Gold Coast residents receive racist letter advising of home sharing scheme
AN ‘OFFICIAL’ Commonwealth Games letter advising Gold Coast residents they would be given “two milking goats” in exchange for hosting Sri Lankan families during the event has been slammed by Games chairman Peter Beattie.
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GOLD Coast Commonwealth Games chairman Peter Beattie has slammed a racist fake letter sent out inviting Glitter Strip residents to take part in a multicultural home sharing scheme during the Games.
The letter, on Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation letterhead and signed by ‘Peter Beattie’, advises one resident that they have been selected to host a Sri Lankan family under the ‘United by the Moment, Share Your Home’ plan.
The resident is told they will be given “adequate supplies of curry powder” for the extended family of 11, tents and stretchers ‘at a modest rental’ and “we will provide you with two (2) milking goats to ensure fresh milk can be provided”.
“You will be pleased, I am sure, to know we have assigned a typical family group from Sri-Lanka (sic) to be guests in your home for a few months before and after the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games,’ the letter states.
“To ensure you are able to make the necessary accommodation arrangements, the family will consist of mother, father, children (5), wife’s brother, grandfather, grandmother and her sister.
“Tents and stretchers, also portable toilets are available at a modest rental (cost).”
The letter says that with council approval, two milking goats will be provided “to ensure fresh milk can be made available to the family”.
Families were also reassured they would be given Sri Lankan recipes and some staple food items to avoid causing them “inconvenience”.
“We shall provide adequate supplies of curry powder, rice, chicken and powdered goats milk.”
Mr Beattie told The Courier-Mail the letter was “dishonest, ugly and fraudulent”.
“The Games are going to be fantastic,” he said.
“Sadly, there are a small number of people like these who want to use the Games for their own ugly purposes.
“These Games are to bring people together, not divide them.”
A GOLDOC spokeswoman said: “The letter is a fake and has been handed to Queensland Police who will conduct preliminary investigations into the motive and origin of its source.”
Originally published as Gold Coast residents receive racist letter advising of home sharing scheme
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