Letters to the Editor, April 7, 2020

In your Letters to the Editor today: We can have a Tasmanian AFL team; move our rough sleepers into hotels; shut the door on Major Projects legislation.

GOAL: Ben Brown and the Kangaroos against St Kilda on March 22. Picture: AAP

In your Letters to the Editor today: Tasmanian AFL team, move our rough sleepers into hotels and planning overhaul.

CAN THE FOOTY RED HERRINGS

AS a supporter of football in Tasmania since the 1950s, I question the logic and motives behind continual refusal to allow Tasmania to have our own team. The statement Tasmania cannot sponsor a home team is a red herring because major sponsorship for numerous teams comes from the likes of Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Jeep, Mazda, etc.

Surely the solution is to continue Hawthorn’s strong support of football in Launceston and the strong support from Tasmanians. Headquarters should stay in new facilities at Dingley but half of home games be played in Launceston. Second, North Melbourne play half their home games at Bellerive but retain facilities in Arden Street, Melbourne. With most teams based in Melbourne, this would allow each team to play half of all roster games in Melbourne.

Teams should be given similar financial support by the AFL as given to South Melbourne and Fitzroy and more recently to Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney. Tasmanian taxpayers should not be expected to contribute through government instrumentalities.

Robert Clark, South Burnie

Labor, vote for it or else

IF the federal Labor Party continues to listen to the bleatings of the powerful trade unions and decides to hold up the promised welfare payments, insisting that thousands of individual agreements must be changed first, instead of passing one law designed to last only until the pandemic is over, I promise this: neither I nor my family will ever vote for Labor, state or federal. Swift passing of this legislation on Wednesday is crucial to five immediate family members, including a four-year-old autistic grandchild. Labor, do it now!

P. Reiljan, Geilston Bay

Active case tally

EVERY day the premier or health official gives an update on COVID-19, including people who have tested positive, which at time of writing on April 5 stands at 80. On March 21, the number of positives was 16. Does that means in Tasmania we have 64 active positive people in home quarantine, hospital or other. The only number relevant on a day-to-day basis is the people who are still actively positive.

Stephen Carpenter, Old Beach

Easter gifts stranded

I POSTED my grandchildren’s Easter gifts on March 23 thinking this would give plenty of time. Boy was I wrong. Australia Post tracking shows they have been sitting in Melbourne since March 25. I emailed Australia Post, response time 24-48 hours. As I write it is 87 hours, no response. I sent a message on Facebook, response 1-2 hours. It has been 39 hours, no response. I am starting to think an employee liked what was in the parcels. This is ridiculous, two weeks in Melbourne. I understand they are under pressure but if they can’t cope, employ more, plenty would jump at the chance. Next option is to phone and try to speak with someone. Hopefully my grandchildren will have a happy Easter.

L. Hickey, Howden

Farm Gate fuss

JUST wondering what all the fuss is regarding Bathurst St Farm Gate Market. Unless you are living on oxygen and using bark for toilet paper you and a few hundred others are going to the supermarket, indoors. What’s the issue with buying quality produce and helping local growers who would otherwise go broke. They are strict distancing and hygiene rules and yes folks, it’s outdoors! You doubters have more time to moan but don’t stuff it up for the regulars who would like it to continue.

Tony Roberts, Kingston Beach

Universal income winner

READER Tim Sprod’s support of a Universal Basic Income or National Dividend is worth considering for the aftermath of coronavirus (Letters, April 2). Supported by philosopher Bertrand Russell and Tasmanian premier and long-term treasurer, Edmund Dwyer-Gray, the National Dividend provides an income for all without a means test. Payment is made into accounts, eliminating what Charles Wooley calls “that walk of shame” to Centrelink (Mercury, April 4). Those fortunate enough to find work when technology erodes occupations add their remuneration to an income covering basic necessities. Enjoyment of luxuries and desire to apply ability purposefully should ensure competition for jobs. Greater purchasing power will also stimulate production.

Richard Davis, Sandy Bay

Look what we can do

IN summer, unprecedented fires ravaged eastern Australia, rendering ancient forests silent, wetlands and rivers toxic and dead. Scientists say ecosystems are fundamentally changed, indicative of changing climate that threatens all life. Governments responded with business as usual. There has been no change to climate policy, exemplified by ongoing logging. Governments responded swiftly to COVID-19. This is necessary to save our economy and for public health. We know however that with a heating planet there will be no economy and all life endangered. No one wants to hear doomsday predictions. But these two extraordinary events must galvanise us. If anything, it shows what we are capable of when we work together.

Kaylene Allan, Ridgeway

MOVE OUR ROUGH SLEEPERS INTO HOTELS

I AM sure every Tasmanian is distressed at the thought of the hundreds of homeless people who have nowhere safe to sleep let alone self-isolate as the weather turns cold. The fact that we have thousands of empty hotel beds means their suffering and our risk is unnecessary.

Western Australia and South Australia have both successfully moved rough sleepers into hotels. It could be done here as well at very little public expense.

The Government has already decided to refund all the payroll tax paid this financial year to big hospitality companies even though large firms have been specifically excluded from such largesse in other states because they can raise capital from shareholders and banks.

All that needs to be done to solve the humanitarian and public health crisis is to link these refunds to the provision of beds for the homeless.

