Super, but how can you help?

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SO now we have councillors pushing to get superannuation on top of their allowances. When I was working for a private company, part of my employment was a performance appraisal in which I had to put forward what I could do for the company in order to get a small wage increase. If all councillors can tell electors what real future benefits they can bring to the table then maybe we might think about it. cate themselves to be part of the community they work for. The successful candidates will run the show for four years and nine months, a long time to have a person in council who thinks more of themselves than the community. If you’re fed up being treated like a second-rate citizen, come along, then vote for someone you believe will put the community first. Talk to candidates, ring them, email them, most have Facebook pages. Don't leave it to someone else, get proactive and exercise your rights. See our Facebook page, Candidates Forum for the Glenorchy City Council elections, and register.

Force amalgamation

SO it continues, with ratepayers about to fork out pay rises and superannuation to councillors. Owing to the fact we have no state government with the courage or brains to force the amalgamation of 29 councils, all just talk and hot air. role of the elected government. This year the Legislative Council was instrumental in knocking back a mandatory sentencing Bill. In NSW, the Government passed the End of Life Bill but it was knocked back by their Upper House by one vote. So, one pollie gets to decide on this important policy. They are all pretty comfortable because, unfortunately, this House cannot be abolished without its own agreement which is a nice cosy arrangement. And don’t get me started on the Senate.

Segway the last straw

THE latest thing to be banned by our “progressive Hobart City Council” is Segway tours — wow. Council must be commended for contributing to the state of Hobart as a failed city. Along with letters from disgruntled cruise passengers about the lack of shops and activities, council excels at opposing: development, by spreading a low-rise city from the CBD to Launceston and back; cable cars; infrastructure; rail; ferries and, of course, the boardwalk around Battery Point.

We congratulate council for dividing Australia further by sticking their noses into Australia Day celebrations and neutral Christmas decorations. So let’s reward them by seeing they are wiped out at the next local government elections. In the meantime, maybe our council can lobby the Federal Government (as they have so much expertise in national affairs) and start the conversation about Hobart losing its capital city status. Surely the new capital must be Launceston?

Not so engrossing

ON Tuesday, along with many others, I stood on Bellerive Bluff to watch an engrossing tactical duel play out on the River Derwent. It seems all our eyes were mistaken as the winning boat was retrospectively relegated from winning by about 30 minutes to losing by 30 minutes. I suppose it is most appropriate, for a race that is participated in by very rich men, for the outcome to be decided in a back room by lawyers. I, for one, will not bother to watch in future.

Pay airfare difference

I READ with interest about public servant travel costs (Letters, December 28). I would suggest to all public servants and state, federal and local government politicians that are required to travel and, in their view, have the need to travel business class, they pay the difference between economy and business class.

Paying for premierships

JEFF Kennett ran his mouth off again by saying Hawthorn will win seven premierships in 32 years. That is possible because Tasmania will be paying for it.

Money truth

THE old saying that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is truer than ever these days.