Cutting red tape may be our kindest Chrissie gift
IT is the most wonderful time of the year … if you’re lucky. While my children are busily counting the gifts under the tree – and I’m counting the cost – I know so many others are wondering how they’re going to make it through this festive season.
My heart goes out to those without family, to those who are dealing with heartache and loss, to those dealing with mental or physical pain – and to those who sacrifice their own time to help them.
Paramedics, doctors, nurses, firefighters (especially the firefighters), police and emergency services, no holiday pay can compensate for the time away from their own loved ones.
And then there are the selfless volunteers and charity workers who choose to give the gift of their time and service this Christmas season.
Alas, red tape seems to be ruining this precious present.
From The Sanctuary Women, Children and Pets refuge, which every day is turning away women suffering from domestic violence – despite having three spare rooms they are not allowed to use – to homeless charity Agape Outreach reporting it has been barred from a Coolangatta park by the City of Gold Coast … if only we could give the gift of common sense.
While The Sanctuary founder Simone McKeown is hopeful she can reopen all of her refuge space in the new year – after spending a significant amount of money and time conforming to confusing regulations, she hates to think how many women have gone helpless in the meantime.
And then there’s the plight of Agape Outreach, which was told just one week ago that their services are no longer welcome in Goodwin Park, where they have been operating for more than a decade.
The non-profit charity organises free food, laundry, clothing and veterinary services along the Byron, Tweed and Gold Coast, and feeds around 80 people a night, twice a week – but now has until mid-January 2020 to find a private venue within walking distance.
“Council has declared all these things as domestic duties that belong in a house and are no longer available or allowed in their parks,” says founder Theresa Mitchell. “This is the first time council has actually turned around and said ‘you’re not welcome here on any of our properties’.”
Even worse, Theresa says she will struggle to find a new private venue big enough and cheap enough to house her large clientele.
“To hire a hall to feed 80plus people in, they’re in limited supply,” she says.
“We’re not going to get into community centres that are government-run anyway, so parks really have the biggest space for us.”
A spokesperson for the City of Gold Coast said in a statement that council “does not want to cancel all regular meal services” but wants to reduce their regularity and remove additional services like clothing and laundry.
“It is the responsibility of the City to manage City parks to ensure all users have a safe and enjoyable park experience,” the spokesperson said. “Safety concerns have been raised by
City officers, welfare groups, and members of the public regarding the behaviour of some of the event attendees.
“The City continues to work very closely with the Department of Housing and Public Works, Queensland Health, Specialist Homeless Services, and the Queensland Police Service to ensure the safety and welfare of all Gold Coast residents.”
Fair enough, they’ve identified a problem.
But why isn’t there an equal focus on finding a solution?
From domestic violence to homelessness, the rapid growth of our city means an increase in these issues as well. Governments at every level do their level best to cope, but without the selfless actions of people like Simone and Theresa and their army of volunteers, it’s our society who pays the price.
Rather than only issuing regulations and restrictions, why not help the people who are helping our city?
Public safety is always paramount, which is why we need council and State Government to work with these groups, not against them. By all means, identify the problems – but then help them source solutions.
This Christmas, let’s cut the red tape so we can unwrap the gift of service and selflessness these community groups so desperately want to share.
Read Ann Wason Moore every Tuesday and Saturday in the