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Last week we asked the question: What else does Cairns Airport have to do to lure more airlines and passengers? Here are some of your comments.

It’s good to see that work is underway on the international terminal and there definitely needs to be more passport kiosks and staff during busy times.

Jess, Gordonvale

Can the tarmac fees be reduced so that some more international airlines might actually be interested in landing in Cairns again?

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION

Will you support the Salvos’ Red Shield appeal and why?

Senior citizens are hit the hardest

THE latest ABS Living Cost Indexes show pensioners and other government payment recipients are hit the hardest by rising cost of living pressures. Pensioner living costs increased by 2.2 per cent in the March quarter compared to only 1.4 per cent for overall CPI - ABS Living Cost Index.

The latest quarterly figures reveal a worrying increase with pensioner and age pensioner households recording the largest rise at 2.2 per cent.

Households receiving other government payments recorded a rise of 2.1 per cent.

The impact of cost-of-living expenses for pensioners reinforces the need for the age pension to be indexed more frequently during times of high inflation to ensure payments better reflect living costs.

Under the current system, pensions are adjusted every six months, in March and September.

This leaves recipients playing a game of catch up when inflation is unusually high.

The Federal Government should index the pension more frequently during times of high inflation to help those most vulnerable.

For pensioners struggling to cover necessities such as food, fuel, and electricity, how often is as important as how much.

For those who are also paying rent, the situation is far more dire.

This is why we are calling for an increase to the maximum rate of the Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA).

In our federal budget submission we also called on the government to let pensioners work.

These measures will boost confidence in the retirement system and grow the economy.

Clearly, government needs to do more to help people who rely on government payments.

Oliver, Gordonvale

What is needed are ride-on buggies for people who need assistance. Other airports have them but there are just wheelchairs at Cairns. We need better options in domestic and international terminals for people who can’t walk long distances.

Cheryl, Cairns CBD more dangerous. Correct me if anyone can name a 100 violent Aboriginal Voice militants -10?, five? one?

The eaves at T2 arrivals and departures desperately need expanding out, especially during the wet season.

Mabel, Bentley Park

The proposed upgrades are a missed opportunity to make a first impression to visitors that this place is a beautiful, lush and tropical destination. Instead tourists will be greeted by desert beige tones.

Ron, Kuranda

Food outlets need to be open when there are flights departing.

Ash, Whitfield

Need covered walkways to shield people from the sun and rain between the two terminals.

Beverley, Edge Hill left the industry in a complete mess.

Queensland population having grown by about 800,000 people in the past decade, there had been no growth in the number of wheelchair accessible taxis (WATs).

Chris

Grice, National Seniors Australia chief operating officer

Indigenous scaremongering

RACE is already in our Constitution and was the basis for former Prime Minister John Howard using the ADF to intervene in dysfunctional NT Aboriginal communities, but not white ones.

Richard Holme’s fears of Aboriginal militants appear to be coming from the same people who fear-mongered about Indigenous people taking our backyards because of Mabo and that gangs were stopping people in Melbourne from going out to dinner.

The last time I checked Irish (my heritage) militants and gun nuts like Martin Bryant at Port Arthur were

If even a single one of Mr Holme’s worst fears eventuate (which the experts tell us won’t happen) surely we can re-adjust the Constitution to fix that.

In 2023 listening to scaremongering about Indigenous people is embarrassingly immature.

Sean McGinn, Clifton Beach

Low availability of wheelchair taxis

QUEENSLAND’S personalised transport services sector has declined at such a rate that low taxi availability – especially in relation to wheelchair accessible vehicles –has left some Queenslanders feeling like prisoners in their homes.

The Palaszczuk Labor government had presided over the destruction of a previously effective, regulated sector.

It is outrageous that, despite the

Shape the city’s future

Council is looking for 350 Cairns residents from all walks of life to help discuss and understand the issues that come with planning for growth. The city’s population is expected to grow up to 265,000 by 2050 – about 100,000 more people than today.

Residents can get invovled in shaping the future of Cairns by being part of the Towards 2050 community panel.

Panel members will be asked to explore ideas through a number of activities including surveys, online polls, workshops and meetings.

Sign up via the QR code (above right), visit www.sortitionfoundation.org/cairns, or call 1800 979 787. Registrations close 18 June.

In 2012 there was one WAT for every 7102 Queenslanders while today there is only one for every 8232 Queenslanders.

The rate of WATs needed to be increased, and that ride-share operators also needed to shoulder some of the load.

There is no regulatory requirement for services like Uber or Didi to provide a minimum service in this space while certain taxi licences were for WAT vehicles only.

The shocking state of passenger transport in Queensland is a consequence of the State Government’s actions, and it is Queensland’s most vulnerable paying the greatest price.

The uneven playing field sparked by rideshare, combined with COVID-induced and ongoing post-pandemic driver shortages and skyrocketing fuel prices, have

Much of this was the State Government’s doing, and they have now created a very difficult situation for themselves because they either need to force rideshare to join in providing wheel-chair accessible services or they need to further incentivise taxis to shoulder more of the load.

Robbie Katter, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) leader

Supermarkets are ripping us off

WHY is nobody talking about the price gouging by the two main supermarkets?

Their profits have been astronomical.

Please don’t tell me it’s due to the Ukraine war which apparently is affecting the price of every commodity on this earth.

The government needs to stop this theft.

Gerard Stonehouse, Palm Cove

Volunteer for Ecofiesta

Council is calling for volunteers to help with the staging of Cairns Ecofiesta.

To be held at Munro Martin Parklands on Sunday 4 June, from 10am to 6pm, the environmental and sustainability expo features live music, food and information stalls, and workshops.

To apply to be a volunteer or a stallholder, visit www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ecofiesta