Small business ‘shares the nightmare’ during the Commonwealth Games

GOLD Coast Bulletin readers have their say on Games gripes, ‘genderbread’, diesel cars and Black Swan Lake.

“Share the dream” was the motto. We shopkeepers “shared the nightmare”

It all started when the politicians decided to win the Commonwealth Games, we needed a more efficient transport system throughout the city.

A local engineer proposed a solar powered monorail system, above ground, not interfering with parking, traffic flows etc (it was knocked back because some genius in government made a $270,000,000 adding mistake!) yes a 270 million dollar “small error.”

These geniuses are running the state. God help Queensland!

So even though the tram destroyed the heart of Adelaide, the idiots decided it would be nice to have a tram set here on the Gold Coast.

Thus began the first nightmare. We shopkeepers sat around, paying wages and ridiculous rents etc, while the so-called workers sat around, dragging out the construction as long as possible.

Consequently the locals could not get into town to shop and the main drag of the heart of the Gold Coast was a construction mess for years.

Soon businesses started to close, over the years hundreds went bust, people lost houses, investment properties etc (banks didn’t care they just wanted their money) and staff lost jobs.

Since completion businesses continued to close, the trams took out 1000 car spaces and there is nowhere to park your vehicle (our mayor Tate is selling our only parking station in town, which will obviously result in a loss of jobs and less locals and customers coming into the heart of town... bloody genius).

During construction my turnover dropped by several hundred thousand dollars and has never recovered. This, of course, resulted in more loss of jobs, we couldn’t afford to keep them.

And lastly, the nightmare began again, GOLDOC headed by the hapless Peter Beattie, convinced locals to keep away because of perceived traffic congestion. Locals obliged and they left town in droves, taking their money with them, resulting in the worst Easter holiday trading in 15 years and more losses. This loss of trade continued through the ten days of the Games.

Now the New South Wales school holidays have arrived and because of the bad publicity and the high rents they have chosen to stay away from our beautiful city, more losses.

We business people, both current and past, who have suffered under this idiocy should take a class action against those responsible, GOLDOC, Mayor Tate and Peter Beattie (Beattie told us to suck it up and Tate told us to change our product mix, no apology or responsibility taken for driving our customers away).

Every single shopkeeper in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach is fed up with the GCCC destroying our city and our tourism industry that fuels so many local and family-owned businesses.

Is there anyone who can help us put a stop to this idiocy and take back our town?

Any pro bono lawyers out there to help us?

How do you leave the Gold Coast with a million dollars? You come here with three.

FRANK BAILEY, ZANETTES
GELATI, CHEVRON RENAISSANCE

Like most parents, I believe education should aim to give children a great start in life.

Our schools’ core priorities should be teaching students subjects such as maths, languages, science and literature.

Unfortunately, the Palaszczuk Labor Government believes schools should be used to indoctrinate children with disturbing ideas about sexuality and ‘gender identity’.

It has given the green-light for the ‘Genderbread Person’ program to be taught in Queensland public schools, even though it has been banned by the NSW Government.

This program teaches kids that their instincts are almost always wrong and that ‘gender identity’ can change dozens of times a day.

It even tells children they are unusual if they aren’t partly attracted to people of the same sex.

The program does acknowledge that some boys can be heterosexual, but only to remind them of how ‘privileged’ this makes them.

I believe schools should embrace and accept every child so everyone is included, but this type of brainwashing isn’t right.

If kids aren’t confused about their sexuality before being taught this program, they will be afterwards.

As well as bizarre gender theories, Labor has also approved lessons in graffiti for Year 9 students.

Is it any wonder that many of our Year 9 students struggle in their NAPLAN writing tests? Our curriculum is crowded enough as it is without teaching our kids about graffiti and the Genderbread Person.

I promise parents that an LNP government led by me would ensure our schools are caring, inclusive and focused on their students’ needs.

Every child deserves a high-quality education and that’s what I will deliver.

DEB FRECKLINGTON, LEADER, LIBERAL NATIONAL PARTY

The UK and Europe are in the process of removing diesel powered vehicles from their roads, with the exception of trucks exceeding 4 tons, busses, motor homes and certain 4WDs with factory specs rated to tow caravans weighing 3 tons and more.

Sales of new and used diesel powered cars have dropped dramatically with thousands lying idle in dealerships and holding yards throughout the UK and Europe, unable to be sold. All this nonsense because environmentalists say that diesel engines emit 10 times the toxic emission of petrol engines and are vastly contributing to global warming.

Federal Labor is under pressure by the Australian Greens to do the same, and Bill Shorten has shown a big interest just to keep the Greens on side, desperate to win the next Federal election at all costs. And if Labor does gain power, which is forecast by the political experts, then diesel powered cars could vanish off Australian roads.

KEN WADE, TWEED HEADS

I just learned that Black Swan Lake qualifies for consideration for perpetual protection under the new Commonwealth Government Legislation, Casuarina Glauca (Swamp Oak) Communities, an Act protective of valuable wetlands.

If this is indeed correct, then revoke the license that allows the turf club to destroy Black Swan Lake. Remember, once an unspoiled area is developed, it’s gone for good!

Wild areas are healthier for everyone and everything than more concrete jungles. More than 38,000 petition signers agree.

MARIELLE D. MARNE

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games were appalling. When Australia has highly talented people like of Ric Birch with a proven track record for organising such events at an international level the ‘brains’ behind the games give it (and reportedly close of $40 million) to a bunch of Americans. What a lost opportunity for the Gold Coast and Australia. The organisers of Brisbane’s Riverfire would have delivered more bang for the buck. Now we have weeping Beattie overcome by the enormity of it all (Be warned NRL)

PAUL WILSON, PARADISE POINT