Courage to take on shoplifting
STATE POLITICS
CONGRATULATIONS to Elise Archer for her proposed legislation and comments on shoplifting ( Mercury, December 27). Civil libertarians should also consider the real world and as for Greg Barns, why don’t you join the Greens (anti-progress and economic vandals). The fact is we, the public, have had enough of legal people pussyfooting around for fear of civil libertarians protesting. Elise Archer yet again has proven to be a politician for the people who has the courage to do the right thing on our behalf. Shoplifting is costing business people a fortune and guess who also pays in the long run — the customers. happens when a shopper says no? Are they giving owners and employees the right to snatch a bag or crash-tackle a shopper to the ground and wrench their bag from their hands? How about locking a shopper in an office or refusing to let a shopper leave until they hand over their bag or police arrive? These are things owners and employees have done and have led to payouts for invading privacy, assault, stealing, false imprisonment and defamation. I doubt a state government could legislate to protect an owner from the consequences of a bag search gone wrong and if they could, it would be a carte blanche to assault any person they think may be a shoplifter. This is not good law. building opposition? The penny will finally drop, but it will sadly be on the morning after the election, when the truth of community anger, disappointment and disillusionment becomes painfully apparent.
Years not the answer
TO everyone accusing Rebecca White of being on P-plates and inexperienced, have a look at what 50 years of experience in Parliament by Hodgman, Gutwein, Ferguson, Petrusma and Barnett, plus 12 years in Federal Parliament by Barnett and Ferguson, have done for Tasmania and they are still blaming the previous government. No wonder our state is sliding into such a mess in health, education and childcare. Do the pensioners who didn’t receive their $125 energy bonus cheque by Christmas get interest to the day they receive it?
Highway hitches
I LISTENED to the Premier talking about the four-lane highway from Sorell to Hobart. Great idea in theory. It would be a huge cost to add two lanes to the causeways. Two lanes through Midway Point would also be at extreme cost. That’s just to the end of the second causeway before the drive into Hobart where space for two lanes needs to found to the airport roundabout. I think the Premier needs a bigger budget. He mentioned a four-lane highway to Launceston. Another great idea. They had the opportunity to put four lanes in the Bagdad upgrade but didn’t.
Chaps chuckling
LISA Singh asks “Does anyone remember Will Hodgman throwing down the gauntlet to Liberal powerbroker Eric Abetz in 2010, heroically pledging to move the party to the middle?” (Talking Point, December 27). I remember it, I believe some of the chaps in the leather-lounge heartland still chuckle about it from time to time over a single malt.
Above the belt please
WHY do cricket commentators think they are at a football game with their sexist jokes and remarks. It’s just not cricket. Can we get above the belt please?
Thank you, TasNetworks
I WOULD like to say a very big thank you to the wonderful service provided by TasNetworks on Christmas Eve. We called them about 6am to report a power outage at our home. They arrived about an hour later and got straight to work on reinstating our power. They were courteous, efficient and did a remarkable job. Well done.
Losses and gains
POKIES for the people is a net community loss. For the public service, an annual increase.