SCHOOLIE SHOCK – ‘THEY’RE COMING’

Some already booked, site says ‘business as usual’

SCHOOLIES are booking for Gold Coast graduation partying in November. But the Surfers Paradise MP is part of a chorus calling for its axing, say it’s not appropriate.

SCHOOL leavers are already booked for Gold Coast graduation partying but the MP for Surfers Paradise is joining a chorus who can’t understand it.

Booking site Schoolies.com at this stage says it’s “business as usual” for the NovemberDecember celebrations.

Red Frogs founder Andy Gourley said his volunteers who keep an eye on it each year have been preparing for it to proceed: “It’s very much a week by week, month by month proposition.

“We’ll base a lot of that (our response) on the chief health officer and the advice at the time too. The safety of our workers is obviously first.”

Mr Gourley said many school leavers had already booked: “Because hotels are booked, we’re planning to be there. We’re sort of all on the edge of our seats listening to the chief health officer.”

It follows Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s novel suggestion to have Schoolies via Zoom: “You’re the technology people. Use Zoom, social media, to do Schoolies from home. If Dr

Jeannette Young says it’s not on, it’s finished.”

Surfers Paradise MP JohnPaul Langbroek’s “instinctive reaction” was it could not proceed and he called for it not to.

“I can’t see an event of the nature of Schoolies would be appropriate in the current climate,” he said. “People in those buildings are already worried. People in current circumstances would just be freaking.

“I was perplexed to see any speculation it could be on given everything else later in the year has been cancelled.”

He was concerned rowdy school leavers “wouldn’t be inclined to social distance”.

Facebook users appeared shocked Schoolies was on.

“Schoolies should be cancelled. Why is the dollar worth the loss of common sense?” one commenter said.

“Parents who let kids attend Schoolies this year, I am lost for words if they do. Cancel Schoolies for everyone’s sake.”

Another said: “We can’t even get most of them to stop climbing out on the balconies 10-plus storeys above ground which seems pretty common sense, what chance of getting them to follow Covid Safe Plans?”

Asked if Schoolies would go ahead, how social distancing would work, and whether the event’s 2020 future should be made clear, a spokesman for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: “The Queensland Government does not organise Schoolies.

“The Palaszczuk Government will continue to listen to the latest expert medical advice and act accordingly. As we have seen, circumstances can change very quickly and no one can predict what may or may not happen in November,” he said. “Because Queensland is continuing to manage the health response, we have already started delivering Queensland’s plan for economic recovery and that includes the easing of some restrictions when safe.”

Schoolies.com states: “At this stage it’s ‘business as usual’ for 2020 Schoolies as there are no restrictions that have been put in place by government over the dates of your holiday that will restrict you from celebrating Schoolies with your friends.”