Visa upgrades

YOUR Editorial and story regarding the new visa IT system failed to inform your readers of the facts ( Mercury, July 18). Hobart processes visas only because a Liberal Government moved the jobs here in the first place. With burgeoning international travel, the number of visa applications has grown and is on a trajectory to grow even more, from 9 million to 13 million in the next eight years. A new IT system is being sourced to handle the growth. Visas are required for many reasons including national security. We will not compromise national security, therefore will not be privatising the granting of visas. Our duty as stewards of taxpayer dollars is to ensure an efficient, timely and cost-effective delivery of a visa service which includes adaptation of new technology, as

Helping hundreds

READER Bill Arnol criticises those who participate in Sleep Out for the homeless for not doing it tough enough in this activity (Letters, July 18). Do we need to have a go at members of the community who are trying to help people (whatever the conditions)? Of course the sleep-out isn’t going to be realistic, but it is going to help hundreds of Tasmanians who don’t have a roof over their head.

For the record

ON Wednesday the Mercury reported that a woman who was trying to save an illegal pet turtle suspected her neighbour had reported her to authorities. There is no evidence the neighbour made such a report. The Mercury apologies for any embarrassment the article may have caused and unreservedly retracts the suggestion regarding that neighbour.