Tasmanian law must be reformed so that non-fatal strangulation, choking and suffocation are standalone offences. In the absence of a specific law, strangulation is typically charged as common assault, which carries much lower sentences (typically maximum penalties of three years in prison for assault charges, with law reform the maximum penalty for strangulation is seven years).
From a victim of lived experience of strangulation, choking and suffocation in my abusive relationship, he attempted to strangle me on numerous occasions, twice to where I was close to unconsciousness.
In the 1980s when I began a relationship with the abuser, I had no idea I was in such dangerous territory.
Since learning about the seriousness of these abuses I now understand the urgency behind Tasmanian law being reformed.
Deborah Thomson, Chasm Creek.
Bridget Archer is a Liberal
THE good people of George Town and Bass must understand clearly that their federal MHR Bridget Archer is a member of the Liberal party and, therefore, obligated to vote in parliament in support of whatever legislation the coalition is putting through the House.
Mrs Archer can bleat all she likes about some issues and its undesirable effect upon her voter base, like the prospect of the Indue card extended to all welfare recipients across the nation, but in the end, she will vote as her Liberal party dictates. Bass is a very marginal seat at the best of times.
The George Town people, in voting for their former mayor, created a very tight victory for the Morrison government by a margin of one seat.
As a direct consequence of that choice, we now have the Morrison government inflicting severe pain on welfare recipients and workers across Australia.
Robodebt, the Indue card, work choices, these are just the tip of the iceberg under coalition policy. Mrs Archer will support all these measures.
Kevin O'Dea, Launceston.
Hodgman appointment
I DON'T agree with Kenneth Gregson's comment (The Examiner, December 7) that Will Hodgman's diplomatic appointment to Singapore is ludicrous. Get the facts right.
He has been appointed Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, not the High Commissioner of Singapore, that would be ludicrous. Some might say that such appointments are inappropriate, jobs for the boys - but that does not make them ludicrous. Former premiers and federal and state ministers from both sides of politics have much to offer in this space and have made significant contributions to the promotion of Australia's international interests.
Examples include Barry O'Farrell, High Commissioner in Delhi and Nick Greiner, Consul General in New York.
Both are former NSW Premiers.
Of note, some appointments are made from the other side of the Chamber.
The government recently appointed former ALP Minister, Gary Gray Ambassador to Ireland and Kevin Rudd appointed Tim Fischer as Australia's first resident Ambassador to the Holy See.
Adrian Wood, Newstead.
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill
I have avidly tuned into every minute of the Tasmanian government's debate on the End of Life Choices (Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2020.
Both sides of government must be sincerely applauded on the way the proceedings have been conducted in both Parliamentary Houses.
Nearly all MPs from both sides of the debate spoke in such a heartfelt, compassionate and respectful manner.
What I found to be most uplifting was the endless recounting of stories that had been shared with MPs by their constituents. These had had a profound effect on many.
The unanimous vote for VAD in the Upper House was indeed a globally historic event but we also need to acknowledge that overall, 33 out of 40 MPs supported this Bill.
This 82.5 per cent level of support shown in the parliament accurately reflects that of public opinion and exemplifies that democracy is alive and well in Tasmania.
An amazing and reassuring effort by so many.