Election Promises
IT WAS interesting listening to and to observe the comments made about grants to sporting clubs during the recent election.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A lot of people were saying that the government should not be wasting money on clubs and should be putting that money into the health department.
But do people realise that putting money into sporting clubs actually helps the health budget?
People that get out exercising and getting fitter need less medical services than people sitting around doing nothing.
A good example of this is the game of golf.
A lot of young people have taken up the game during the COVID-19 period, which has more people out exercising and getting healthier. Less strain on the health system.
The veterans golf competitions all over the state have had full fields nearly every week and most of these elderly gentlemen walk.
Keeping them fit and active.
Again less strain on the health system.
This is only one example of what these grants can do.
So please do not knock the government for helping sporting clubs to keep going because in the long run they are also helping the budget of the health department by people not needing it.
Cyril Patmore, Poatina.
What do you think? Send us a letter to the editor:
Standing ovation
I am writing to pass on my thanks to the volunteers of the Launceston Competitions Association. I had the pleasure of attending with my students this week and cannot speak highly enough of president Julienne Coleman, secretary Margaret East and all the volunteers who made this event possible, warm and inviting and COVID safe for teachers, competitors and audience members. Without the dedicated work of these volunteers such an opportunity would not be possible for our young people.
Catherine Connell, Legana.
Abetz Demotion
DISTRESSING for Mr Abetz that after 27 years as number one on the Liberal's senate ticket, that is a guaranteed seat given the above the line voting system, he has been demoted to the "huge problem" third spot.
Perhaps Eric could look at challenging either Julie Collins or Andrew Wilkie for their seats given he is "still young enough" and has "a wealth of experience that you simply cannot buy". It would also eliminate his ageism (Wilkie not much younger) and sexism (Collins a woman) and allow the Tasmanian voters to more accurately show him how highly he is regarded in this state.
To the 67 Liberal party pre-selectors, congratulations on finally deciding that a change at the top is long overdue.
Garry Young, Riverside.
Freight Routes
IN THE wash up from the state election, it's clear that infrastructure project delivery will be one of key areas on which the government will be judged.
The stream of complaints about log trucks on Launceston streets is an issue that will not go away and needs addressing.
While the alternative route between Bell Bay and Devonport remains the substandard, highly dangerous Birralee Road, which delivers minimal time savings on going through Launceston, log trucks will always stay on our streets.
Instead, the government must take action to upgrade the Frankford Main Road and offer transport companies a 40-plus minute time saving - only then will we see a decrease in the number of trucks on our city streets.
Ben Harwood, Invermay.
Israeli Bombing
IN RESPONSE to rocket attacks by terrorists, Israel picked out the softest possible target, an 11-story apartment block populated by hundreds of families made up of women and children, and destroyed it with an hour's evacuation notice.
The terrorists' bombs, typically containing a few kilos of a sugar based explosive, are so ineffective that the Israelis can recover most of the rocket still intact.
They cause only a few hundred dollars worth of damage.
The Israelis caused hundreds of millions in damage and rendered numerous families homeless with the loss of all their possessions.
None of the terrorists were harmed.
Is collective punishment acceptable in the 21st century?
A number of Australian terrorists fought in Syria including bombing buildings. Would Syria be justified in destroying an apartment block in Sydney or Hobart in retaliation? If they were using Israel's playbook then the answer would be "yes".
Robert Stonjek, Kings Meadows.
Equality
THE 2021 federal budget showed that gender inequality in Australia is alive and well, at least where government spending is concerned.
I totally agree with the multi-million dollars in proposed spending for women and rightly so.
However, there doesn't appear to be any dedicated dollars put towards men's health and other issues.
Men have as many issues as women but don't come forward as it is seen as being weak. Government should address this aversion that men have to putting their hand up when they are in crisis.
There is assistance available to men but nowhere near the same amount as women.
The budget should have treated men's and women's issues with equal support.
Alan Leitch, Austins Ferry.
National Integrity Commission
UNFORTUNATELY in the federal budget no mention was made of a promised National Integrity Commission.
It may seem an institution that holds political accountability, integrity and transparency to account is simply not welcome in the Australian Parliament/bureaucracy?