China and Taiwan
AS Tasmanian past president of the Australia-Free China Association representing the Nationalist Chinese Republic of Taiwan of which the late identity Bruce Goodluck was patron, I take issue with Ms Tang’s comments ( Mercury, September 26). It is stated she works for the Peaceful Reunification of Communist China (and Taiwan). Unless things have changed, the people of Taiwan do not wish to reconcile to the mainland. Why would you? They live in a prosperous, free, democratic nation, not a Communist brutal regime. Several years ago there was a demonstration on the grounds of Parliament in Taipei, Taiwan. The then president said it allowed him to know what the people are thinking. Can one imagine that from the current Communist leadership? The tanks would be out. There is no doubt when the time is right, Communist China will invade the Nationalist Chinese Republic of Taiwan and we will do nothing. Does anyone remember Tibet? I asked a Chinese friend who lives in Hong Kong about Hong Kong’s future. He said he was not confident their independence and freedom will endure and made the amazing statement that older people wish the British were back. The problem with our governments and leading business people, they welcomed the short term money benefits, but ignore the long-term ramifications.
Transport hub please
ONE of the first items requested by Kingborough residents for the new Kingston Town Centre was a park and ride transport hub with direct access to the Southern Outlet. Given the increasing gridlock on the Outlet this clearly is a desperately needed facility. Unfortunately public transport is a State Government responsibility. As there is no effective State Government strategic planning and Metro is unlikely to fund a transport hub without government assistance, I am afraid the residents of Kingston had better get used to sitting in an ever-increasing traffic jam.
Consorting in prison
THE new consorting laws remind me of why we didn’t like the super trawler; in both cases the net has been cast wider than necessary. The consorting legislation does not just encompass organised crime figures but every citizen who has a past criminal conviction but who is now a lawabiding citizen. Criminalising otherwise lawful behaviour (because there is no requirement that the consorting be done for a criminal purpose) will mean their punishment continues indefinitely. There is the danger in requiring people to identify themselves more with their offending past than their current law-abiding status that it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. There is also the irony that those found guilty of breaking this law will be placed in a penal environment where they will have to consort with other offenders. It might be the kind of legislation criminologist Dr Bronwyn Naylor, had in mind when she wrote, “For a country settled by white colonisers for the warehousing of convicts, Australia is remarkably reluctant to forgive”.
Climate threats
THE Climate Tasmania Group is to be commended for their effort and initiative by writing to our state parliamentary members (“Tassie sits on its hands”, Peter Boyer, Talking Point, September 25). The threat of raging bushfires and major floods is only too real. Evidence is mounting that corrective action is required not only on climate change but on minimising the damage of either event in the near future. We eagerly await the results of the feedback the group receives. It would be foolish to ignore the signs of a rapidly changing climate. The memories of the 1960 floods and the 1967 bushfires are still vivid for many. These catastrophes should never happen in this beautiful state again.