True meaning of Tasmania Day
iTHE Abel Tasman expedition sighted the West Coast of Tasmania on November 24, 1642. In 1838, Lt. Governor Franklin set aside December 1 as “Tasmania Day” and (as an afterthought) arranged for a regatta to be held.
That holiday is still celebrated elsewhere as “Recreation Day”, but Hobart found that December was a month of poor weather and experimented with a series of other dates before settling on the second Monday in February — a date dictated by the availability of the circus performers — and changed the name to “Regatta Day”.
So, for different reasons, Unions Tasmania is spot on in pushing for a return to the real purpose of the holiday — to celebrate the day Tasmania was put on the world’s maps. Tasmania, but they would appear to have dropped the ball and not be that interested in football here — except to provide players to the AFL.
One would ask if the direction that AFL Tasmania is taking is in the best interests of football in Tasmania, or is it in the best interests of the AFL?
If it’s in the best interests of the AFL, then maybe the Tasmanian Government should look at the funding that it provides to AFL Tasmania with. Maybe it’s time for a change of management at AFL Tasmania. They didn’t even have a registered business name last year until it was brought to their attention.
Things need to change in football in Tasmania. It needs to better suit the needs of the community and not those of the AFL, which seems to have enough funds to run itself without the need of the Tasmanian Government propping it up.
Bedlam looms
WHILE it is all well and good for Kerry Harrison of Taroona (Letters, May 6) to suggest councils should allow tourists the right to private accommodation, this practice could be a catastrophe waiting to happen for our industry. This also applies to the tour operators who are working without the necessary licenses.
If a visitor to Tasmania has an incident while staying at an unlicensed property or on tour, they have no option for compensation or complaint. With licensed operators, they have the support of local government, relevant State Government agencies and independent tourism indus- try support groups. These licensing and other requirements have been put in place to protect visitors and the industry.
Safety net slipping
THIS time last year Vinnies advocated directly to the state and federal governments for more sympathetic consideration of the needs of those living on Struggle St, Tasmania. Our appeals for increased emergency relief funds have been ignored. Yet we know increasing numbers of Tasmanians are experiencing under-employment, unemployment, the unaffordability of housing and the stresses of subsistence in the rental market.
Other agencies are experiencing similar challenges. Sadly budgets seem to be an opportunity for ideological grandstanding rather than community investment. Our governments seem to be neglecting their civil responsibility to provide a welfare safety net for individuals and communities still struggling to make ends meet on our streets.
What crisis?
APPARENTLY the economic crisis trumpeted by the Federal Government has disappeared. Debt and deficit are no longer the in words. Joe Hockey’s Budget softens the electorate for Tony Abbott to break another election promise. Watch this Prime Minister call an early election.