PREMIER SCRAPS SCHOOLIES
It’s off, but teens still keen to party
GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate has begged graduates to ditch Schoolies after the state government scuttled official celebrations.
The decision has escalated concerns about balcony hopping, frontline services, policing social distancing and emergency health services in the Surfers Paradise party precinct with thousands of teenagers still expected to flood the Coast in November.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declined to answer a number of Bulletin questions about those fears. A spokesman said “security arrangements are up to operators”.
At a press conference earlier on Friday, Ms Palaszczuk confirmed Schoolies “won’t go ahead as normal” this year. She ruled out beachside concerts and other events at the rite-ofpassage celebrations “because there can be no mass gatherings”. But there is nothing stopping graduates coming to the city and partying in small groups.
“This is a mass event, it poses high risk to not only people that attend, the young people, but the people they come into contact with and of course their family, friends and grandparents,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Families will be looking at booking their accommodation and there is nothing wrong with small groups of people finishing school booking somewhere close to where they live … as long as they actually abide by those rules and regulations set in place for hotel accommodation there is nothing to worry about.”
City hoteliers will need to
register guests as part of COVID-safe plans and gatherings in units will be limited to no more than 10 people from November 21-December 11.
Cr Tate said he was worried school leavers would rock up to party anyway and wished he had “jumped up and down” earlier to get confirmation from the government. Asked if he knew if the government would implement a health response, he said safety was a matter for Queensland Health, but he urged graduates to find another way to mark the end of their schooling.
“(Safety) is a real concern, so don’t come. My message: don’t come. If you don’t listen, it’ll be the biggest life lesson you’ll ever have,” Cr Tate said.
“Remember one thing, if you have a misstep and say ‘it’s all about me’ and you take this virus back into your home and infect your mum and dad and your grandparents, you will never forget the Schoolies weekend.
“So get on Zoom, enjoy yourself in that way. Schoolies is all about sharing from your heart this time around and that’s my message.
“There’ll be no response from the city of the Gold Coast. Anything above that, that’s their (state government) call.”
Last year, emergency centre paramedics treated about 460 people in one week of Schoolies, mostly for minor accidents and intoxication. Two young men have plunged to their deaths from balconies on the Glitter Strip during Schoolies since 2018.
The Premier’s office was asked about plans for Schoolies, including medical arrangements. A spokesman only said: “Security arrangements are up to operators.”
“(The) State Disaster Coordinator confirmed today normal additional police staffing arrangements for Schoolies will be maintained,” he said.
“Departments of education, police, events, tourism, families and the Gold Coast City Council all worked on the Schoolies response, including informing stakeholders.”
Cr Tate said $430,000 in council funding would likely be “held over for next year”.
He said he felt for accommodation providers left in the lurch by the government’s revelation.
“I sympathise. Not enough words to express my concern for accommodation houses because to get new business within 85 days is near impossible really,” he said.
“However, I can say that nobody knows about a pandemic, we’ve never faced that.”
MY MESSAGE: DON’T COME. IF YOU DON’T LISTEN, IT’LL BE THE BIGGEST LIFE LESSON YOU’LL EVER HAVE
MAYOR TOM TATE