PLIGHT OF NATIVE ANIMALS
EACH year three billion native animals are killed by feral cats (The Examiner, February 6).
I don't believe a cat can kill a kangaroo, a wallaby or a wombat, let alone a tiger snake.
Each year 500,000 native animals die from roadkill in Tasmania alone.
The above shocking statistics have prompted a federal parliamentary inquiry to recommend the government fence off large tracts of land to save native animals from feline predation.
No recommendation of fencing off roads.
Starving feral cats or roadkill, humans are to blame.
A R Trounson, Needles.
THYLACINE STATUES
POOR blind Freddy could see the mall tigers would be a trip hazard, why couldn't our council?
Ron Baines, Kings Meadows.
NAVIGATING CENTRELINK
AN UNEMPLOYED person who is renting may be eligible for rent assistance from Centrelink in addition to the standard JobSeeker payment. An unemployed person who is paying interest on a housing loan (and thereby effectively renting from a financial institution) is not eligible for an additional Centrelink payment comparable to rent assistance.
That could be very unfair.
In the second example above, the exemption of the home from the assets test for eligibility for the JobSeeker payment does not really assist the unemployed person in cash flow terms to meet immediate financial commitments. If no superannuation balance were available to draw upon to meet living costs, the situation could be dire.
An approximate way to correct this identified anomaly without the administrative burden of informing and updating Centrelink of the interest component of housing loan payments for unemployed individuals, might be to retain the JobSeeker Supplementary Payments rather than phase them out. Those supplementary payments reduce financial hardship and distress and help underwrite the stability of financial institutions (less bad debts or repayment arrears) and the economy generally.
Mark Webb, Launceston.
SAFER INTERNET DAY
SCOTT Morrison has praised Safer Internet Day yet, unlike Canada, he refuses to take restrictive action against pornhub, which freely sends images of children being raped into Australia and he will not implement opt-in laws whereby anyone wanting Internet porn must apply for it.
Thanks to ScoMo's inaction our small children have unrestricted access to the most vile, hardcore porn imagery imaginable.
Just think how bad it would be if there wasn't a Safer Internet Day.
Jack Sonnemann, Lucaston.
MARGARET COURT
MIKE Grey's letter (The Examiner, February 9) shows an appalling lack of understanding of the Australian Honours and Awards system.
While I don't agree with Margaret Court's faith or her views on homosexuality, I respect her faith and her tireless efforts to improve people's lives.
Mr Grey's use of the word "hate" only applies to his narrow attitude.
Stuart Bryce, Lulworth.
GOOD SCIENCE
THERE is something deeply ironic that Michael House, whom I quote: "Adam Holmes could have commented on the avalanche of bias, censorship and misinformation driving thinking people away from mainstream media" has just had two letters published in, you guessed it mainstream media (The Examiner, February 4,5).
Michael also questions the safety of vaccines. In particular the Pfizer-Moderna vaccine. Well, Michael, if there is one thing that will undermine people's trust in a vaccine, it's an unsafe vaccine.
Vaccine safety in this country is in the capable hands of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - a regulatory body independent of government and private pharmaceutical companies.
Michael notes: "that there were other combinations of cheaper drugs that have been on the market for many years that can mitigate symptoms of COVID-19."
Sorry Michael but if it comes to taking your advice or that of the TGA, I'll be taking the latter, thank you very much.
Tony Newport, Hillwood.
VACCINATION PRIORITIES
IT IS a given the initial COVID-19 vaccinations should go to frontline workers, then at-risk people, including our elderly.
May I suggest the second round be used to target our First Nations Australians.
As a race they are possibly more vulnerable and what a tangible gesture from healthy second Australians to recognise true reconciliation and not just sorry words.
Graeme Neilsen, George Town.
AM I MISSING SOMETHING?
In (The Examiner, February 5) I read a letter from a Preben Kristensen about his free bowel test coming back positive, then finding out to have a colonoscopy he would have to wait three months. This is only one person out of many many other people needing tests or operations.
On Saturday (The Examiner, February 6) I read two articles; the UTAS stadium proposed a $208 million upgrade, and the Launceston council released plans for a $208 million development of the stadium in a bid to make Launceston the sporting capital of Tasmania. I checked through the paper twice, never once did I see $208 million to upgrade the Launceston hospital, making it easier for not only the hard working doctors and nurses, but hope to many people like Preben Kristensen. All hope is not lost, the ambulance can always go to the $208 million best sporting capital of Tasmania, until there is room for them to go to the LGH.
