Bravo to our orchestra
CONGRATULATIONS to the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra for their excellent performances. Having attended their last two performances in the past month, one can only be thrilled at the talent and enthusiasm displayed by the cream of some of Tasmania’s young talent.
There is much to be proud of in Tasmania and the TYO is a wonderful example. ARE we going to see an increase in white pointer sharks off the East Coast beaches? This could be the result 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 D’Entrecasteaux Channel since the farms started operating.
Scientists have reported a recent increase in these sharks when the seals are breeding at Isle de Phoques just north of Maria Island. More seals mean more sharks. One fatal attack recently in Mercury Passage. More to come?
Bad behaviour
IN support of Ray Marsh ( Mercury, June 23, my wife and I are appalled at the irresponsible and dangerous driving we observe and hear about on our roads. Terrible fatalities sadden us all too frequently. This is something that we as a community need to address.
It seems to me that we need to move on from the notion that all adults have a right to hold a licence, subject to satisfying knowledge and skill requirements. If the evidence from police and the community is that there is widespread abuse by many licence holders, we should now decisively and publicly adopt the principle that the granting of a licence is both a privilege and a responsibility. To protect our community we will now withdraw this privilege in a more graded and systematic way than we now do through our courts, after serious driver misbehaviour comes to the notice of police.
Secondly, as Mr Marsh suggests, we all need to share the responsibility of reporting dangerous driving, just as we are encouraged to do for roadside littering. And this reporting process should be facilitated by the relevant authorities. This is not something most of us will feel comfortable with, but better than the angst we feel at the terrible consequences of irresponsible driving.