Letters to the editor | March 16, 2021

IT'S great to see the level of reporting on women's sport in The Examiner.

The words and pictures behind the countless women out there playing a sport for love and competition in the North of Tassie provide young girls with a true awareness that sport can be something that they can aspire to. Sport is not just their brothers and fathers. It's for everyone. Thanks, Examiner.

I HAVE to agree with Graham Nichols that a high-speed ferry for the TT Line's Bass Strait crossing is very worthy of being given a trial. Incat's ferries have proven themselves very capable of servicing many overseas runs where sea state conditions are not always ideal.

Anthony Haneveer's statement that "the certainty of cancelled sailings" is an outdated and irrelevant view.

As an infrequent user of the existing mono-hulls, and a person who rarely gets a good night's sleep in a strange bed, I would welcome the opportunity to get to the mainland (and back) during daylight hours.

This is cheaper, convenient and negates the need for TT-Line to promote its crossing as "an overnight cruise".

There are probably many other travellers who do not wish to have to pay for meals and accommodation on top of fares for self and vehicles.

SO there is, not surprisingly, widespread dissatisfaction, especially in the meat processing industry and among farmers, and the community, regarding the recently introduced cat management legislation (The Examiner, 11 March).

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett says, "The passing of the Bill confirms strong support for the measures put forward by the government", but he is really just kidding himself as neither he nor the opposition listened to the strong voices of the community, the RSPCA and the agricultural industry, which was expressed in the number of submissions submitted to the draft legislation.

Many expressed serious concerns regarding cat borne diseases such as toxoplasmosis, in addition to calling for cat owners to be compelled to restrict their cats to their property boundaries in an effort to reduce the spread of disease and feral cat numbers.

If the government, and the opposition, had listened, these serious reservations would be non-existent.

It's time to go back to the drawing board minister.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has explained that the regional destinations selected for half price airfares were most affected by the loss of international tourists.

In Tasmania, regional locations of Launceston, Devonport and Burnie have been selected for half-price fares, with the federal marginal seats of Braddon and Bass encompassing all three cities. Just another political coincidence with a federal election due in March 2022 or earlier?

WITH all the states and federal government announcements on TV and other media, couldn't they make special time on the news and through the day for these statements?

As it is most of these bulletins last for at least half an hour and when you get the premiers, health department, ministers, and that's not to mention the federal politicians having their say, there's a lot of air time that we have to endure and in most cases no concern for Tasmanians.

How about twice a day, say once in the morning and afternoon, and with the news, probably at the end, this would only take five minutes. Having to endure all these press conferences from politicians, ministers and government staff when they don't interest or matter to most of the Tasmanian population, also I think more should be said about Tasmania's record days without a case or transmission because it's probably the best in Australia if not the world and we should be proud.

I THINK the majority of people in Tasmania would say that our premier has done a sterling job when it comes to COVID-19 to such a degree that we haven't had a case for about 180 days. However, when it comes to the entertainment industry, there seems to be a deathly silence. If we can have sporting events, why can't shows be put on where the capacity is at least 75 per cent, and they could break even?

An example is the Encore Theatre's Mamma Mia which should have been on last year and has been put off from this year again.

Encore Theatre started as a small enterprise and have grown to give us outstanding performances every year. If the government doesn't relax restrictions or give them a boost up, there seems to be the dire possibility that they will fold.

Let us hope that entertainment comes under the sports umbrella and will be treated equally.

After all, not everyone wants a footy match and shout; many would like to attend shows where people have worked extremely hard to give enjoyment.