WHO WOULD BE AN INVESTOR?
THE reason why there is a problem with finding rental accommodation is that laws favour the tenant way too much now, and there is no incentive for investors to enter the property market as they used too.
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When you think about it, tenants get a good deal from the property owner with land taxes paid for them, repairs, council rates and so on. Until state governments give investors an incentive to enter the property market and stop being scared off by the tenants union, there's no way any sane person would buy an investment property. And until both Labor and the Liberals realise this it won't change. The ongoing bullying of property owners by left-wing do-gooders is backfiring and not helping.
Rose Brown, Invermay.
MEG-ALOMANIA ALL A SHOW
IS Meghan in trouble with the capital M?
Are Meghan and Harry victims of a "calculated smear campaign"? I believe not. They are victims of their arrogance.
They never wanted privacy. They wanted to control the media. One doesn't have to be a Bulgarian clairvoyant to predict how this will play out.
But tantrums over tiaras and wearing diamonds gifted by an alleged murderous Saudi prince should not outweigh the gravity of the still uninvestigated allegations against Prince Andrew. As we all gasped at yet more royals touching their legacy on television, let's not lose focus on who is more deserving of condemnation. Meghan and Harry are appraising family life. But do remember she is an actor/actress first and foremost.
Bruce Webb, Launceston.
NOTING BUT RESPECT
I HAVE nothing but admiration and the utmost respect for the Northern Tasmanian woman who gave evidence as part of the aged care royal commission (The Sunday Examiner, March 7). It is admiration and respect that stems from my own experience giving evidence as part of a previously held royal commission. Giving evidence was one of the most stressful experiences of my life.
My driving force was in the knowledge that potentially any small morsel of my evidence, may support or validate the evidence of another participant.
It takes a truly inspirational person to give evidence at any royal commission.
That individual should be accorded the respect they deserve. Not disrespect or any recriminations for speaking out.
After all, their evidence may one day improve the life or care of a family member of the individual being disrespectful.
Anthony Camino, Youngtown.
GLOVER PRIZE QUESTIONS
ANOTHER year, another Glover exhibition to which we duly tootled off.
Is it better than last year?
I leave that up to others but I must say that some of the so-called landscapes made the eyes boggle and poor old John Glover would be turning in his grave. Two in particular caught the eye and made the imagination work overtime. Reading the pretentious blurbs from the artists, made one wonder what planet they were from. No doubt we will go again next year, just to see what strange ideas are put on canvas for the plebs to swivel their heads and marvel at.
It would be wonderful if more than four or five of the exhibits were landscapes, boring as that might be.
Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.
STATE RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE
WHAT a wasted resource we have in our railway system.
It owes its existence by carrying goods, very slowly between Hobart and the North and return.
In these times when we need to boost employment, cater for an increasing population and capitalise on tourism opportunities, there appears to be a willingness from federal and state governments to spend our way back into the black.
Here we have a severely neglected and inefficient piece of infrastructure.
The state owns the corridor of land that the tracks run through our beautiful countryside, but only the goods train drivers get to enjoy it. Why can't the government spend money upgrading the track to carry passengers with perhaps a couple of tourist stops between Launceston and Hobart?
Commuters could efficiently travel between the two major cities for business meetings, shopping or to visit as tourists and return within one day.
Short stretches of parallel tracks could be installed to allow the passenger train to pass the sidelined goods train.
The existing rail line could eventually join Devonport into the system enabling people to travel from the ferry to Hobart and stop in between without needing a car.
The result would be a service that takes more traffic off the roads, more efficiently moves goods, and offers a tourism experience (possibly including nostalgic steam power in the mix) that does not exist.
The Bridgewater Bridge could be improved to take rail when it's finished.
Peter Wileman, Westbury.
UNFAIR TRIAL BY MEDIA
THERE is no easy, simple answer to the situation facing Attorney-General Christian Porter.
Either the accusations against him are true or they are not, but the media appears to thrive on the assumption of guilt without considering the possibility of false memory.
There is valid research proving that people can hold to false memories and have difficulty changing their mind even when it is proved they are wrong.
The fact that the lady responsible for the accusations is no longer alive but had mental problems adds complexity to the situation as there is no way anyone can prove what she believed to be true was fact or fiction.
So, if there is possible doubt, should we not all move on and ask the media to cease harassing Mr Porter for what is becoming a pointless but malicious political witch hunt.