Letter of the Week
Have strong opinions, write in an engaging way? You could win our Letter of the Week, and with it a book from our friends and sponsors, the publishers Harper Collins. This month’s book prize is Queen of the North by Anne O’Brien. To those around her she is a loyal subject. In her heart she is a traitor. In 1399 the fight for England’s crown has dire consequences. This is one woman’s quest to turn history on its head.
Rules: Best letter competition runs until January 19 next year. Entries close each Thursday at 5pm. The winner is selected by 2pm each Friday. Book of the month valued up to $49. Entrants agree to the Competition Terms and Conditions located at www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/
entertainment/competitions, and our privacy policy. Entrants consent to their information being shared with Harper Collins for the express purpose of delivering prizes.
“UNCERTAINTY?”
There should not be too much “uncertainty” within council regarding new state laws about declaring backers and donors for councillors’ election campaign funding. (‘Council: Laws confusing’, GCB, 9/6/18).
All councillors have to do is to bear in mind is the old saying “he who pays the piper calls the tune”.
The “confusion” and “uncertainty” in the minds of Gold Coast citizens, meanwhile, will doubtless be greatly alleviated. Transparency will be improved. It is interesting, meanwhile, that in a city so richly endowed there is a relentless search for more “attractions” rather than better marketing of those we have (‘Need to improve and refresh’, GCB, 11/6/18)
As the koala, a state icon and magnet for tourism, is on the verge of local extinction, we need a much more proactive approach from council to avert the “detraction” of being the city whose beloved little Aussie icon disappears.
The Tate regime, six years on, is finally, apparently, on the verge of purchasing a tract of koala habitat. Much more of this kind of initiative is essential for preservation of the species.
Wildlife Queensland, Gold Coast and Hinterland and other conservation groups in the city have consistently argued for what was done via former councils, that is ongoing habitat purchase.
A levy has been faithfully paid by Gold Coasters and should have been used, over the six long years, for vitally needed open space acquisition. It was not.
Urgent redress of this neglect is necessary now. An extra infrastructure charge on the developers doing the clearing would also be helpful.
Meanwhile, the 39,000 signatories on the petition to save an already publicly owned habitat site await council withdrawal of the licence to destroy the popularly known Black Swan Lake.
The fragile reason given for this destructive decision, accommodating parking for a three-day Show, has vanished, with the Show venue now sited elsewhere.
It would certainly be a “detraction” to destroy a feature, in a tourist precinct (the race precinct), which is now eligible for protective consideration under Commonwealth Law and home of a prolific number of recorded bird species.
Meanwhile, it would also have been nice if the council had averted the “detraction” of losing some of our local restaurants by sharing the Griffith University research given to them, showing the realistic patronage predicted.
Loss of some of the local “food and beverage offerings,” a GC attraction praised by the incoming Destination Gold Coast CEO, may well have been avoided if council had alleviated the “confusion” which led to the losses.
Guarding what we have should be the first priority.
SALLY SPAIN, PRESIDENT, WILDLIFE QUEENSLAND GOLD COAST AND HINTERLAND BRANCH
THE government ignores a racket helping to put a strain on the medical system.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Net allows concession card holders, for example, to get their medication free once they’ve hit a threshold of $384 (60 scripts at $6.40 per script ) per year. This can lead to stockpiling of drugs during the free period, some of which may be wasted if no longer needed or reach expiry date.
However, some people manipulate the system to reach their threshold by buying drugs on script at a higher price than can be obtained over the counter. A classic example is Panamax, paracetamol tablets. A box of 100 costs $1.99, and recently on special for .69c. Yet some people buy them on script so they count towards their threshold.
Pharmacists should be banned from dispensing a drug on prescription if they already sell it cheaper over the counter. It’s only lining their pockets, and helping dearer drugs to be obtained free.