YOUR VIEWS
P0 Box 1, Southport 4215 editorial@goldcoast.com.au facebook.com/goldcoastbulletin AS a Platinum Frequent Flyer with Qantas and 40 years patronage, I am disappointed with Alan Joyce’s brazen support of Same Sex Marriage (SSM); like most frequent flyers, I am not interested in the CEO’s opinion on any social issues. On a plane I am only interested in safety, service and scheduling.
Qantas have peddled their internal policies with gay dating in their in-flight magazine for some time. This has now blown out to include their campaign with ‘Same Sex Marriage’ messages on boarding passes and black open rings for staff.
It is easy to see the temptation to use decades of careful investment in a unique and trusted national icon to campaign for social and political issues, but hard to imagine the diligent research and responsible management processes that demonstrate that these actions improve customer franchise and investor returns.
Two obvious issues that come to mind immediately are: does this overt and emphatic support of the SSM platform place Qantas customers at risk of terrorist reprisal, as the only airline in the world with such a position; and what does this mean for dissenting staff who for reasons of personal conscience and democratic privilege do not support the SSM platform?
It is surely incumbent on the Board of Qantas to demonstrate to the public that the decision to place Qantas at the forefront of the SSM movement in this country has been carefully researched and is in the best interests of customers, shareholders and employees.
As to the ban on a 67 year old “Pie Man”, this reaction is petulant and hissy, and I expected better from Qantas.
Bans go both ways, I have banned all my staff from travelling with Qantas, as you are no longer providing good service or value for money. But mainly we are offended by your selective presentation of SSM as part of our flying experience.
DR STUART BALLANTYNE CEO, SEA TRANSPORT CORP
MAYOR Tom Tate says that due to community pressure he is ruling out light rail through Main Beach – while he is mayor. So, as they celebrate, the community should not be complacent that this threat has disappeared for good.
There are serious questions to be asked about the Mayor’s audacious gamble on pushing through a light rail spur to The Spit.
For example, why did he initiate a community consultation without prior approval, a clear breach of Council Policy? What was the urgency? What was the cost of the Bang the Table online survey, and from which budget did the funds come?
Was the bid for light rail to the Spit an effort to overturn the 3-storey height limit in the City Plan in favour of developers such as Sunland and ASF?
When will the Mayor share the results of the Bang the Table online survey with the ratepayers who we must assume have paid for it?
I look forward to hearing the Mayor’s answers to these very important questions.
JOHN GILDER, GOLD COAST