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 HarperCollins. This month’s book prize is The Accusation by Wendy James. A powerful exploration of the fragility of trust and the lure of the mob, from the Ned Kelly Award-winning author of The Golden Child and The Mistake.

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SO sad to hear that a number of indigenous rugby league players selected to play in Origin I on Wednesday, and others not selected, will refuse to sing the Australian national anthem because, as they have stated, as the lyrics do not include them be.

The first two words, “Australians all”, say it all.

Surely these words refer to Aboriginal people as well as all others who have arrived and call this island their home as the lyrics state ...

“For those who’ve come across the seas

“We’ve boundless plains to share”

And then again the included words …

“With courage let us all combine “To Advance Australia Fair.”

I have Aboriginal friends with whom I went to school.

One special friend, whose late father worked alongside Eddie Mabo in their successful struggle to gain land rights for Aborigines, never takes the negative attitude that those players portray.

My friend has been a community leader most of his life, working for better support for Aboriginal people, not asking for handouts, but organising legal support, quality of housing in suburbs of Townsville and elsewhere as well as providing rehabilitative help for Aboriginal prison inmates.

He’s been recognised and honoured by the Australian Government with an Order of Australia, as well as by James Cook University in Townsville with an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy.

Recently, his dad was honoured with the naming of Hoolihan Street in Canberra.

Perhaps the Australian national anthem lyrics should be printed by in the Gold Coast Bulletin this week for all to contemplate. CON PANDELAKIS, MOLENDINAR

IT seems the term global tourism hub (GTH) has become synonymous with casinos and gambling, with an emphasis on pokie machines. This combined concept seems to be the invention of politicians such as Tourism Minister Kate Jones.

It’s quite likely, however, that people who are potential tourists to the Gold Coast would be considering great beaches, good weather and the Hinterland and other green spaces as their reasons for visiting. This would be especially so for families with young children.

Should anyone want a casino – there already is one. It’s beginning to look like we all have different ideas of what tourism is and there is a total lack of discussion about what a GTH could look like without the casino and gambling part.

Tourism by definition means this hub is not being planned or marketed for locals but we know that if pokies are part of it, many problem gamblers in our community will find their way there. Surely only a cynic would call that entertainment.

And even the word global seems a bit murky when it’s very likely certain Asian nations known for their gambling will be targeted more than others. How would they feel to know we’re wanting them to come here so they can lose huge amounts of money through some form of gambling? What sort of a holiday is that?

It was reported in the Bulletin that Kate Jones has appointed “an independent panel of Gold Coast business identities to lead consultation with locals”. Let’s hope that happens and that if locals reject the idea of a second casino as part of the GTH, particularly if destined for publicly owned land, the powers that be will listen and respond appropriately. YVETTE DEMPSEY, CARRARA

FOLLOWING the last seven days of excessive deaths on Queensland’s roads, it is time for the State Government and media to become proactive to road safety. I understand studies show excessive speed is a cause of many road fatalities

Firstly, to slow down the drivers, encourage the State Government to publish all locations of “speed cameras” just where (eg M1, Milton Rd, Oxley Rd) not when, just a roadway they will be located on a given day.

The web has the location of some 3500 camera sites, which does not provide any concise driver awareness of the day’s locations. The day’s location is then a deterrent to exceeding posted limits on that roadway, I understand at least two state governments do this each day.

Secondly, speed limits are imposed to ensure safety for all users and the term “revenue raising” should be discontinued. This use of terminology gives implied approval to drivers travelling faster than posted limits.

Whilst I agree some limits do seem low it is for the protection of all road users, not just those who ignore them. All drivers need to all become responsible for their vehicles speed.

Adoption of these two initiatives should reduce the carnage on our roads by 20 to 25 per cent. GARRY KRISCHOCK, RUNAWAY BAY