DON'T PROMISE THE EARTH
PROMISES, promises, promises. How many more times do we have to suffer this form of lying? All the parties promise the earth if they win the election, but then backflip or at least water down those promises as soon as they do win.
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How many years have we waited for better hospitals, more and better TAFE education, a new Bridgewater bridge, a bridge between the north-east and north-west suburbs of Launceston, a heavy vehicle bypass of Launceston, improved southern outlet in Hobart - and on and on it goes. Don't promise the earth, just fulfill the unmet promises of the past would at least be a start.
Ken Terry, Bridport.
A BRIDGE NAMED AFTER A 'HERO'
I DON'T recall being taught much about John Batman in school, being educated way north of here. Until recently I remained vaguely confused about land purchase in Gotham City and Bruce Wayne philanthropy.
We have a bridge named after pioneer hero John Batman. By his own report we know that in August 1829, after leading a group that fired upon an Aboriginal camp, he was responsible for no less than 10 deaths. Two "prisoners" were too injured to travel, so he shot them dead too.
Governor Arthur noted on the page of Batman's report: "... shoots wounded natives because they could not keep up ... has much slaughter to account for."
Mitchell Dabelstein, Launceston.
TIME TO WAKE UP TO THE TRUTH
SURELY all sensible people ignore the Greens policies, because they will never form government and therefore can never implement their promises, where as the Liberals by winning elections can implement promises, but never does.
They spread election lies every election, like cutting surgery waiting lists, which has grown at a disgraceful rate in the last seven years and electoral donation reforms, because it's obvious some large companies give them mega bucks and no one knows what those companies get in return. The quote of the campaign so far has to go, without a doubt to Labor leader Rebecca White when she said: "The Labor Party has got a GP as a health spokesperson, the Liberal Party has got someone who runs a vineyard" - which is very true. Come on Tasmanians wake up. We deserve better than all these Liberal lies.
Mick Leppard, Invermay.
GOVERNMENT'S BAD BUS ADVICE
AT one time the Tasmanian government provided extensive support in the form of the provision of public seating and bus shelters for Tasmania's government bus network. Metro, the Tasmanian government's public transport provider, saw the installation of shelters and seating as a fundamental component of its role in delivering public transport services for the state.
However, when the organisational structure of Metro was changed (under a legislative revamp) to convert it into a government business enterprise, the Tasmanian government directed Metro that it should no longer maintain any of the shelters or seating that it had previously installed and that it should no longer provide either shelters or seating for the government bus network.
The Tasmanian government at the stroke of a pen, had abandoned the role that it has had, since the beginning of the government bus network or even as far back as the tram network. The Tasmanian government's position is that the local government should provide shelters and seats, without even consulting with them or providing any funding for them.
Local government firmly rejects that it's responsible for the general provision of seating and shelters for the government bus network. The standoff has gone on for years with the existing shelters falling apart, being removed or new seating no longer being provided.
The provision of shelters in a climate as variable as Tasmania's is vital in increasing the amenity and uptake of public bus services in our state. The Tasmanian government's refusal to supply or maintain these services is extremely ill advised. They are supplied by equivalent public transport authorities interstate. They should also be supplied in Tasmania.
Christian Bell, Pedestrian and Public Transport Users Group president.
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