HUNGER GAMES

Premier steps in to pay for food at thank you party for volunteers

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has vowed to cough up to feed thousands of Commonwealth Games volunteers who complained they were asked to pay for food at their own thank you party.

GOLDOC, the Games organising committee, told volunteers to bring their own food and drink to the event at Broadwater Parklands this Saturday.

Premier Palaszczuk said she was shocked when she heard food was not covered. “They have been working extraordinary hours,” said Ms Palaszczuk, who has had simmering tension with Games boss Peter Beattie since she was overlooked by the Commonwealth Games Federation for an opening ceremony speaking role.

GOLDOC did not comment yesterday. A spokesperson said the executive were tied up in long-running Games debrief meetings.

QUEENSLAND’S Premier says she will stump up food and drink for Commonwealth Games volunteers who complain they were being asked to pay for it at their own thankyou party.

A Brisbane-based volunteer has told the Gold Coast Bulletin the thank-you party was the ultimate insult.

“We have to get down to the Gold Coast, which isn’t that easy for all the Brisbane volunteers and then when we get there we were supposed to bring our own food and drink,” she said. “That’s not really a great way to say thank you.”

The Games organising committee (GOLDOC), overseeing the event this Saturday afternoon at the Broadwater Parklands, told volunteers to bring food and drink or money to buy it on site.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday said she was as shocked as volunteers when she heard the refreshments and food were not covered.

Ms Palaszczuk said she first heard about it when talking to volunteers at Main Beach on Sunday watching the marathon. She was with Games Minister Kate Jones.

“They have been working extraordinary hours and doing a great job,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I picked up my phone to the Director-General and said ‘We have got to put on food and non-alcoholic drinks for the volunteers this Saturday’.”

She wouldn’t reveal the ballpark cost of covering the food and drink but expected 10,000 of the total 15,000 vol- unteers — dubbed Games Shapers — to turn up.

Marquees and tables for the afternoon, which includes DJ entertainment, were being split three ways between State Government, GOLDOC and Gold Coast City Council, Ms Palaszczuk said.

“But I have stepped in personally and said we will cover food and drink — anyone would think it fair and reasonable as a thank you for volunteers of the Commonwealth Games.”

Ms Palaszczuk’s decision comes in the wake of Sunday’s closing ceremony debacle. GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie took full responsibility after athletes and members of the crowd left early.

Ms Palaszczuk didn’t hold back at the time, saying whoever was responsible for athletes missing out on the live broadcast segment should “hang their head in shame”.

Ms Jones said the “buck stopped” with Mr Beattie.

There has been tension between Mr Beattie and Ms Palaszczuk since she was overlooked by the Commonwealth Games Federation for an opening ceremony speaking role. Mr Beattie was given that honour.

But she refused to be drawn on whether she was appalled that GOLDOC didn’t ensure a free lunch for volunteers: “I think the best thing to say is when Kate Jones and I heard about it I immediately intervened and fixed it up, y’know.”

A GOLDOC spokesman declined to respond to questions about the party, saying yesterday afternoon all top executives were in an extensive debrief meeting.