We need the same rules to apply in our town before a child is injured or killed.

EVERY news report, regarding those who feel put upon by the necessary restrictions placed on our movements, exasperates me. Don't people understand the nature of a pandemic? It means very strict measures be enacted to have even a small chance of returning life to some sort of normality.

People complain they can't party, travel freely, see their families in other states, bring in their families from overseas. They act as if it is a personal affront to their freedom.

These are the people who will ensure that the rest of us will suffer further because they are unable to accept what health experts and scientists are saying. Pandemics are a huge risk, if they can't see that then they should move together to a small offshore island.

All my children and grandchildren live on the mainland and I miss them dearly, I haven't even met one of them yet.

But I don't want to put anyone at risk by opening up before the health and science experts say it is fine to do so. Where do these whingers get off complaining to anyone that will listen, how unfair it is? Grow up.

THE recent chaotic scenes of masses of people invading the Kabul airport, desperately trying to board the evacuation planes, with even some clinging to the aircraft on take-off, is a clear indication of the fear many Afghans have for what awaits them under the Taliban's version of Sharia Law.

Sharia Law includes public lashings, stoning to death, amputation of hands, the death penalty for apostasy (converting from Islam to another faith, for example, Christianity) and even for being an atheist. Severe persecution of minorities. Capital punishment for homosexual activity. Rights of women, virtually non-existent. A Taliban spokesman has promised it will respect women and provide orderly and peaceful rule (within Sharia Law). How is that possible? Can a scorpion promise it will never sting? How blessed we are to live in a democratic, though far from a perfect country, such as Australia.

WITH the highest percentage of retirees in the country the City of Launceston council has decided to install complicated parking meters that even require a person to enter their car registration before proceeding, an initiative that prevents people from utilising the meter time left over by the previously parked car. Walking around Launceston one sees people, especially the older members of the public, standing by these machines trying to make sense of it while the screen goes completely black when the sun is in a certain position in the sky.

Inconveniencing the public just to weasel out a few more coins is the kind of egregiously disrespectful behaviour we should remember well at the next council elections.

FOR Equality Tasmania spokesperson Charlie Burton, listening to trans Tasmanians in a spirit of mutual respect will convince us that trans inclusion is problem-free. Lived experience and mutual respect are indeed critical.

But mutual respect must include listening to women and girls and same-sex attracted Tasmanians, to people who don't agree with you, as well as those who do. My experience is that mostly this doesn't happen. So here are some other voices: as a girl it makes me feel very uncomfortable knowing that a boy could enter the toilets that I'm using.

Speaking out leads to boycotts, rape and death threats; imagine your daughter, who works day and night to shave off mere fractions of a second, is denied a win because she has to compete against boys who identify as girls? I call on Equality Tasmania to support open, inclusive and respectful debate among all affected groups, on an equal footing.

I AM writing in response to the letter by Geoff McLean (The Examiner, September 1).

I am the general manager of the Launceston Basketball Association, and we have experienced similar difficulties to the NTJFA in 2021 with referee abuse and poor spectator behaviour.

Our association, as have the NTJFA and other codes, are working extremely hard to try and eliminate poor behaviour.

To suggest that the NTJFA should hang its head in shame is a disappointing comment to hear. Administrators are working hard on this issue, but it is time that the spectators and parents start taking responsibility for their bad behaviour.

It is not practical, or financially viable to police entire sporting grounds/courts.

People displaying these behaviours need to improve their behaviour, without the need for draconian measures from associations.

The alternative is to multiply match managers, which means an increase in team fees for families and more kids being unable to afford sport.

IT astounds me that the three-month trial of no right turns in Invermay demonstrates a 58 per cent decrease in congestion. I'll tell you why, most people avoid the road altogether and travel through town instead. Is this what the council intended?

Is this what counts as success? As a resident, I and many others avoid the area.