Not OK to use taxpayer funds
STATE POLITICS
IT’S not the fact Adam Brooks has offered to pay his legal fees back, it’s the fact that Will Hodgman thought it was fine and proper to use taxpayers’ money for this bill in the first place. If the Premier, the one who said he was going to have a transparent government for the people, and his Cabinet insist on keeping things from the public such as where donations come from, it’s something that the voters must remember at the next election. Unfortunately, that feels like an eternity away.
Gun licence talk
I READ about the Liberal pre-election promise to favourably extend some gun licence terms and favourably alter some pump-action weapon laws but it was all lawyer-speak. My interpretation in layman’s terms is: the Liberals promised these things and a lot of people voted on the strength of these promises. When they got in, the Liberals said thanks for the vote, sucked in, we’re not doing that now. heavy toll on finances that should not be wasted on a machine designed to benefit ‘the house’. I like many will put my faith in independents at election time to achieve some sense in this and other important debates confronting Tasmanians. The major parties continually seem to have difficulty in delivering on their promises.
Health crossroads
“SORRY, but we’re sick, stressed and worn out” is an absolute indictment of Health Minister Michael Ferguson and the Hodgman Government (Talking Point, February 8). Nurses are at breaking point and on the crossroads to jumping ship. The simple message is to negotiate a fair pay deal in excess of 2 per cent to at least align our nurses with those on the mainland. Is that too much to ask of a government that is trying to regain some credibility in our frail health sector? misation”. This is treating the symptom while ignoring the cause, as caught beautifully by Kudelka’s wonderful cartoon ( Mercury, February 9). Coming out with these about-turns, knowing the public was behind her, suggests she has been nobbled, leaving democracy even further at risk.
World heritage cake
ON the one hand Will Hodgman is very happy to excise Lake Malbena and its surrounds from the world heritage listing of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park for an exclusive tourist resort, yet on the other he is suggesting the Federal Government pay for the costs incurred in protecting the World Heritage areas of the Central Plateau from the ravages of the (still current) bushfires because they are so important to preserve for the rest of the country and in fact the world. Sorry Will. Once the cake is eaten, you can’t get it back.
Hockey treat
THE weekend’s Hockey International Pro League games in Hobart with the Men’s Kookaburras ranked No. 2 and Women’s Hockeyroos ranked No. 3 in the world, against China and Germany showcased extremely fit athletes playing exciting, fast, skilful hockey with high scoring games. Sport at its peak and in the best venue in Australia! Watching three Tasmanians in the Kookaburras including Eddie Ockenden as captain was a treat.
So many tourists, so few shops
NO wonder retail in Hobart is going down the tube. Long weekend with the Regatta, Hobart Cup and Wooden Boat Festival on and a major department store such as Myer not opening on the public holiday along with other stores. Tourists everywhere in the city wanting to shop and nothing open. Get your act together Hobart or stop whingeing about retail sales dropping.