Letters to the Editor, March 21, 2020

In your Letters to the Editor today: NAPLAN testing, taking stock of multiculturalism and coronavirus action.

FOCUS: Children expected to do much more without the tools.

In your Letters to the Editor today: NAPLAN testing, taking stock of multiculturalism and coronavirus action.

HARDER WORK, LESS GUIDANCE

SUBMISSIONS have been requested for a NAPLAN review. For a few moments I considered a submission but decided against it because no one seems to want the truth. Had I written, I would have queried the standard required of Year Three. Years ago I read one of the questions, in which children (after a prep year and two or more of formal education) were asked to write a story — to plan paragraphs and use editing skills.

Having begun my education in 1935, I found a couple of my old textbooks. In year 4 after two prep years, we were introduced to paragraphing, given four sentences on a topic. The sentences were out of order and we were required to write them in sequence then expand each into a paragraph. Along with instruction in synthesis and analysis, parts of speech, derivation of words and other exercises, we were being helped to structure a composition.

In my reckoning, today’s year three pupils are being asked to produce work, with much less instruction and guidance, two years (at least) ahead of the standards of the 1940s. Have I missed reading of giant leaps in the evolution of the brain? I was stunned when watching The Secret Life Of Four and Five Year Olds. Two researchers were noting infants as they did a quiz. The first question was “What is 12 times 13?” (One researcher gave an incorrect answer). Another question was not recorded but the answer was “The prime number is two!” I feel like Rip Van Winkle who slept for 100 years, waking to a mad world.

Elizabeth Clarke, Taroona

Petrol greed

WHILE COVID-19 is naturally occupying minds and space, the price gouging multinationals are not getting the attention they deserve. In Hobart you can still pay $1.57 for unleaded petrol that costs $1.15 in Melbourne. Hill Street grocers are the exception. I urge everyone to support our locals in this and everything we can. When is government going to stop greedy profiteers? “Petrol watch” and bleats about shopping around are not what is needed.

Gillian Unicomb, Sandford

Yes, we can do this

IN my 18 years living in Tasmania and reading the Mercury, I have not seen a front page which has grabbed my attention as much as Wednesday’s. The image of Lord Kitchener, British Commander in Chief, pointing at us as he did to young men of military age during World War I, says it all.

We are in a warlike situation with the coronavirus pandemic posing a dreadful threat to all of us, but we can overcome it if we abide by what our leaders both medical and social, tell us. Highlighted on the front page are the words: “You can do this”. Yes we can. We must! Such an attention grabbing page makes even more sense when read with the paper’s daily caption, “We’re for you”. Well done, Mercury!

Rick Giddings, Pontville

Working taps might help

WITH coronavirus spreading rapidly one would think Clarence City Council would have taps that work efficiently so people can wash their hands properly. The one I use you have to hold it on with one hand and therefore you can’t wash your hands. There is no soap and no toilet seat. One would think they could provide more sanitary conditions with taxpayers’ money.

Peta Grafton, Howrah

Save the prison millions

AS Tasmania heads towards coronavirus-caused recession, it’s time to hit the brakes on the northern prison, $270 million-plus of taxpayers’ money for a concrete prison warehouse won’t kickstart recovery for tourism, hospitality, essential services or small business, nor enable the economy to escape financial downturn.

It won’t reduce overcrowding at Risdon Prison and was never the best plan to improve access for prisoners’ families. What some see as an economic handout to the North will just drain funds from other urgent needs. Tasmanians should question how much of the $270 million might go interstate. Not much good for Westbury, Smithton or Hobart. Time for the Premier to bail out of this wrongheaded plan, and sort out the problems at Risdon first.

Karen Mackenzie, Westbury

What planet for UTAS?

I WRITE in dismay after reading the article on the Kangaroo Bay proposal (Talking Point, March 19) by Finely Zhang, who is part of Chambroad Petrochemicals, the Chinese company that wants to develop a hospitality school for international students in partnership with the University of Tasmania with a course in hospitality and a five-star international hotel. It was a case of overdevelopment from the beginning. Now it borders on the ridiculous.

What planet is the university living on, if it is planning to cut 70 per cent of courses yet continue as a partner? It is shocking to me that such a proposal, deeply unpopular with the local community, is still in the pipeline and being promoted in these times of crisis. It is on former public foreshore land and as noted by Mr Zhang one of the finest sites on the river, until it was sold by Clarence City Council in arrangement with State Government to Chambroad. This was resented by the community. This fantastic land, where the ferry terminal was located, should be used for the Hobart public. For example, a ferry service? Open space to enjoy?

Jenny Scott, Bellerive

TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF MULTICULTURALISM

WHILE I think a majority of people would agree that Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries, Harmony Week is an opportunity to take stock.

Unfortunately, we are seeing in this country racism creeping into public discourse and an increase in racist behaviour. Last week was the one-year anniversary of the Christchurch shootings, and migrant communities remain acutely aware that far-Right groups are the greatest threat to social cohesion in Australia.

Following the shootings, The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia, of which we are a member, called for the rollout of a national anti-racism strategy and campaign.

