YOUR VIEWS
SKY News Queensland editor Peter Gleeson’s revelation of a land title claim on the Southport Spit by the Kombumerri-Ngarang Wal saltwater people represented by elders David and Anthony Dillon has, by and large, been met with a wall of silence by the usual protesters against commercialisation of this land.
At a time when Anthony Albanese threw a hand grenade into the sociopolitical arena by promoting a yet unexplained indigenous voice into the workings of our nation, this claim has a strong element of legitimacy as this tribe/clan lived and continues to live here.
While I concede this land title claim is a separate issue and should be treated as such under current legislation, it does draw some parallels in exposing flaws in how the effectiveness and methodology of what the Prime Minister proposes can be achieved.
There are 250 individual dialects and indigenous regions in Australia. Tied to the lands they inhabit, there are cultural differences governed by their environment. Who will speak for and effectively represent them all with the proposed indigenous voice?
A cursory look at social media regarding this proposal exposes a volatile pit of hatred and division I have never witnessed before. If our Prime Minister was looking for unification, his first effort has plunged us into an abyss. Where is this respectful discourse he espouses? While he lambasted his predecessor for going MIA during the bushfires it is fair to say he has done no less while on holidays as our social fabric is torn asunder as collateral damage.
In the words of Pauline Hanson, “please explain”? We would all like to know why this division is necessary and how it will work when our indigenous have access to speak in the halls of power as do all Australians who make the effort. Eleven of them do so now. BOB JANSSEN, GOLD COAST
IT’S always hard to judge a book by its cover, however one can make such a decision on the renders for the proposed $480m development at Mariners Cove on The Spit – it’s just not what the Gold Coast needs to be a global destination. (GC Bulletin, August 9)
Waterfront tourism and hospitality destinations on the Gold Coast are gold as you can count on one hand the number of destinations in a city with more canals than Venice.
These destinations (developments) need to be of an exceptional standard to meet not only residents’ expectations but those of visitors. After all, we are providing a monopoly on a diminishing resource, waterfront locations.
If the city’s aspirations to be a globally recognised destination slide under a low bar with this proposed development, heaven help us over the next decade as we prepare for the world’s largest sporting event, the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Para Games.
If this design progresses to a planning application, the City of Gold Coast and the Queensland government should sink it quicker than a cruise ship terminal.