Letters to the editor | February 23, 2021

Having been to the Middle East and fully aware of the cruel fate, after the long and tortuous journey that awaits the poor creatures involved in Australia's live export industry, I share his concerns.

Mr Douglas also highlights cruelty in horse racing through excessive whipping and greyhound racing; I equally share these concerns and wonder if he is doing something, as I am, to prevent this cruelty?

The point Mr Douglas is missing is that duck shooting, the slaughter of native Tasmanian waterbirds, is considered to be a sport and legally and morally there never should be any form of cruelty in sport.

Historically there has been massive cruelty in duck shooting, and in this era there should be none, but sadly there still is and that is why Duck shooting should be banned. In Tasmania this will happen, hopefully very soon, as it already has in many other Australian states.

BARRY Prismall is described as "a former deputy editor and Liberal adviser" in the footnote to his articles (The Examiner, February 21). How would he feel if a writer described him as a carpet-slippered, curmudgeonly has-been?

His description of Christine Milne as a nobody housewife from North-West Tasmania before she led the campaign against the Wesley Vale Pulp Mill, is a patronising and inaccurate assessment of an articulate intelligent person who had made her mark as an educator well before her entry into politics. His comment also demeans the many nobody housewives who sustain families, make our Tasmanian communities what they are and keep the volunteer show on the road.

IN REGARD to the recent news story about the national anti vaccination protests.

These stories do not deserve the headline status it was given.

In my opinion it just gives oxygen to these minority elements who in my view are just craving publicity. I know it is newsworthy, but in these circumstances prior to the vaccination roll out we don't need those fools at first. Do not give them relevance.

AUSTRALIAN of the Year Grace Tame seems to have set a confidence precedent for women to speak-out on sexual assault.

Allegations of serial sexual assault by a former federal Liberal Party staff member without ministerial responsibility and accountability for not providing a safe workplace, duty of care, combined a toxic political culture is quite perplexing.

Either Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds and/or Prime Minister Scott Morrison, must bear responsibility, and fall on their individual/collective sword(s).

IT ANNOYS me greatly that the AFL keeps saying Tassie cannot afford a team.

We have a population greater than Geelong and the Gold Coast and not much smaller than Freo.

We have produced more great footballers than most states. Hobart people support the Hurricanes, and up to 20000 go to support them. Bring back the three dominant leagues in Tassie of TFL etc.

How many people of my age can remember when John Devine came to North Hobart and missed a few early games and then took them to a premiership.

Over 10,000 saw these games.

We support cricket in Tassie, and nowhere near the crowds go to them. I don't want my grandson to aim to play for another state or team other than Tasmania. Play alternate games in the North and South.

OUR love of the game has brought us undone. It's a business now. It is work for players, and they are well rewarded.

A first-year AFL draftee will earn more than the whole playing budget, including coaching staff of a rural Tassie club.

Both players and money are getting harder to come by at the second tier level: NTFA, SFL, NWFL. There is no club loyalty.

Loyalty is to mates first and individual choice second. These are the cultural mores they have been born into.

Passion and feel for the game at the AFL executive-level reside in the shadows of MBA's, spreadsheets, KPI's, broadcast rights and corporate experience.

History counts for nothing. The grassroots are shrinking. Kids have NBA heroes these days, as well as Dusty, Danger and Buddy.

Since the 1970's we have produced thirteen test cricketers, including two captains and a one day captain.

There is plenty of sporting talent here.

A state team with an academy fed by regional comps will work; cricket has shown us the way. The AFL has the money but neither the guts nor heart. It's time they listened to our Premier, who has plenty of both.

I WAS born in Tassie and lived there for 30-odd years. The games played by successive AFL administrations in sucking the state dry of money and players are deplorable.

The AFL Commission is supposed to be the custodian of the game and has completely failed in its role in this regard. Hang your head in shame, AFL commission.