WHY IT’S TIME TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Instead of shouting at the TV, now is the time to make your voice heard on the issues that really matter to you
HELLO darkness, my old friend. Yes, that’s you – the silent majority out there. An election has been called and your voice needs to be heard before you vote.
An important conversation is needed here before my work phone or the mobile rings again.
Since Premier Annastacia Palasazczuk last Saturday called a November 25 poll, the phone calls and emails from Government media officers, staffers in the Opposition and from candidates becomes overwhelming.
Let’s not forget the independents, like the omnipresent candidate for Bonney Ron Nightingale.
But from you out there, just the sounds of silence
This is probably the most important State election for the Gold Coast in the past 30 years.
A solution must be found to reduce traffic congestion on the Pacific Motorway.
Driving back from Brisbane about midday on Saturday, in several patches the traffic stopped. The average speed on the 110km/h highway was 60km/h – on a weekend.
Albert MP Mark Boothman reckons the cause was “rubber necking” after police pulled up a motorist for speeding. That’s all it takes these days for gridlock.
Hang on, the work phone is ringing. That’s Ron Nightingale’s number. “Yes Ron, I’ll call back. No I promise, no worries.”
Now, we were talking about the M1. The Bulletin’s Going for Gold campaign series is putting up the research, offering up some solutions.
The M2, the proposed parallel highway east of the M1 between Pimpama and Nerang, will ease congestion. All we have at this stage is a strip of land for a six-lane highway gazetted.
Remember the so-called koala highway which killed off the Labor Goss Government? Well, by not building the IRTC, this will kill off a political party’s election chances.
But you need to be vocal about it. Hang on, that’s the mobile.
“Yes, I know Sam O’Connor has his LNP signs up. And Rowan Holzberger, yes the Labor guy, he’s got them up too. Okay, they’re causing a traffic hazard. All right Ron, I’ll ring them.”
What about power prices? How about the condition of your kid’s old classroom? What about waiting times at the emergency department?
More importantly, why is it when community groups stage meet-the-candidates debates, you are not there? The Bachelorette is over and Sophie Monk back home at Helensvale, isn’t she?
Excuse me, another call. “Yes Ron, I’m just on a deadline for finishing off a column.”
Now back to you again. You can remain a keyboard warrior, or you can step out and ask a question at a public forum.
We are listening, pens poised. Street corner-style politics, like vinyl records, could make a comeback.