James Boyce, West Hobart

HOT TOPIC: PLANNING OVERHAUL

Opening the door to our state

WE wake each morning and are grateful for the strict measures put in place to protect us and our beautiful state, and we thank the Premier and good governance for this. We now ask that the same good judgment and leadership be applied to our planning scheme. Developments that have merit will stand the test of time.

By legislating a fast-track approval scheme, circumventing the tried and tested checks and balances, as would be the case if the Major Projects Bill were passed, we are opening doors to our state that cannot be closed. Perhaps a virus of a different kind? Premier, please show the same compassion for Tasmania and close the door on this one.

Maureen and Colin Stevenson, Swansea

Winter of our discontent

PREMIER Gutwein’s government is being widely praised for working in close co-operation with the community against the COVID-19 crisis. That is notable at a time when researchers show that across the nation, trust and confidence in governments is at an all-time low. However that sort of trust can be very fragile.

The long winter ahead may well be one of great discontent for Tasmanians towards a government that is trying to furtively push through the Major Projects legislation.

Major Projects partnered with anti-protest laws will effectively lock the community out of proper democratic decision making for many developments. The Premier and his Government are playing high-risk stakes that may see them remembered more for trying to sneak through the Major Projects legislation while the community is sidelined, looking after their families and each other.

Peter Mackenzie, Westbury

Experts without answers

I SHARE concerns over a Bill to establish an independent planning authority. Sorry, when it comes to planning there is no such animal as “independent”. Having experienced life as a councillor many is the time that town planners have determined, yes this development is OK and fits the planning rules. Problem is, nowhere do community sentiment or concerns fit into the planning processes. Planners work to the rules, who makes the rules? Experts!

Experts do not consider the wishes of the affected community as we have seen around the country, leading to extreme discontent. To remove the powers of elected officials to judge planning applications on their merit and impact on their communities is politically shortsighted.

Ray Marsh, Primrose Sands

Panel could change rules

READER Tony Donaghy asks us to imagine if criminal law was administered the same way we currently do planning law (Letters, April 6). Rather we should imagine if criminal law was administered the way planning law would be under the proposed Major Projects legislation. A close reading of the Bill shows a decision-making panel would only be required to consider existing planning law, not to abide by it.

Indeed they would be authorised and required to change the relevant planning scheme if it was found to be inconsistent with a project approved by the panel. I find it hard to imagine a comparable scenario in criminal law. It would be the end of the rule of law as we know it.

Philip Stigant, West Hobart

Let’s talk after the virus

CREDIT to Premier Mr Gutwein for leading us through the COVID-19 crisis. He is displaying immense patience, leadership and understanding towards all of us and I thank him for this now and into the future. I listened to his broadcast on ABC radio on Sunday before he handed over to Attorney-General Elise Archer. The Premier said there is nothing more important than democracy in our society.

I take the opportunity to quote those words in relation to his government’s proposal to introduce Major Projects legislation which would give his Government unlimited powers to override all and any community and elected council concerns. Does this sound like democracy?

Like Chris Needham (Letters, April 3), I ask the submission date be extended until this horrendous viral scourge has been dealt with and we can return to the new normal and debate important issues in a more balanced and equitable manner.

Philip Sumner, Blackmans Bay

QUICK VIEWS

Wonder of families together

WHAT an amazing sight so many families walking together. In all this sadness and anxiety we are experiencing, one just has to look around and still see the wonder of families sharing time together.

Maree Grimsdale, Lenah Valley

Distance anxiety

SUPERMARKET shopping on Saturday. Two major retailers. One has arrows, “x” marks, lanes, arrows, perspex guards on registers, signs regarding social distancing and a person directing shoppers. The other only has a person directing shoppers and signage regarding social distancing. Both busy, one has a lot more angst in the air than the other. You tell me which one.

Andrew McInnes, Claremont

All speed to South America

THE solid suggestion by reader Ian Baillie (Letters, April 3) to use the Aurora Australis to repatriate stranded Australians in South America is a good example of our pragmatism in difficult times but it may be like sending a tugboat when we urgently need a speed boat.

Brett Robbins, New Town

Too many shopping trips

FOR more than 25 years I have shopped only once a week at Salamanca and at a supermarket for basic food. Now, with Salamanca closed and supermarket restrictions, I find I need to visit the supermarket at least four times a week. Is this really helping “social isolation”?

Ian Allison, Dynnyrne

Plan for the future

IN failing to acknowledge dramatic socioeconomic changes, the Planning Minister is now planning for the past rather than the future. Far better to consider new circumstances with a clear head than waste time with outdated proposals.

Peggy James, Howden

Swordfish slaughter

I AM appalled that the slaughter of a 131kg swordfish is newsworthy as an achievement (Mercury, April 3). We are on the verge of mass extinction, with all marine creatures facing annihilation due to over fishing and pollution.

Phil Georgeff, Dover

Nixon the culprit

DON’T blame President Trump for any of this mayhem. Richard Nixon is the real culprit. His 1972 visit to China opened Pandora’s box, and led to the creation of the economic world as we know it today. Or knew it! That horse has bolted. Uncharted and stormy waters lay ahead!

Steve Bailey, Glenorchy

New frontiers

THE backyard is my oyster!

Stephen Jeffery, Sandy Bay

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