STOP OVERSEAS TRAVEL
BRINGING people in from overseas should stop immediately. These people want to come home because they know they can't get medical care overseas. These people chose to go overseas. These people pose a massive risk to all. People in Australia will die because of this. Shut the borders to all overseas flights until they get vaccinated.
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Time to stop this political madness, leave them where they decided to go.
Des Rigby, Youngtown.
CHINA-AUSTRALIA RELATIONS
CHINA does not respect Australia and loses face by sending students to Australia in preference to local institutions. Students can return to China with a taste for democracy.
Chinese students are welcome, but how long will it be before China adds education to the growing list of cancelled exports?
Mike Turner, Invermay.
DON'T FARM FORESTS
IT'S hardly surprising that forestry leaders have defended the industry against claims of deforestation "Forest industry hits out at WWF, after deforestation report", (The Examiner, January 16).
They have a vested interest. But so, it could be argued, does WWF.
The difference is, WWF is not harvesting trees for profit. And the WWF view of a forest is holistic, inclusive of all its biodiversity. For the timber industry, a forest is a resource to be harvested and replanted, as a monoculture. Australia has lost nearly 40 per cent of its forests, and the rate has accelerated in the last 60 years. A proportion of our remaining forest is fragmented or degraded by invasive weed species, feral animals and altered fire regimes. Logging of forests should stop, degraded land should be replanted, and timber should come only from plantations.
As David Attenborough said, "It's surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on earth".
Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Victoria.
ROBOFRAUD DEBACLE
EVEN when Centrelink have bent the knee on robofraud, even when the money they claim is owed has been paid, they still refuse to help people in need. How is this in any way fair to the people they have victimized and made so hard when they try and seek help? What are Centrelink's fraud victims supposed to do, rob a bank?
Davis Seecamp, Trevallyn.
DOLE BLUDGERS & FRUIT PICKING
IT has been interesting to read various comments about overseas fruit/veggie pickers brought in and that the unemployed should be compelled to take the work. The ignorance of such a view is breathtaking. Many unemployed are underemployed and entitled to some support due to not earning enough. They cannot simply give up their casual/part-time job that is ongoing for a few weeks of work. Then there are parents, who thanks to the Howard government, are also on unemployment benefits due to the age of their children. They can't just up and leave the kids alone, and childcare fees would outstrip any extra income. There is also the issue of fruit/veggie picking jobs not exactly being close to home, and certainly no public transport. People need to stop using the stereotypical 'dole bludger' as a basis for comment. It is not only lazy but incredibly ignorant.
Geoff McLean, Launceston.
FLUSHING A GOOD IDEA
PETER Lefevre is on the right track suggesting installing North Esk River lock gates to enable twice daily flushing of the Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary's upper reaches (The Examiner, January 15).
However, it is not necessary to go to that extent as such a method is already available at Trevallyn Dam.
Three electronically operated large capacity flood valves are located at the bottom of the dam wall which only needs the press of a button to activate and release all that beautiful fresh clean water which will flush the Estuary out in no time.
At the same time, a mini-hydro scheme could be installed and generate electricity while cleaning out the estuary's upper reaches. Simple and a win-win for everyone.
Jim Collier, Legana.
JUST A THOUGHT
MANY wide-ranging comments, from the man in the street to the professional, have been made regarding the Tamar Estuary, especially regarding the silt problem.
Some years back a concrete retaining wall was built along the north bank of the North Esk from the Charles Street Bridge towards the rowing club. Its purpose was to hold back the river bank so it would not collapse into and clog up the North Esk.
At low tide, when the work was first finished, you could see about two metres of wall height holding back the river bank.
Today, silt build-up in the North Esk reaches to the top of the wall.
Now, that's worth a thought.
Jim Dickenson, Launceston.
A RIVER THAMES SOLUTION
THE junction of the Tamar Estuary, South and North Esk rivers having been greatly impacted by human activity, will need a substantial human solution.
The river banks from Kings Wharf to the Charles Street Bridge, Seaport, Home Point and around to the West Bank opposite Kings Wharf appear to be the main areas of public concern.
Over time and at great public expense, this area's river banks could be modified by constructing an embankment similar to the famous Thames embankment in London.
This would create an esplanade/promenade area for the public's enjoyment and by reducing the width of the surface area of flow, increase the velocity of tidal flows and maybe reduce the amount of visible mud.
To improve this area and create a sense of place for the community, this is the sort of grand long term planning required.
Any more ideas out there?