Mercury (Hobart)

First-class, Peter

- Tony Twible Austins Ferry NEEDS PARKING: North Hobart. Brian P. Khan Bridport Paul Hayes Glenorchy

Retiree solution

DEAR Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, myself and my fellow retirees (please note many of my fellow retirees have economic degrees) were discussing social responsibi­lity. It would appear that the concept of privatisat­ion was inflicted on the world without any element of social responsibi­lity being included. Us retirees who built these utilities receive no benefit from these sales. This needs to be corrected. Not just for us now, but for future retirees. All the following outgoings need to be paid for by the owners of each utility: power (homeowner and rentals), vehicle registrati­on, water rates, council rates, bulk billing for all medical conditions, telco (ABN and all internet usage), mobiles (unlimited calls and data) and insurance (house and content and motor vehicle with replacemen­t vehicles like for like and not more than four years old). This puts about $200 a week in the pockets of retirees. And as you know all our moneys are used fully as disposable income. All these outgoings now are extra moneys going back into disposable income. The magic of this economic system is the fact money changes hands. And the government does not need to use taxpayers’ money. How many billions saved? You do the sums. Just do it. more meetings. Brighton should be considered for redevelopm­ent for the three codes of racing. Light rail to Brighton would be ideal and it would be more convenient for northern and North-West trainers and a reduction in traffic on the Brooker Highway.

The Auditor-General should examine the capital expenditur­e on Elwick since 1980. Should Elwick be considered for sale, because it is a prime piece of real estate? Treasurer Peter Gutwein would be well aware Tasmanian Turf Club in Launceston sold off the front of their property. Elwick is a much more prime piece of real estate. TO Peter Gee from another of your appreciati­ve news watchers. I would like to congratula­te you on your profession­alism and splendid news presentati­on for the ABC. You have added another illustriou­s chapter to the ABC’s first-class performanc­e in TV production. Well done and all the very best for you in your retirement although I don’t imagine that you will be just sitting around watching the grass grow. Once more, congratula­tions and all the very best in your future endeavours. tralia’s consumer base. So rather than filling skills shortages that apparently exist, they are in fact just being used to fill a consumer demand shortage. As Australia is no longer competitiv­e in manufactur­ing in the world market, it appears we are just importing more of the world here in the hundreds of thousands to sell them stuff that can’t be imported easily in a captured market. Our population has already grown by almost six million since 2000, thank largely to immigratio­n. More people might mean more customers, but it also means stretched infrastruc­ture, higher housing costs, congestion and lower standards of living.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia