Prices rising all around us
STATE FINANCES
SO Mr Gutwein ( Mercury, October 10) claims that there will be no tax increases. Just how stupid does he think we are? If there are no increases in taxes, then how come almost everything that is associated with the Tasmanian Government is higher each year? Vehicle registration, MAIB, fire services etc etc. And these are the ones that rise each year due to CPI, the other more sinister ones are for water and power where, apart from ensuring that the rates are not increased each year, the Government just sits back and accepts the extra revenue and from time to time takes a grab from these government companies’ reserves.
All very nice, say one thing and do something else. And the most offending is the indifferent management of this process — those already paying more have to endure even a higher increase. Who decides if these increases are justified, are sustainable, are moral, and more importantly what checks are in place?
Pathetic
SO, this State Government plans to make an $11.7 million cut to an already underfunded health system. In my opinion only two words can describe this Hodgman Government — bloody pathetic. would compete and be the main news of the day. This subterfuge failed. Whilst bums filled seats the empire collapsed. History repeats!
Concerning trends
TREASURER Peter Gutwein’s forecast of future Tasmanian debt is of concern when considered that ongoing climate evolution is not a factor or a world financial slump.
Governments regularly get too close to industry and finish up not getting a return for their input. An example is Vodafone, who surely with the grants would have a locked in period or pay back amounts against time.
As for the tourism industry, it’s time they were given notice to find their own internal funding levy as more overseas owners arrive possibly GST free, the same can be said of the now dominant woodchip, aquaculture, mining and other overseas sales of Tasmanian produce that are GST exempt.
No longer can government say it creates jobs as PAYE tax carries the load while technology shaves permanent jobs to below poverty hours.
Past premier Robin Gray pulled off one of the greatest poker bluff games against the federal Hawke government on the Gordon Dam. There was no way Tasmania could have funded the project without federal reserve underwriting and Robin knew that and received massive compensation from the feds to ditch the Gordon. That money built dams, roads and modernised Tasmania. The Bacon government followed this strong direction with a strong team of mostly active ministers.
The real concern is to the future, while Gutwein forecasts debt without projecting true costings, the Labor finance spokesman David O’Byrne kicks dust but offers not one solution to get round bankrupting Tasmania. What are the combined Lower and Upper House solutions in fiscal management beside political salary rises.
On the job
THE criticism being levelled at Tourism Tasmania indicates inefficiencies in management and direction. I don’t know whether it is a boys’ club as suggested but it is certainly in a rut. Following on from the “shattering” 2017 national cycling survey is a further survey this year showing yet another decrease in participation in cycling in Australia. Yet the boys at Tourism Tasmania are dead set on convincing the State Government to pour more money into this activity, rather than creating new tourism opportunities, such as repairing existing infrastructure to operate tourist and heritage rail, which has been offered free of government money.
Time to get off your bikes and on the job.
Planetary query
READER J. Pritchard (Letters, October 11) states “there is not a climate scientist, I stress climate scientist, in the world who says there is a climate emergency”. Um, is J. Pritchard living on planet Earth?
Raise the punishment
IF police and other road safety advocates are serious about addressing the unsafe use of mobile phones and other electronic devices while driving a motor vehicle, the only sure fired way is increase the penalty. $2000 and loss of drivers licence for three months would put a stop to the practice.
Mining for mirth
A $50,000 coal mining grant? I’ve been wondering why Will Hodgman was toting such a heavy bag under his left arm at the Liberal Party State Conference ( Mercury, October 7). Scott Morrison only needed to hold up a single lump of it to sing its praises in Federal Parliament.
Rain permits
I HEARD a man on the radio praying to God for rain and I wondered how God could make it rain? And then might that breach an old Act of parliament especially if even under the extenuating circumstances (the drought) there was no permit.