STATE POLITICS
Greens ask the hard questions
IT is apparent that there are people fed up with anything Green (Letters, March 11). It would please them indeed, if the Greens were to be deprived of their party status: no more inconvenient and probing criticisms being aired in Parliament, by the exemplary and intelligent Cassy O’Connor. No one speaking up for the environment, on which we all depend. As one of the first members of the United Tasmania Group, when it was founded in 1974, I must aver that the Greens voice is necessary. They might well remain in the minority for some time, but it is a thinking minority. When the last open bushland areas around Hobart are built out, developed, spoiled, the last traces of wildlife shot because they are considered a pest, the jails overfilled with peaceful protesters and climate change on the rampage, how wonderful a life that will be. election advertising and restrict the parties to regulated presentations of their policies. All of this information should be easily available; and for those who can’t be bothered to make this effort, we should allow them to not vote. What we really need is informed voters making considered votes, and the current style of election advertising prevents this outcome.
Success from gamblers
GREAT articles from Simon Bevilacqua on Saturday and by Greg Barns (Talking Point, March 12). No matter how you dress it up Will Hodgman, your electoral success was on the back of thousands of problem gamblers who represent 40 per cent of poker machine revenues. We have been hit before in this state by backroom deals with corporates with terrible consequences. Don’t let powerful gambling interests become the Tasmanian version of the NRA, and also never forget 40 per cent.
Already lost
NO Simon Bevilacqua, it is you who are talking rot (Mercury, March 10). Labor and the Greens did not lose because of money donated by the hotel industries. They had lost the election before they even announced their pokies policy. They had failed to communicate policies demonstrating they had learnt the lessons from the dysfunctional Labor/Green government. They continued to rely on stunts that insult the intelligence of electors. Labor usually has the financial advantage provided by union leaders diverting mem- themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. bers’ dues. Even before the pokies policy the Liberals had garnered a good financial war chest on the back of providing good government. Labor hardheads knew all this and thought the pokies policy would be virtue signalling with no downside. They were wrong, it did not hide their poor policy portfolio. It emphasised Labor was prepared to still let the Greens set their agenda. It was seen as an ineffective policy to deal with the small number of gambling addicts.
Caring for democracy
HEY Will, as you know democracy in Tasmania was set back at the last election. Who cares? I care! Sir Max Bingham cares (see Simon Bevilacqua, Mercury, March 10) many thousands of us ordinary Tasmanians care. What a pity!
Pokies test run
AS a staunch long-time Labor supporter and voter I wish for Labor to put itself up for an election in the best way possible in order to win government. Unfortunately in the election I do not believe this was the case. I am of the opinion Labor knew it was going to be an uphill battle and this allowed it to test the waters with the antipokies policy. Had the polls showed a Labor victory was more likely, Labor would not have risked this policy. A more sensible policy would have been a compromise in which gambler’s losses would be minimised due to increased regulation.
Look to Finland’s housing
YOU may have heard that Finland solved the homeless problem, by providing homes. This turned out to be cheaper than providing shelters and other services. This week, one very simple question needs to be asked. If Finland can solve homelessness, what is our problem?
Sauced by Trump
IF the daily news cycle can be compared to our daily meal cycle, Donald Trump is the bottle of tomato sauce that smothers everything. The great deal maker who threatens then appeases is playing us for fools. Yes it is important we have been exempted from his steel and aluminium tariffs — but let’s not grovel. And let’s not pretend this is two great democracies further cementing their friendship. Right now only one of us is functioning anything like a democracy.
Nature fights back
SEEMS Mother Nature is hard at work in Macquarie Harbour.
Labor lacking
UNLESS you can find another Hawke or Keating, Federal Labor has no hope in hell. I wouldn’t give 20 cents for what they have now.