Such a campaign would promote social cohesion, dispel myths and stereotypes and educate the community and businesses around how to deal with racism. The need for an anti-discrimination strategy remains, evidenced by the abuse and racism thousands of Asian Australians have been subjected to in the COVID-19 outbreak. We will continue to advocate for measures such as these that would make Tasmania a more harmonious, safer place to live.

Waqas Durrani, chairperson, Multicultural Council of Tasmania

HOT TOPIC: CORONAVIRUS ACTION

Good call, Premier Gutwein

I APPLAUD Premier Peter Gutwein’s decision to deter non-essential visitors to Tasmania by introducing a mandatory 14 days quarantine. This will slow the spread of the coronavirus in our community and there is no doubt in my opinion that it will save lives. In the words of Dr Bastian Seidel of Huonville, better to listen to the real doctors than the spin doctors.

Peter Gutwein’s action should also give some hope to people in small businesses and business in general, as more people will feel confident to spend money, while taking the relevant precautions of course. The economy worldwide is suffering, we are not alone in this. But a recovery will happen as the crisis recedes. With luck and good management we will come out of this relatively unscathed.

Bill Perry, Kingston

Exemption slippery slope

WHY would Tasmania’s quarantine policy be bent for FIFO workers? The requirement is simple. Enter Tasmania and you are in quarantine for 14 days. Or are FIFO workers to become virus couriers? Once you start making exceptions for one, everyone will find a reason for bending the rules. Sadly, many people have lost their employment. Stay strong, Mr Gutwein.

This is the best protection we can have — so let’s stick with it. FIFO workers have a choice: conform with the requirements, stay in the work destination, or work online from home in quarantine for 14 days.

Yvonne Stark, Battery Point

Football undermining

THE AFL is socially irresponsible in not postponing its season. Players will not be able to comply with social distancing and will interact with the general community post-match. This undermines government biosecurity guidelines at a time when the wider community is subject to unprecedented restrictions. The deafening silence from so many social influencers says much about the power of a sacred cow and big money!

Geoff Collis, Lindisfarne

This will pass

COVID-19 is causing widespread concern about our healthcare resources and protecting vulnerable people. You might find yourself feeling more anxious, or hopeless and low. Try to have a positive plan to how you would cope with isolation — have a few hobby supplies, connect with loved ones over the phone or letter writing, plan on finishing those odd jobs, get outdoors in the fresh air (keeping distance from others). Reach out to people around you if you think they are lonely.

If you are concerned about yourself ask for help, mental health lines are still working and your GP can help too. The other thing you can do to protect people around you and our health resources is to get a flu vaccination. An influenza pandemic on top of COVID-19 is a strain we don’t need. I call on the Government to subsidise flu shots for everyone this year! Hang in there, follow our public health instructions and try not to panic, this will pass.

Marita Jones, Tolmans Hill

Prescription risk

PHARMACISTS are being required to limit dispensing of certain prescription products because they cannot organise their suppliers. Not our fault. It is the doctor who writes the prescription for what the patient needs but pharmacists are saying they know better and will not fill the script. If script quantities are now being halved each time they are dispensed, this doubles the cost to the patient and forces them to occupy busy doctor’s surgeries twice as often.

Doctors’ waiting rooms and some pharmacies are not the healthiest place to be at the best of times, let alone now with prospective COVID-19 patients and when social distancing is required.

Clive Stott, Grindelwald

QUICK VIEWS

Moat merriment

I MUST say the Mercury deserves accolades for its “We have a moat and we are not afraid to use it” front page headline on Friday. Well done everyone, I’m sure it brought a smile to a lot of faces.

B. and B. Gerrard, Cambridge

Bring back manufacturing

IF the pandemic spells the end of globalisation, does that mean Australia will get its manufacturing industries back? Maybe even a textile industry for Launceston, like we had before Gough trashed tariffs in 1972? It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

Stuart Bryce, Lulworth

Bunny on the run

WILL the Easter bunny be considered an essential or non-essential traveller?

Christine Griffiths, New Town

Casino exemption

I SEE the Victorian Government has classed at least one casino as an essential service for the purpose of coronavirus restrictions of numbers in a confined space. Hope our Tasmanian Government is not providing similar exemption for gambling environments.

Geoffrey Morgan, Lindisfarne

Be bold on schools

PREMIER Gutwein, be brave, be bold and close all Tasmanian schools. An exemplar for the nation.

M. Ross, New Town

Our most capable politician

NOW that’s a Premier! (“Tassie’s tough call to save lives”, Mercury, March 20). The most capable politician in Tasmania by a long margin for many years, I look forward with confidence to similarly courageous leadership from Peter Gutwein in his role as Minister for Climate Change.

Stephen Jeffery, Sandy Bay

Chance for kindness

WHILE the Federal Government will miss out on its budget surplus, Australians will have every opportunity to create an excess of compassion, kindness and thoughtfulness in the way they relate to one another during this difficult time.

Ed Sianski, West Moonah

Cable car phew

I WONDER whether Mr Bold and his cable car mates are feeling grateful to the opponents of his pet project at this moment in time. Tourism down, no cruise ships and winter on its way. I can’t help but wonder who would have bailed them out if the cable car had been up and running this year.

Peter D. Jones, Lenah Valley

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