WHAT’S IN A NAME
How much will we pay them?
NICE article by Michael Giudici about the proposed Nomenclature Board changes but still nobody has addressed the issue I think is most important (“Call it as it is,” Talking Point, September 26). How much is it going to cost? How many people sit on the current Nomenclature Board and how much are they paid? How many people will be on the Place Names Advisory Body and how much will we pay them?
Secondly, if the proposed new name is “immediately approved. They will not need to go to the panel or the minister” as it is lodged, who does the approval? Is the body sitting around waiting for the phone to ring? If approval is granted “immediately”, why do we need an Advisory Board at all? Maybe Mr Giudici could address these fundamentals for us. names, do we replace them with indigenous names, do we have a mix of both? Definitely a thought-provoking exhibition — a must-see for all Tasmanians.
All equal citizens
READER Sheila Reynolds is spot on to say, “Any member of the public can suggest a name for a place in keeping with the history and the natural features of the area” (Letters, September 23). I also like how Northern Territory indigenous advocate Jacinta Nampijinpa Price puts it, “we Aboriginal people should not be treated as a separate entity to other Australians, but as part of the fabric of this country” (from her Mind the Gap speaking tour).
Whether Mt Wellington or kunanyi is your first and only preference, as another reader says “an inclusive contemporary Tasmania recognises the worth of us all as inherently equal citizens”.
Labouring over labels
WHAT excellent comments from Roger Wolfe (Letters, September 21). We have a “government” that is more intent on control than conservation, that favours economic growth over social responsibility, that has no vision other than profit, for example, no idea about Macquarie Point and wasting millions allowing a governmentappointed, highly paid “Development Corporation” to come up with dreary plans of basically commercial ventures. Maybe call Paul Keating for some less dreary ideas. We have a “government” that thinks it is critically important to appoint Guy Barnett as “Minister for Silly Blowout in waiting times for public housing And the State Liberal Government is still advertising for expat Tasmanians and mainlanders to come and live here ... talk about out of touch! Names” rather than address the more important issues. The same minister who decided renaming Forestry Tasmania to Sustainable Timbers Tasmania was a good idea. Sustainable? Still has not received international accreditation and unlikely to, given clearfelling practices and disregard for habitat.
We have a government that is treating us with contempt because it knows it can, given the pathetic opposition. What next? An actual “Minister for Silly Walks”? With fines for walking that “non-Liberal” way? Don’t laugh. We are going down that slippery slope. Would be Monty Python laughable, except that it is real life in Tasmania.
Right undies for tradies
THERE is an important issue being overlooked by the minister for naming. Yes Minister, it’s important to use the correct name for our places, streets and heritage sites, however there is a far bigger issue at stake and we need the right Guy to fix it.
How many times have you been witness to tradesmen wearing grundies (sorry, underpants) branded with the day of the week? The real issue is, and this may shock a lot of people, they often wear the incorrect grundies for the actual day. I observed a hardworking plumber displaying just the right amount of bum crack for the job, but wearing Monday’s underpants on a Thursday. How shocking is that?
Along with taking on naming, perhaps you could adopt an extra portfolio. That would help ensure correct grundies (sorry, underpants) are worn, ensuring the great Australian tradition would continue while ensuring the correct signage.
Can rivulet get off the ground
GREAT idea opening up the underground part of the Hobart Rivulet to pedestrians. But what are the chances of this proposal getting off the ground? The naysayers haven’t spoken yet. We haven’t had much luck with new ideas for Hobart coming to fruition in recent decades. Here’s hoping!
Just dumb
PERHAPS Hobart City Council should ask the women and homeless if it’s a good idea to use the rivulet. Plain dumb idea!
Petrol yoyo
I HAVE to agree with reader Evan Evans about petrol prices (Letters, September 26). I observed at a service station, $1.49.5 per litre in the afternoon and the same price the next morning, then $1.56.9 later in the morning. Later that afternoon back to $1.45.9. How can this be happening in one day!
Launceston leaders
I APPLAUD Launceston City Council for the unanimous decision to host future citizenship ceremonies on January 25 instead, out of respect for the Aboriginal community. Launceston Mayor van Zetten shows leadership and vision by saying, “We believe that it can be inclusive, and it can eventually be a day for all Australians to enjoy”.
Grounds for big bucks
GWS, best side money can buy. Scary thing is, if they hadn’t made the Grand Final the AFL would have given them millions more!