letters to the editor

Dear Editor, I refer to the article in edition 188 by members of the Bribie Island Environmental Protection Association advocating beach driving be banned on Bribie. Whilst it is a well-researched article it cherry picks the information presented

Dear Editor, Congratulations on your new feature, Australia Together. I read the article in your 7 April issue with interest. As a retired teacher, I thought I had a fair understanding of the result of colonisation by the British but now realise this understanding lacks much detail of the to give a distorted picture of the issues at hand.

An important fact omitted is that the 22kms of beach in question represents .16 of 1% of Queensland’s 13400 km total coastline making recreational beach driving a very direct impact on the First Nations Peoples. For example, I was not aware that in the first 10 years after Captain Cook's arrival it is estimated that a 90% reduction took place in the First Nations population - due to new diseases, conflict and dispossession. The actual figure is astounding. Smallpox was one small impact on our environment and if you add in Moreton and Fraser Island driving permits, I doubt you would reach half of 1%.

A further point to note is that the authors have no skin in the game here with none of the lost $8M per of the diseases. 'It is estimated that 700,00 Indigenous Australian people died during the smallpox pandemic from 1789 to the 1830s.'

(Taylor, J 'Nguya: The Australian smallpox epidemics in the late 18th and early 19th centuries'). A further source of the impact of new diseases is Peter Dowling's 'A annum they admit coming to the island as a result of beach driving visits coming out of their pockets directly. Maybe some local business owners would be able to provide a more balanced view.

Mick Logan

- Bongaree

Great Deal of Sickness: Introduced diseases among the Aboriginal People of colonial Southeast Australia 1788-1900'.

I look forward to your further articles and will widen my reading and research in the meantime.

Lyn Rushby

Dear Editor,

It is sad to see the Opposition up to their usual old tricks, spreading misinformation to counter a Yes vote in a referendum.

Dutton’s claim that it will be a "Canberra Voice” is so wrong when the idea came from the grass roots through the Uluru Statement from the Heart. He should be ashamed of the way he is insulting all those involved in the decades of hard work to bring us to this point.

Those who claim that by listening to the original inhabitants of this amazing country, we will be practicing racism, are clearly wrong. How can listening divide the country? I’m sure the rest of the world will see the opposite: a No vote will confirm the racism for which our divided Australia is renowned.

H.Beneke

Dear editor, Wrong flags flying on Bribie Island “No Beds- Pie in The Sky” Satellite Hospital Site. Construction is underway at the Queensland Government’s infamous “No Beds- Pie in the sky” Satellite Hospital site on Bribie Island incredibly with only CFMEU Union Flags flying over the site.

There are 2 red and 3 black CFMEU Flags and 2 “Mates in Construction” Flags plus 1 Eureka Flag but no Australian, Queensland Government or Aboriginal Flags on this Government White Elephant. This is totally disrespectful to most Australians particularly as we approach ANZAC day and the Government needs to display some courage and stand up to the militant union bosses on such a delicate matter as flag flying on Government Buildings.

Hopefully such Socialistic displays will not present themselves on any future construction sites related to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics or we will become a laughing stock to the rest of the world.

The “No Beds-Pie in the Sky” Satellite Hospital has been underway for a year and has at least another 6 months to go even though it is just a single level equivalent in size to 12 medium size houses as a single level building with no Hospital Beds.

Almost $7 million has been spent to fill the site which means that the money to provide as many as 20 possible beds has been buried in the dirt under this extravagant and wasteful development.

Most towns in Queensland with more than 20,000 residents already have a hospital and despite the median age of residents on Bribie Island being 63 years of age the Government has treated Bribie Residents as “silly old buggers” and will provide NO BEDS, in this “Pie in the Sky” shambles.

The Empire State Building took just over 1 year to build but it didn’t have Unions dominating and slowing down the Construction to benefit their overpaid unionised workforce and throughout the construction the USA flew the Stars & Stripes proudly above their project.

The CFMEU lollypop guy stopping walkers on the walking path leading to the hospital earns more than registered nurses will when the hospital opens.

What are the Government’s priorities?

STOP wasting money! Give Bribie Islanders a hospital with beds and civic flags…..without beds it is not a hospital and without proper flags it is despicably Un-Australian.

Rod Dominish Bongaree

With sadness, we announce the passing of Donald Griffiths, late of Bongaree, on Easter Saturday. He will be missed by wife, Ivy (Regis Caboolture) and 18 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.