Letter of the Week

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NO city in Australia has more to offer the convention market than the Gold Coast.

But our outstanding beaches and a range of accomodation offerings is often not enough to compensate for a sub-standard venue.

The campaign to upgrade the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is not new but is more needed than ever.

Sadly, despite calls over recent years, the State Government has yet to do proper detailed designs or indeed run the ruler over the costs and the benefit an upgrade could bring.

It’s heartening to hear government ministers express their well wishes for an upgrade. But words are not enough. The centre is theirs. The buck stops with them.

Empathy without action is no better than a beach without lifeguards. DAVID CRISAFULLI, LNP SHADOW TOURISM MINISTER

NO children should have to be homeschooled by their parents or someone else because classroom bullies disrupt their kid’s learning process. (GCB, 2/7). Certainly not for the number quoted.

The Education Department should be embarrassed that classroom bullies are ruling the roost.

Teachers are being paid to manage classrooms and, if they cannot, help must be provided. Yes, some bullies are very subtle and can make things a challenge to witness.

Surely the final scenario is that bullies are driven out of the classroom, not conscientious students. Parents should be able to send their kids to school confident in the knowledge and trust that any bullying will be outlawed and/or dealt with.

Bullying in school grounds or on the way to and from school is difficult to control but in class it should not occur, let alone be tolerated. KEN JOHNSTON, ROCHEDALE SOUTH THE State Government is planning to contemplate providing a free off-peak period for “senior” and pensioner concession-card holders on public transport throughout Queensland.

Queensland has not only the most expensive public transport fares in Australia, but world-wide, it comes close to first.

Other Australian states provide free off-peak travel for any seniors and pensioners and, in some states, anyone on government welfare cards of any description.

Off-peak is all weekend and between 8.30am and 3.30 pm, and after 7pm (in Queensland) or 9am to 3pm in most other states.

For those who have no cars or rely on public transport as their main means of transport, it is just another cost they cannot afford.

In the broad scheme of things, bringing down the cost of public transport overall will benefit the emotional well-being of seniors who have limited resources to cope with a rising cost of living.

Taking more cars off the roads, already clogged in peak times, in a time of population growth and more development, makes sense.

But delays in this decision till October, is the modus operandi for a government aiming to spend on such imminent projects as five more “green bridges’ in the River City, or its bid for the 2032 Olympics, but cares little about the financial impact on its most vulnerable citizens. ELOISE ROWE, TANNUM SANDS

HOW can Australia police the Pacific when we cannot even discourage Japan from recommencing whaling? Someone tell me how.

We have zero influence in the world, so we should just stop pretending we have any. DAVID HALL, COOMBABAH

INSTEAD of spending $55m on HOTA why not contribute some to the convention centre as that is much better value for money.

In this year’s council budget which can be found on their website they have allocated another $29m for the outdoor stage, $200,000 for artwork for the art gallery and $11m for the pedestrian bridge from Chevron Island to HOTA.

As a ratepayer I would like to

know who is going to use the pedestrian bridge.

Are holidaymakers in Surfers really going to bother, or will it be a few residents from Chevron Island and where are they going to purchase the art work from (or who are they going to purchase it from)? IAN COCHISE, BURLEIGH WATERS

HONESTY is alive and well at

Miami Coles.

I am delighted to commend the actions of two young, male employees at this supermarket, Sam and Lucas.

I had gone through the express purchase area where I bought a couple of products, paid and withdrew a sizeable amount in cash.

I took the goods and the receipt, but inadvertently left the cash behind in the machine. I did not realise until I got home and then raced back with little hope of joy.

I was both surprised and delighted to discover that the money had been handed in by these ethical and honest young men. They deserve a shout out of gratitude. GAIL HUDSON, MUDGEERABA

I USUALLY enjoy and agree with most of Ken Wade’s writings. On this occasion his words on Israel Folau are wrong.

It is my understanding Folau signed a contract with Rugby Australia that he would not produce controversial comment. He appears not to be meeting the terms of his contract.

It has been reported he had numerous meetings with Rugby Australia before they took action.

I find his GoFundMe pages, for a multi millionaire, to be tainted.

Anyway, I find it interesting that Folau is basically claiming discrimination against him so that he can discriminate against others. GEOFF REEVE, BURLEIGH WATERS