I’m saying nope to the dopes

ASYLUM SEEKERS

AM I happy boat refugees are forced out of Australian waters? Nope. Am I confident detained refugees are treated humanely? Nope. Am I supportive of children being locked in detention camps? Nope. Am I pleased with the incarceration rate of indigenous men and children? Nope. Am I proud to be an Australian? Nope. Sorry Tony the Liberal and Labor Bill, my vote to both of you is nope. I dream of the day our leaders lead with intellect, humanity, compassion and vision. I dream of the day when my nopes fade into the past. I know they will because I know we Australians have the intellect, will, compassion, humanity, skills and resources to achieve the dream. prisoners as they are in Risdon.

With Hayes Prison Farm a distant memory, what better use for this facility? The option of building a suitable facility is too expensive. Surely Mr Hodgman and his team can see this opportunity?

Fix our problems

I DON’T understand — with Tasmania having the highest unemployment rate, a public health system that can’t cope, and public housing without enough homes, a struggling public transport and schools — why our Government is looking to welcome more refugees. We can’t find jobs or properly care for the population we have, and the Government wants to send refugees to the regions were there is a slimmer chance of employment. Can we fix our problems first before looking for more?

Bigger issues

IS the plan to settle asylum seekers in regional areas another way to increase population growth, drive down wages and increase the customer base? How long do we think the extra people will stay in regional areas?

Bringing in migrants to do menial jobs and compete with low-skilled Australian workers is a failed strategy. Finding Australian workers to fill low-skilled jobs is a relatively minor issue to be managed with responsible government policies, and does not justify the unsustainable band-aid solution of importing more overseas labour.

The issue is not that migrants take jobs, It can be a cracker of a night Just another in the long list of wowser rules that should be rescinded. Cracker night was always great fun. It’s a reflection on what a miserable state we’re in that we have buy permission to have fun. even though youth unemployment is affected by this flooding of the low-skilled labour market. The bigger issue is many “temporary” migrants pose as students and tourists, when they are really economic migrants looking for low-skilled work and permanent residency.

Culture is a relevant debate to have, but multiculturalism and population sustainability should not be confused. Multiculturalism is nice to have. Now let’s talk about the must have — sustainability — so we can meet the needs of the present without compromising future generations.

Lacking guts

LETTERS to the Editor have shown there is huge concern in the community about the treatment of asylum seekers. And where is the Opposition on this? Rock solid with the Liberals. Now Shorten has joined Liberal ranks on “no carbon tax”, the one single measure universally regarded by experts as the most effective action against climate change. On taxation, “I’ll sit down with Tony Abbott and discuss this”. The same on asylum seeker policy, on the so-called “war on terror”, on action against Australians wanting to return home after fighting in selected countries overseas, on burning native forests for “renewable” energy that increases carbon emissions. The Opposition’s job should be to provide alternatives. Shorten seems incapable of doing that, only of aping Abbott’s opportunism. In the interests of democracy, can the Labor Party provide us with a leader with guts and principle?

Thanks Marie

MANY thanks, Marie Archer, for making my day with your delightful letter about your pet pig, Pauline Mary (Letters, June 11). What a terrific pet and such a lovely life she has!

Bandaid solution

OUR Lord Mayor said the new logo represented the fabric of our community, a structure that holds the system together ( Mercury, June 12). Hmmm, political speak for a Bandaid?

Shorten accused

OPPOSITION Leader Bill Shorten is accused of impropriety in facilitating payment of union fees for workers by their employers. But that “impropriety” is yet to be explained or elaborated. What is different from a company paying the health insurance or ancillary benefits of its employees?

Fuel miracle

I HAVE just witnessed a miracle. All petrol service stations have raised their sale prices by the exact same rate at the exact same time. I also must assume their reserve tanks must have all run out at the same time.

Careful

READER Marilyn Quirk is against same sex marriage and wants a referendum on the issue (Letters, June 11). Given polls consistently show a majority of Australians are in favour, she wants to be careful of what she wishes for.

James Loring, of Little Swanport