According to Health Department figures, there were 25,692 people on outpatient waiting lists at Tasmania's public hospitals in April 2014. That was under a Labor government. It was also stated that waiting lists for elective surgery in Tasmania were a long-standing problem, so Labor had had 16 years to improve it. With the restrictions and extra resources needed to deal with COVID-19 our public hospitals have done a marvellous job in terrible circumstances.

I have full sympathy for people waiting for surgery and we can only pray that the worst of COVID-19 is behind us.

Our public hospital staff should be praised for the way they are dealing with a very difficult situation, not criticised.

IN A move that would even impress Star-Trek's Captain Kirk, The Romulan-Liberal team has cloaked the planned Northern prison.

It seems their cunning plan is to keep their flagship hidden until after their hoped-for re-election.

Then it could magically reappear and wreak havoc as originally planned. What is amazing is how many outside the government have saccadic-like blindness to this plan.

WITHOUT question, the three deaths were a nightmare for Targa chief executive Mark Perry, he works so hard to put in place the precautions for this not to happen.

But you cannot cover the sad ailment of human error.

Having officiated for the first 20 years of Targa I witnessed the effort that goes into the preparation for a safe event and when these tragic events happen, it is shattering to all.

However, every competitor realises that when you are competing at high speeds there is always the possibility of death.

The cars and drivers are tested to the maximum of their performance and ability.

So many sports live with that possibility - Bathurst, all forms of motorsport, horse racing, motorbikes, skiing and so on.

Deepest, deepest sympathy to the saddened families and may God protect all future events.

LAUNCESTONIANS' love of the poker machine amounts to about $1.5 million per month, (The Examiner, April 26) an amount which has been termed a "spend", but instead is a tax paid on the total amount of money placed into these machines.

The actual "spend" that is feeding the things with amounts of money is around $100 million, given that state law requires the owner to return a minimum of 85 cents for every $1 invested.

How much time in total is spent on the whole exercise by Launnie locals keen on accruing a quick fortune and willing to gamble 15 cents out of every buck in pursuit?

POLLING identifying health and the economy as key election issues is not surprising (The Examiner, April 27).

However, this is a chicken and egg issue.

Unless the economy is being well run and growing there is reduced capacity to fund health or any other area. So, it is vitally important that the next Tasmanian government is a good economic manager and in these troubled times experienced at the job with identifiable achievements.

This is not a time to elect a government that is strapping on the L-plates or a fragmented administration that is beholden to independent, single-focused candidates.

Tasmania's economy is doing well through the efforts of government, business and individuals.

It's been a successful formula and to change in challenging times could deliver widespread difficulties for the economy and health, the areas people have prioritised.

ANYONE questioning the performance of our Liberal government needs to be reminded that before COVID-19, the Tasmania economy was leading the nation on several indicators.

In the year to December 2019, Tasmania's economy was the fastest-growing of all the states at 2.1 per cent in real trend terms.

Our strong economy was driving increased tourism, population growth and boosting infrastructure investment in Tasmania.

Business and consumer confidence in Tasmania was also leading the nation.

There is no doubt we will be dealing with the health and economic effects of COVID-19 for quite a while but credit where credit is due. Recent ABS data showed that Tasmania's economy had rebounded strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic.

If it hadn't been for the sound position of the Tasmanian economy under Premier and Treasurer Peter Gutwein, our state would be in a much worse position.

D. Fowler, Trevallyn.

AT The Examiner's Premier's Debate on April 22, Premier Gutwien said he had no intention of increasing the number of politicians in the House of Assembly.

He said politicians have a lot of portfolios, but they aren't afraid of a bit of hard work.

Given the Premier made himself Climate Change Minister, and the only ones on the stage talking about a climate emergency were the protesters, one might argue they have too many portfolios to be effective ministers.