Request for Games relief

A GOLD Coast lawyer has described the Commonwealth Games as the biggest disaster since Cyclone Larry, saying businesses should receive disaster relief compensation instead of pursuing class actions.

Bruce Simmonds said results of a Griffith Business School-Gold Coast Bulletin poll that found a third of Gold Coast businesses had negative or highly negative impacts from last month’s Games should be compensated.

“People and businesses on the Coast have suffered financial ruin through the action of our government,” he said.

Businesses were warned to expect a chaotic, busy Games period with residents urged to stay off the streets. But many businesses reported a downturn of up to 40 per cent.