YOUR VIEWS

P0 Box 1, Southport 4215 editorial@goldcoast.com.au facebook.com/goldcoastbulletin THE campaign by Get-Up activists against the Adani coal mine underscores their fanatical determination to shut down Australia.

Their hatred of coal – this country’s second biggest export earner – carries large elements of racism.

How dare this Indian fella come in here, spending all this money, creating all these jobs.

When Adani is dead and buried, will those responsible travel to North Queensland to help the young people of Townsville and Mackay, currently scouring the streets looking for work?

Or will they sit back, sipping their cafe lattes, basking in a warm inner glow now they have saved the planet?

Bob Brown, the one-time Greens leader, once boasted of his aim to close all the coal mines in Australia. Has anything changed?

P.C. WILSON

I AM writing mainly to congratulate the Blues on Broadbeach/ Broadbeach Alliance for producing a truly magnificent event.

As a frequent visitor to the Gold Coast and regular supporter of the festival, I think this year’s was the best ever.

The calibre of the musicians was outstanding and the convenience of the layout and easy accessibility to the stages and general performing areas was superb.

There is, however, one area of concern I must bring to your attention – the southeastern corner of the Surf Parade stage during the headline act on the final evening.

This bottleneck has become increasingly more congested. This year it was quite alarming. I was standing with my back to the barrier outside Koi Restaurant.

A continual stream of people were attempting to make their way forward, some endeavouring to get closer to the stage, others just trying to get through the melee.

Halfway through Bonnie Tyler’s set two elderly ladies, helplessly caught up directly in front of me were close to passing out.

I had to shout to those pushing forward to move back as there was no way onwards.

Having lived through the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, and having organised trade shows and musical events at Wembley and other venues around London I have some experience of crowd control.

The area needs better policing, particularly on the final evening. The pavement outside Koi Restaurant must be kept clear.

A better venue for the headline act would be the Victoria Park where the audience has space to spill over and not be trapped, wedged between the stage and restaurant barriers.

COLIN FITZGERALD

MY HUSBAND has many health problems including dementia, depression, kidney disease and has had three strokes. This year he has had more than 30 falls and there’s no way he wants to be here.

But the medical profession insists on keeping him alive with endless medication. My husband has no choice. We must at all costs keep him alive, but no way does he want this.

It is so sad – he was so active and involved in his life … but what now?

LOIS MCCULLOCH