Praise no compensation

ONCE more we have a testimonial from an ex-patient of the RHH starting with the phrase, “I hear of problems at the hospital” and ending “but ... wonderful service”. Not that I mind reading a positive letter in these days of so much negativity, but have the writers considered that the hospital’s real problems are not with the quality of its wonderful staff, many of whom are forced to work ridiculous overtime (including the ambos) at ridiculous cost to the taxpayer. The real problem, apart from slow progress in rebuilding, lies in inadequate regular staffing, beds and facilities. The letter from someone whose problems were worse than someone else’s, which is why they got treatment more quickly, doesn’t address the problem that these lesser beings are forced to wait up to 24 hours or more for non-urgent wounds. Just because I was dealt with immediately the problem was found (thank you, the

Spread the blame

CAROLINE Wilson says Hawthorn should take a lot of responsibility for the sad state of footy in the North-West. In my humble opinion, the disaster that is Tassie football has been caused by poor administration and average administrators at AFL Tasmania. Premiers that aren’t willing to stand up for Tasmania and ask the well-resourced AFL for more grassroots funding and a boost to the salary cap are part of the problem. Better visiting teams would help. Millions are ploughed into clubs and junior development in northern states. A fraction of that would ensure a viable competition here. I’m fairly certain it is AFL Tasmania’s job to oversee football, not the HFC.

More focus on basics

THE NAPLAN report makes it clear literacy standards, for boys especially, are very much in decline. One reason is an overcrowded curriculum, where too much is studied at the expense of the basics. An-