Oppressed Eric
I’m bemused that Eric Abetz, long the figurehead of the Tasmanian Liberal Party’s right wing, fails to mention the Liberal Party in his current political advertising. But I’m more amused by the leaflet in which he spruiks his credentials as a warrior against ‘cultural Marxism’ (presumably a threat on a par with climate change and Chinese expansionism) and states that he ‘fearlessly calls out ABC bias.’ One must bow down in awe at Eric’s courage in confronting the scourge of alleged ABC bias. Countless critics of the ABC have, presumably, disappeared – locked away by the oppressive organs of the state, derided constantly in the media by rabid, state-sponsored enforcers of political correctness, or snatched off the streets by deranged left-wing goon squads. None of these threats faze Eric. He truly is fearless.
– Rowan Wylie, South Hobart
Buildings Without Grace
Recently I visited the new Commonwealth Bank in Hobart and was disheartened to find it to be imbued with all the ambiance of a public toilet. Presumably it was designed by someone in Head Office with the imagination of a cockroach who probably opened their computer and clicked on ‘Template for Small Suburban Branch’.
Until recently the bank had two branches in Hobart, each were spacious, welcoming and provided a warm and friendly service. The current one is miniscule by comparison, exceedingly cramped with staff clearly frazzled while doing their best in trying conditions. There is standing room only, people are forced to be close to each other with no room to move or find their own safe space. Forget social distancing. Remember this has been developed in Covid times which begs the question whether the bank is putting both staff and customers at risk. How is this not an OH&S issue and a failure of the bank’s duty of care? Surely new public buildings need to adapt to the reality of ‘living with Covid’.
The irony is they have just moved out of the most wonderful Commonwealth Bank Building which was a pleasure to go into with its high ceiling, spacious entrance and exquisite architecture furnishing an almost perfect design for preventing the spread of a highly contagious virus. This space is now brimming with frilly fashions!
It is a sad reflection to think that many of our important heritage buildings in Hobart and Tasmania were built by banks portraying a sense of dignity and respect for their customers. Lamentably the current one demonstrates only contempt and incivility.
– Dr Ian Broinowski, Battery Point
Stop destroying takayna
Dear Premier Rockliff, as Premier of Tasmania it’s your turn to fix what your predecessors failed to fix. You must tell Chinese mining company MMG that they will not be building a dirty tailings dam in the beautiful takayna rainforest. Ever. There is currently a camp of non-violent direct action protesters in the forest who would love for you to visit and see why this dam must not be dug into this rainforest. Please make a positive contribution to Tasmania’s wild places.
And why are environmental protesters prosecuted for trying to protect wild places, when it is industry and the government who are doing all the environmental damage to our planet?
Prosecute them!
– Felicity Holmes, Tinderbox
Angry Man
To the angry man who could only swear at and insult me at my Animal Justice Party market stall the other day: I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I could do little but reflect your anger even though I didn’t feel it. I would like to know why the very sight of me raises such feelings in you. Right now, I can only conclude that because the AJP stands for kindness, non-violence and protection of animals and nature, your values or your existence revolves around the very opposites. Until we can communicate better, we’ll never know.
– Ivan Davis, AJP Senate candidate, Claremont
Underwhelmed by Underpass
So the new Longford Police Station has been opened at a cost of $5 million which would seem like a reasonable cost with all the mod cons for 13 officers, while an underpass in Campbelltown to allow school kids to get to the swimming pool is costing $6 million.
Could you please Mr Gutwein explain to the Tasmanian people why it’s costing $6 million for a hole under a road, who signed off on it, and who’s making all the money, when a set of traffic lights at a cost of probably no more than $500,000 would have sufficed?
Who’s making the money Premier/Treasurer, who?
– Rob Newitt, Chairman Federation Party Tasmania
Guy Barnett is a Climate Criminal
I studied environmental science at high school in the early 1990s, where I became acutely aware of climate change and the negative impacts that humans are having on the environment, and the lack of government action to respond to these impacts. Here we are 30 years later in 2022, and nothing has changed. Governments are still refusing to act, industries are still given incentives to pollute, and politicians fail to look beyond the next election.
My mental health, and the mental health of my friends has been persistently adversely affected by the continued lack of action by governments in the face of climate change and environmental destruction. This form of mental anguish has a name: solastalgia, which describes emotional distress caused by climate change. This distress compels me to fight for the health of the environment in Tasmania by writing letters, talking to politicians, reading relevant scientific information and partaking in non-violent direct action.
