Little empathy for struggling citizens

LIBERALS LEG-UP/PUBLIC TRANSPORT

THE Liberals giving a leg-up to Lark Distillery. A hefty leg-up to a commercial business operation, $4.5m in fact.

In the current social, economic and financial climate this is an obscene act by them, and they should be condemned for it.

There is no empathy or support for many of our citizens who have to fight daily just to exist. What could this money do for them – lots!

But still too the “promises” keep coming and we still have about three weeks of electioneering.

Heaven help us.

Trevor Semmens Montagu Bay

OBLIGATION QUESTIONS

WHAT I don’t hear about all this tax payers’ money Scott Morrison is throwing at various industries ($4m for a whisky manufacturer who just bought a $40m property for example), is whether the various companies involved have any obligation to pay all or any of the money back in any way.

Could somebody clarify whether such money is being handed over “for free” or not?

If so, could they explain why, if those so-called “free enterprise” (leave us alone, we know best) businesses involved go on to make a profit on the basis of such gifts, they shouldn’t be paying the money back to us mugs whose money it actually is?

Or is it, with apologies to the late Michael Hodgman, the “Morrison Socialist government”?

Martin Betts Snug

FAILING PUB TEST

THE Coalition government has promised to give Lark Distillery $4.5m (Sunday Tasmanian, May 1, “Leg-up for Lark work”).

Is this what the PM means by his government supporting business viz. handouts of taxpayers money to already successful organisations?

My sense is the “pub test”, which he so often draws on, would suggest most people would much rather see such money spent on health, housing affordability, flood relief among a myriad of what ought be higher priorities in this country.

It is unacceptable that our money can be so flippantly handed on to his business mates while so many struggle in the community.

Neil Cranson Battery Point

LOW – OR FREE – FARES

IT was very positive to see the 15 per cent increase in the use of public transport during the recent five-week trial (Metro Passenger Lift, April 30).

I support the permanent free or lowcost fares.

If not free, then about one-third of the previous fares, so that the cost is rarely a disincentive to travel.

There must have been a noticeable decrease in city congestion during the trial.

The cost of the trial was claimed to be about $1m for the five weeks, so for around $10m per annum it could be permanent. This is a far cheaper way to reduce city congestion than spending hundreds of millions a year on road infrastructure improvements.

Within 10 years the introduction of driverless cars, buses and taxis will make it possible to carry higher volumes on the existing road network. So expensive upgrades will not be needed.

The availability of permanent free or low-cost public transport has big advantages for access to employment and interviews, access to health and mental health services, access to retail outlets and general fitness and wellbeing.

The benefits are not just in cities. The advantage in regional and rural areas is just as significant.

Please make affordable public transport permanently available.

Ross Lincolne

Acton Park

STATE WELL BEHIND

BEN Johnston’s article (“Hobart Northern Suburbs Railway”, Apr 28) on the merits of having a light railway was a breath of fresh air and someone who, as an engineer, certainly knows what he is talking about.

And I will add that the congestion in the city is further aggravated by more people arriving to live and work in the Hobart area, plus university staff, and some students coming into the CBD from the sale of the old campus.

Also, how do you cope with the proposal of having a new stadium overlooking the Derwent without proper transport infrastructure?

The overall cost of having a light rail even from Glenorchy and beyond is small if spread over 10 years.

Tasmania is well behind in this area compared with other cities.

Wake up politicians and look to the future, not straddled in the past like the hospital affordability.

Geoffrey Curtis Spreyton