Desperate worker: Why won’t they help us?

The frontline in the fight against the pandemic is no longer unfolding on Cavill Ave, Broadbeach Mall or Griffith St, Coolangatta – it’s inside our homes.

A GOLD Coast Bulletin staff member has been on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic twice in the past 10 days.

It is no longer Cavill Ave, Broadbeach Mall or Griffith St, Coolangatta – despite the gloomy outlook for small business – but in the homes of the thousands of Gold Coast mums and dads who have lost their jobs to the global crisis. The ones struggling to put food on the table for their kids and, in desperation, seek solace in a life insurance payment to ensure their family will have a roof over their heads.

A closed sign is seen at Surfers Paradise business on the Gold Coast, Wednesday, April 8, 2020. The coronavirus has thrown small businesses into crisis, with many owners sending workers home as customers vanish. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Take Mick*, for example. He wrestled the toughest gorillas in New Zealand rugby a generation ago, squaring off against All Black props in the winter mud.

Still has the scars to show for it – numerous stitches above an eye a war wound from a hardened international’s forearm. Mick got square and finished the game. No blood bins back in those days.

He is not so proud of his latest scar, however. The rope burns are subsiding each day after his foolish decision to take matters into his own hands last week.

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Mick is a tradie. He has paid his taxes every week of the seven years he has lived on the Gold Coast, and annual rates as a home owner. He lost his job when the firm he worked for became one of the estimated 7500 Gold Coast companies to close its doors in April.

He has chewed through the family savings and maxed out the credit cards, and is ineligible for government subsidies.

Two days earlier the Bulletin staff member went to the house of another struggling worker who had been pushed beyond the point of desperation.

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A number of their mates have joined them on the job scrap heap as the financial and emotional wreckage from the coronavirus crisis deepens.

Mick says what he did last week was stupid and strongly advises anyone feeling down to seek help. “Permanent solution to a temporary problem,” he adds.

“But I don’t understand why they won’t help us. There are 60,000 small businesses in this city, supporting hundreds of thousands of people, yet we refuse to kickstart the economy because of the threat of coronavirus cases. We have flattened the curve. Those cases might not happen, but the desperation of people who have lost their jobs is happening. It is real. People are hurting themselves.”

Mental health facilities told the Bulletin on Saturday they had experienced a huge spike in demand in the past two months. Struggling Gold Coasters were drinking more and police were attending more callouts for depression and anxiety.

Business leaders believe the dire situation will get worse the longer the economy is hamstrung. Tourism bosses say the financial fallout for the Glitter Strip will be upwards of $4.3 billion and that we are bleeding $310 million every month that the NSW border is closed.

There are no winners in this crisis, but at some point the social and human cost must be considered against the possibility of a second coronavirus wave.

It is a delicate juggle and must be raised, however difficult the conversation.

* Mick’s name changed for privacy reasons.

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Lifeline on 131 114.