MP Guy Barnett accuses people like me of being environmental terrorists. He continues to push the industry agenda, claiming that environmentalists are threatening workplaces, and must be stopped. Barnett states that we are unlawful in our actions and we need harsher penalties. It does not take a lot of intelligence to recognise that the industry activities Barnett is protecting are the exact same activities that are causing environmental damage and climate change.
Perhaps it is time for the laws protecting environmental destruction to change, and for environmental activists to be protected in their endeavors to create a better world. It is time we stopped supporting outdated and destructive industry activities such as native forest logging and mining. The law needs to change so that industry and the government gets penalised for destruction, and the environmental protesters are praised for exposing what is clearly environmental vandalism.
– Dr Colette Harmsen, Tinderbox
Save what?
The Save UTAS cookers give me the pip. You know why? Because Sandy Bay campus is a hole. There, I said it. It’s a boring, lumpy, cluttered mess of outdated architecture in a lousy location.
The UTAS relocation plan is a good one. You might not like it, but they have shown plenty of intent to listen to feedback about the designs of the city campus and their realisation. The buildings achieved so far and those on the drawing board are impressive, in my opinion. Similarly, the plans for the redevelopment of Sandy Bay are a great opportunity for best practice, sustainable urban development.
Exactly why the cookers yearn for 1950s-quality education out in the yawnburbs is a mystery. As is what they plan to do as the UTAS city developments continue construction: chain themselves to their bottles of chardonnay as the new foundations go in?
– Kohli Wala, Derwent Park
Australia needs a climate leader
There is a federal election on 21 May and we wait on tenterhooks, hoping a leader emerges that day, like Phoenix arising from the ashes.
A leader who understands that climate change is the greatest risk for all of us, our families and communities and the animals we need and love. A leader who sees the impact of climate change, playing out in real-time. The floods in Queensland and NSW this year killed more than 20 people and destroyed the homes and businesses of thousands. While the east had record-breaking floods, Western Australia broke previous records for heatwaves, the number of very hot days in a row. In the Torres Strait Islands rising sea levels are causing coastal erosion, flooding homes and sacred sites. Increasing heat is almost certainly responsible for mosquitoes travelling south, mosquitoes that are carrying Japanese encephalitis, a potentially fatal disease.
A leader who listens to the scientists. The reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) this year have concluded unequivocally that climate change and its affects are getting worse around the world. Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to stop the temperature rising further. A rapid reduction in fossil fuel use is essential this decade as well as programs to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – increased tree planting, sustained regeneration of the environment and innovative technology.
A leader who respects the great mix of people for whom Australia is home. From the first nations people, the best to understand this land, to the refugees who bring infinite hope and expectation. From farmers who labour to improve the carbon content of their soil to all who live in our towns and cities, striving to play their part, with solar panels and hybrid or electric cars.
A leader who values the unique ecosystems and wildlife of this country. Rising temperatures and severe weather events are already causing serious and potentially irreversible harm to our rare habitats. Successive bleaching events caused by a warming ocean are destroying the Great Barrier Reef, home to countless marine fauna, including dugong and turtles. More than 95% of the giant kelp in the seas off the east coast of Tasmania has been destroyed. The bushfires of 2019-20 and the severe rain events this year have killed billions of wild animals. Koalas in eastern Australia have joined the endangered species list – a list that is large and increasing.
A leader who knows that transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy will curb pollution, create jobs and strengthen our economy. Many states and territories already have plans in place to decarbonise and invest in clean sources of energy. Business trailblazers are moving ahead with developments in all aspects of renewable power. A national climate action plan will encourage all of us to play our part in smart and successful climate mitigation and adaptation measures across the county.
We urgently need an intelligent, compassionate and visionary leader to ensure that Australia remains the best place in the world for our children and grandchildren. Let us hope the vacancy is filled at the federal election on 21 May.
– Janet Truslove, Pipers Brook
Letters are welcome on any Tasmanian subject, up to 300 words (we allow a few longer ones occasionally but you’d be surprised how much people appreciate you getting to the point). Letters should be concise, respectful of others and rely on evidence where necessary. No links please! Letter writers should provide a real name and town / suburb. Letters can be send on behalf of organisations or groups. Submit letters in the body of an email to [email protected]
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