Letters to the Editor, April 2, 2020

In your Letters to the Editor today: Gowns and masks for hospital staff, don’t let the big end of town override us and life in lockdown.

CRUCIAL: Protected nurses on duty during the pandemic. Picture: JAMIE HANSON

In your Letters to the Editor today: Gowns and masks for hospital staff, don’t let the big end of town override us and life in lockdown.

START MAKING MASKS AND GOWNS

WITH COVID-19 we should as a priority assist our hospital doctors and nursing staff by establishing suitable businesses that are able to produce in large amounts the necessary disposable gowns, masks, cleaning products.

It has been very sad to hear of our lifesaving medicos having to use the same PPEs day after day because supplies are not forthcoming. The closed businesses could re-employ staff to commence these vital items for medical and nursing staff to continue to save their and our lives.

Paul Harvey, Rosetta

Give us refunds first

ISN’T it interesting that airlines are asking for subsidies. Try, as we have, with both Jetstar and Virgin to get refunds for cancelled flights. We have been offered vouchers for some from Jetstar but can’t access all! Virgin is a nightmare cannot get through making it almost impossible to get anything. If they continue to treat customers like this they should not get a cent of taxpayer money. Any payment should be conditional upon them refunding cancelled flight fees first. The treatment of their customers is a ruthless disgrace.

Steve Allie, Mornington

I get it, Holly

WELL I never thought I would agree with comments by councillor Holly Ewin because I personally don’t agree with a lot of Cr Ewin’s views on things (Mercury, March 28). I do, however, hope governments are taking notice. Maybe it was put in the wrong context. For too long governments have starved lower classes of a decent living wage in favour of looking after the wealthy. This virus is a tragic reminder of what has been happening for too long and it has brought out the problems of trying to survive on a low wage day to day.

I guess Holly along with myself and others the world will start looking after struggling workers and unemployed and not give the wealthy an opportunity to just get richer at the expense of the little guy. After all, there is only so much they can buy to improve their lot at the detriment of the rest of us.

Ian Batchelor, Margate

Universal income

THE time has come to introduce a Universal Basic Income. In this time of crisis for those thrown out of a job, Scott Morrison has said the tax/welfare system is not suitable for quickly providing income support to the newly unemployed. Hence the huge queues at Centrelink. If we had a Universal Basic Income, the system would already be in place. Indeed, there would be no need to give an emergency income. Couple this with belated government recognition Newstart is totally inadequate, and the argument for a UBI that provides a decent if frugal living is undeniable.

Tim Sprod, Taroona

Private hospital drain

WITH the stress on the public health system brought into focus with the coronavirus pandemic I note with dismay private hospitals are asking for government support. Fine, they may be eligible if their facilities are reconfigured to provide ICU and emergency services. Otherwise they are a drain on funds. Yes they offered to take on non-urgent surgical work normally provided free in the public system, although we have no idea at what cost to the public purse. A lot more transparency here would help, after all these facilities exist only to make profits for their investor owners. They are not an adjunct to the public system, they are a business.

Geoffrey Morgan, Lindisfarne

Testing too low

IT should be of great concern to all Tasmanians that testing for COVID-19 in Tasmania has been 322 tests per 100,000 residents as reported by ABC News. This is the lowest rate of any state, with South Australia having had 1480 tests per 100,000 residents. The WHO has advised that testing is the foundation of control and it is very clear the rate of testing in Tasmania needs to be increased urgently.

Michael Davis, Taroona

Cash at the servo

I REFER to “Cash still legal tender,” (Letters, March 25). Unless a service station displays a notice stating No Cash, then what happens if I fill up my vehicle, go inside to pay and told, as your reader stated, no cash accepted. If I don’t have enough funds in my account and don’t have a credit card I should be able to place my cash on the counter and spray it with disinfectant (supplied by the owners). If the police become involved I surely can’t be charged with theft.

Edwin Preece, New Norfolk

Newstart focus

ALDERMAN Simon Behrakis’s indignation at Holly Ewin’s statements indicates failure to grasp that they have called out the fact the Newstart pittance is now shown to be suddenly insufficient by government. Their wording may have been clouded but the substance was there. The federal minister saying they increased it to assist “decent people who find themselves unemployed” really says all you need to know about the mentality. Previously unemployed were not worthy of assistance.

Peter Taylor, Midway Point

DON’T LET BIG END OF TOWN OVERRIDE US

THE planned reform of the Tasmanian Planning Commission will no doubt be another opportunity for the big end of town to override the wishes of the majority (“This is no time for Major Projects Bill,” Letters, March 28).

Massive growth in the eastern states has been unwanted and has led to much debate and created a host of problems for communities. State and local governments will rue many of their planning decisions next election day. The voices of the majority have been ignored while developers have swayed government decisions. Now investigations are under way into how some of the developments were approved by councils in Victoria with no doubt other states to follow.

Tasmania has been fortunate to avoid the ugly skylines and crass high density living resulting in poorer social outcomes for hapless northern neighbours, hence many moving here for the idyllic lifestyle we have enjoyed for many generations. The reason many plan are opposed time after time is that they are not welcome. Democracy is meant to be the people’s will. A focus on high growth and tourism is flawed and has led to many myopic decisions resulting in detrimental impacts on lives of many.

