Keen to see results of big survey

HAVING just completed the Big Issues Survey, kudos must be extended to the Mercury newspaper for the excellent selection of the 80 or so odd questions asked into life in our home state of Tasmania and what changes, if any, can be made to enhance our lifestyle.

The survey is simple with mainly a yes or no to each question and only takes roughly about 10 minutes to complete.

Given the number of contentious issues currently attracting lots of media attention I for one eagerly look forward to this newspaper sharing the survey results at a later time.

Chris Davey Lindisfarne

Conversion practices

I THINK Michael Watts is objecting to what he thinks the Victorian Practices Prohibition Act says, not what it says (Mercury December 14).

The Act is legalese and legalese is often gobbledygook, and I might have written the legislation differently, but that might be why I’m not a lawyer.

The law mostly prohibits every one of us from causing harm to any other person.

It heads off at the pass, the possibility that some zealots might want to use conversion therapy as an excuse to cause harm. It is quite sensible and reasonable that it does not mention prayer, and does not exempt parents, or anyone else. Keith Anderson

Kingston

Laughable

WHAT a laughable reaction to the resignation of Professor Michael Pervan. Possibly the only person, formerly employed in the health sector, with the ability and knowledge to reform a failing health system, then stupidly removed to another government service, by a cowardly Gutwein Government, because of union pressure to save the jobs of non-performing workers, considered more important than delivery of satisfactory health services.

One can only wonder when and if politicians will ever put the community ahead of their own political ambitions.

John Pritchard Claremont

Greens position OK

I NEVER thought I would agree with Greens leader Cassy O’Connor, but the Mercury have been laying it on a bit thick of late regarding the proposed stadium.

Linking a Tasmanian team with building a new stadium is another example of the AFL throwing yet another hurdle in the way. One could be excused for thinking they don’t want a Tasmanian team in the league.

It’s probably going to cost a cool billion dollars by the time it’s finished and it’s no good running to Canberra for a contribution, as the Feds can’t pay the bills now, and l guess Albo will have to start cutting back on funding or increasing taxes soon.

I find it hypocritical for the AFL to demand a new stadium be constructed for the state’s inclusion into the league yet happily have Hawthorn and North Melbourne playing for premiership points on the existing grounds.

A total revamp of York Park would make more sense from a financial perspective and could incorporate the facilities needed by top sports teams.

I personally don’t have a problem with a stadium being built, but the timing of it, during a cost of living crisis and the arrogant demands of the AFL makes it a project that doesn’t sit well with me, and I suspect quite a few others.

Stuart Cox

Howrah

Tourism boom

TASMANIA will again benefit this summer from a bumper tourism season as more and more tourists flock back to the official, best destination in the world to visit.

Tourism is so crucial to the Tasmanian economy, supporting thousands of small businesses across Tasmania. Tourism actually directly contributes $1.11 billion or about

3.2 per cent to Tasmania’s Gross Domestic Product which is why we must ensure tourists continue to have a wonderful time when they visit.

Tasmania is the destination of choice for tourists because of our state’s natural beauty, friendly locals and world-class food and wine. There is nothing more iconic to Tasmania than Wineglass Bay, MONA, Boags and Cascade.

So as tourists visit again this summer I encourage all Tasmanians to continue to make them feel welcome so they return home with a positive experience and so their relatives and friends visit us next tourist season.

Senator Helen Polley Launceston

Top cartoons

CONGRATULATIONS to Kudelka, whose cartoon (December 13), has nailed it once again.

Likewise the also very clever cartoon by ‘ C ‘ , (December 14), depicting the State Government doing a backflip on a stadium, and criticising Federal Liberals for not supporting it. It raises a relevant point, which has never been clarified. When our Task Force submission received ‘in principle ‘ support from both Houses of the Tasmanian parliament, before being forwarded to the AFL for approval, the building of a new stadium was not part of that submission.

There are two questions from that.

1. Would the submission have received that support had it been?

2. At what point did the government decide to engage an architect to draw up plans for a stadium at the Regatta Grounds, and why?

Peter Williams

Sandy Bay

Gas outrage

IT DOESN’T surprise me that gas industry chief executives are outraged that the Australian government is protecting the Australian people and not their massive profits. These huge profits are made because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and not through any skills or hard work of the industry. These chief executives seem to forget it’s our gas.

Ikram Naqvi

Tinderbox