Stop the grief caused by pokies
ANDREW Wilkie says in his Talking Point article that it is time to pull the plug on pokies ( Mercury, June 20). He also refers to the revelations in James Boyce’s new book Losing Streak: How Tasmania was Gamed by the Gambling Industry. It is insightful reading.
Tasmanians lose about $200 million on poker machines every year, and the State Government’s own gambling survey shows the true cost of gambling addiction outweighs the tax collected. Andrew Wilkie should be applauded for raising the issue of gambling addiction. Poker machines are basically slot machines. When you rearrange the letters for “slot machine” you get “cash lost in me”.
Shaaaark!
HAS anyone stopped to consider there may be a significant increase in shark numbers off our East Coast beaches as a consequence of approval of the Tassal Okehampton Bay fish farms? Fish farms attract seals, as can be seen by the dramatic increase in their population in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel since the farms started there. Scientists recently reported a rise in shark numbers when the seals are breeding at Ile des Phoques, just north of Maria Island. More seals, more sharks. that many councils now find themselves in.
For too long ratepayers have endured “I want to keep my seat in council warm” councillors who do nothing to secure the long-term viability of the council. Voting to minimise rate increases serves only to eventually increase the cost of repairs or, worse, not provide the service at all. And if you want examples then here are two: water and sewerage.
If works and services need X amount of dollars, then the rates should reflect this expenditure. As long as there is a reasonable amount set aside for emergencies and no cross subsidy, rates should represent the expenditure of the council, full stop, end of story. Government going to have an amnesty on motor vehicles to keep them out of the hands of criminals? Unlikely, as governments at all levels generate far too much income from motor vehicles and we as a society have become reliant on the motor vehicle.
Next thing they will be having is an amnesty on kitchen knives or cricket bats. See the firearm amnesty for what it truly is — a political stunt.