Glen Pears, Geilston Bay

HOT TOPIC: LIFE IN LOCKDOWN

Treated as criminals after cruise

FORMER assistant police commissioner Glenn Frame describes his detention in a hotel as worse than the police treatment of rapists and murderers (Mercury, April 1).

We had been on a virus-free cruise ship for 30 days in the Antarctic and the virus-free Falklands. We spent 4½ hours at Sydney airport on Friday night then were interviewed by an officer who took all our details and gave us the OK to go to Rydges Airport Hotel and fly home the next day. Many fellow passengers were in the same hotel. After we left early to fly home the remaining passengers, all doctors, were rounded up and effectively treated like criminals and detained in confined quarters similar to that Mr Frame describes.

Thirty-three of them who had early flights like us flew home and were described by the NSW Police Commissioner and the PM as escapees and evaders of incarceration. In subsequent days the truth about police advising us it was OK to go has come out. We realise these are difficult times for the police but it seems in most states there is police overkill and innocent citizens are treated worse than hardened criminals. Responding to this crisis requires the cohesion and co-operation of the whole community. We all need to work together. This is threatened if respect for basic human rights breaks down.

Jan and Gordon Armstrong, Sandy Bay

No release after 14 days

IT is understandable that there have been complaints from people in hotel quarantine. Being confined to one room for 14 days, even in a 5-star hotel, is not ideal for anyone. But I wonder if this experience could lead to a more compassionate attitude to refugees in Nauru and Manus Island. Their confinement is not as comfortable and is indefinite. No release after two weeks.

Repeal of the Medevac bill means they cannot be certain of medical help. Some of their companions have died because of lack of access to medical care. Compare this to the threat of rationing ventilators. It is scary, even terrifying, knowing that what may save your life is not available. I’m hoping our COVID-19 experience may be the trigger for a kinder Australia.

Teresa Murty, West Moonah

Residents-only passes

MAYBE it is time for a pass system for permanent residents of areas with many shacks and visitor accommodation such as Miena, Tods Corner, Orford, Bruny Island and Strahan. At Easter, these places are full of visitors in shacks, campgrounds or caravan parks. There was a Residents Only pass last year in the January fires. This time it must be more thorough with a statewide database and substantial fines. Councils have ratepayers on their databases. Some pay rates for their usual residence, and for a shack. They would be identifiable. Visitors would not be on these lists so would also be easily identifiable.

Jane Shoobridge-Malecky, Tods Corner

Appreciate wartime

PERHAPS now the post-WWII generation can appreciate the six-plus years of rationing, bombing of civilians, internment of alien nationals, extermination of those of religious faith, ethnic minorities and those with disabilities. Count your blessings, the virus is a storm in a teacup compared to living through WWI, Great Depression and WWII. I wonder if the spoilt generation is up to the challenge?

Ann Frith, Somerset

Time to rest now

WHILE the planet is taking a much needed breather from increasingly insane levels of human activity it is perhaps time for us to do the same. In recent years the most common complaint by Australians has been fatigue. Now all I read is 1000 ways to keep busy while staying at home. This is fine for the young and those full of energy, but this is a unique opportunity for many of us to rest, recharge, spend some time alone and reflect on what really matters and what changes we need to make for the wellbeing of one another and the planet.

Carole Chainey, Blackmans Bay

QUICK VIEWS

Far cough, it’s only fair

UNDER the present circumstances no one should cough near you, they should cough far away. So, if someone does cough near you, tell them to far cough.

Marguerite Forbes, Battery Point

Moody

DEAR Pete, I hate to complain, but your “stay at home” edict isn’t working out as I imagined it might. It’s given me the chance to share my old Moody Blues collection with my wife. Alas she would prefer me to “just be quiet and put some music on”. Any other ideas?

Stephen Jeffery, Sandy Bay

Cartoon cheer

LOVE your cartoon by Chris Downes (“We’re out of milk,” March 30). Thank you Mercury for keeping us all smiling through the gloom.

Michael Walsh, Lindisfarne

Face mask plea

WHY are those needing to go out not wearing a face mask! I am! I spoke with family in Slovenia and it is law that you must wear a mask when needing to go out. They too are in self-isolation. Make it law for all, especially shop workers!

Karen Gol, Richmond

Make roadwork joy complete

GREAT to see the many roadworks in full action. Considering the current shortfall of international visitors we could easily go back to having the highly visible illuminated temporary signage in plain English only. It will look so much better and just feel like home sweet home!

Barbara Whitebear, Lunawanna, Bruny Island

Disposable glove query

WHY isn’t the use of disposable gloves not being encouraged? To put them on before entering a store and disposing of them safely when back in the car, would surely help, especially with people’s tendency to put their hands to their faces. Gloves would help stop that too.

Carole Roberts, West Hobart

Look harder

FOR all those people who say to the supermarket checkout person, I didn’t see the signs re product limits. It’s time to go to Specsavers.

Tony Arnold, Taroona

Prepare for next fire season

SCOMO realises now his promised surplus ain’t gonna happen. He needs to focus some of all that COVID-19 spending on preparing for the next fire season. Global warming may have slowed due to global lockdowns but it has not stopped. The northern hemisphere is about to enter its fire season and that will be an indicator of what we will be in for.

Sid Abraham, Molesworth

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