Letter of the Week

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I WONDER if superannuation funds have learnt anything from the Royal Commission exposure.

A friend withdrew the balance of his superannuation account in the 2016-17 financial year, and believed that closed the account.

However, unknown to him, the government made a Low Income Superannuation Contribution to his super fund for him of $114.65 in the following financial year.

He only became aware of this payment when he recently received a statement from the fund for that year showing they’d charged him fees of $86.97 leaving a balance of $27.71 (including investment earnings of 3 cents!)

The company refunded the charges after he phoned and indicated he was prepared to fight the issue. However some people may not be so proactive, meaning the company would get away with it.

When will they clean up their act?

IAN TIMMINS, MERMAID BEACH

WITH the outpouring of grief at the plight of the homeless and death of a baby, it appalled me to see people walk around a young girl sitting on the gutter near the Northcliffe tram station with her head in her hands at 8am Friday.

Not one person stopped. I went over and asked her if she was OK.

She was not drunk, drugged nor appeared to have any mental illness. She thanked me for my concern, and thankfully, said she was waiting for a friend and was tired from Schoolies.

I had an interesting talk to this delightful young schoolie, who thanked me again for my concern.

To all of you who walked around this girl, she could have been injured or in need of assistance. Community concern is meaningless if you don’t get involved.

CHERYL WALK

HOW sad that some people blame themselves for the death of the nine-month-old girl when in fact they did all they could.

The police did all they could too but the department failed once again. This needs to be rectified immediately before something similar occurs. And those people blaming themselves, please don’t, you did what you could and there is help if you need to talk to someone.

ROD WATSON, SURFERS PARADISE

AN unfortunate and unavoidable fact is that the Gold Coast does not have a natural harbour. And cruise ship owners naturally prefer a landside, stillwater berthing.

The design, construction, operation and maintenance of a terminal (perhaps comprising a lengthy pier and breakwater?) is not simple.

Actually, I wonder if there is such a facility anywhere in the world. There are many technical problems and it would probably be a very costly undertaking. The council has already spent (wasted?) ratepayer millions on the idea.

Moreover, it is questionable why any State Government would rationalise and support two ports for Southeast Queensland in proximity, and in competition for the same custom.

RONALD S. SKEATES, SURFERS PARADISE

I AM a dog owner and wildlife warrior appalled by the inconsideration of a few irresponsible fishers who frequent Mangrove Jack park in Helensvale.

I regularly find abandoned baited fishing lines, untagged crab pots, dead and dying fish, and rotting meat left on the shoreline.

This is a lovely park and the offending materials have all been left within 10 metres of a children’s playground and off-lead dog park.

To date, one of my on-lead dogs has been snagged by a fish hook, a friend’s dog has been poisoned by

ingesting rotting meat and another dog has eaten a fish hook which fortunately passed though the dog (unlike the poor dog featured in a recent article who required major surgery after swallowing an abandoned hook).

Despite letters to my local MP and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, to my knowledge no action has been taken to date. Will it take the death of a dog or injury to a human for this issue to be addressed?

SALLY PURBRICK-ILLEK, HELENSVALE

ENOUGH is enough, another incident on the Broadwater, another houseboat polluting our waterways, another sinking by fire.

Three vessels have sunk because of fire and two others because of neglect in two years.

Our useless State Government will not act, they make excuses for what is obvious disregard for honest hard-working people on the Broadwater.

The so-called defenders of the Spit and Broadwater do nothing but support these vagrants.

It’s time our Broadwater was cleared and made safe.

RON NIGHTINGALE

IF the Newlife Uniting Church at Robina does not want to perform same-sex marriages as other Uniting Churches do, then let them refuse (GCB, Nov. 23).

Their virtual decision to “go it alone” shows a sad lack of caring by this so-called religious group and will affect quite a number of samesex couples. After all, their happiness should be paramount in any relationship and this should not be denied them by this heartless section of the parish.

KEN JOHNSTON, ROCHEDALE SOUTH