Quickviews

Great theatre

DID you catch the expression on Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s face throughout Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s Budget reply speech? Very adult. Very restrained. Great theatre – 7/10. John R.Wilson

Daisy Dell

Waste of time

I OBSERVED a council worker operating a blower vacuum tool on autumnal leaves in the street. This surely is one of the most pointless exercises, as the leaves will return. I understand a vacuum truck was intended to sweep it up but no such vehicle was evident and I did not see one in the course of my walk into the city. Simon Collins South Hobart

Well done Julia

PETER Troy’s offensive, inaccurate letter (Letters, May 17) lambasting Julia Gillard for inactivity regarding people with a disability for over five years cannot go unchallenged. He obviously has no idea how much planning is required to implement a major reform. We, as a nation, should be congratulating her and the Government for this and other important undertakings such as the NBN.

Tim Hiley Sandy Bay

Telstra charges

AT Midway Point we have the NBN. We are not charged line rental for it. We can choose whatever internet provider we like and only pay for data used. Later this year Telstra is to turn off the copper wire that supply the telephone and put phones through the NBN. Telstra is going to charge us line rental for the NBN because we need to talk through it. Why? Todd Francis Midway Point

Frontline lacks heart

WHEN you dissect Mr Abbott’s frontbench there is not much heart there. Steve Marriott

Cygnet

Populist, sneaky and dumb

TONY Abbott loves the three-word slogans, well here’s one from me regarding his Budget reply and plans for the future – ‘‘populist, sneaky and dumb’’. Rick Middleton

Dodges Ferry

Crocodile tears

WEnever saw Julia Gillard cry after the Queensland floods, nor after the Tassie bushfires, or after seeing the torture of our livestock in Indonesia, Pakistan and then Egypt. But with an election four months away, she’s crying over a disability scheme. Let’s hope Australia isn’t fooled again. Krista James

Hobart

A fair return

GINA Rinehart’s video message to the masses warns that the mining industry shouldn’t be treated as an ATM for everyone else to draw on ( Mercury, May 18). There exists a significant body of people called Australians who believe the national interest relies on receiving a fair return from our national deposits. Stephen Jeffery

Sandy Bay