100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Ashley Robinson: how the pandemic sent people's behaviour down the toilet

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Historic sugar mill site set for transformation

Three heritage-listed buildings that once housed sugar mill workers are set to be restored as part of a new hospitality, entertainment and community precinct More

Bird handling ‘confusion’ as new case confirmed

Relief has washed over a leading wildlife refuge after testing allayed fears a deadly bird flu strain has reached a fourth state. However, Twinnies Pelican More

Properties go under the hammer at major auction events

Dozens of homes have changed hands for more than $32 million collectively, at two bumper auction events. A variety of properties were purchased at Ray More

Infrastructure boost paves way for thousands of homes

More than 7100 homes have been unlocked across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions through more than $125 million in state government investment for More

Theatre giants to star at Coast festival

Two of Australia’s leading playwrights will discuss writing, creativity and contemporary theatre as part of a 10-day festival launching in Noosa on Friday. Suzie Miller, More

Ashley Robinson: north v south – the great divide

I was asked a question the other day about an advertisement that said “on the Sunshine Coast and Noosa”. The person asked me why More

I wrote a column about shortages, labour, attitude, food and general supply-chain problems post-COVID.

But unfortunately, a couple of people interpreted it as me having a crack at COVID rules and disregarding people’s safety … which is nothing like what I was trying to say.

Now that they have brought it up, I will make a few comments on restrictions.

It was a pandemic that we have never encountered before and the people making the rules most times did the best they could.

But I have some feedback if we have to do this again. I pray we don’t.

If you are going to make people exempt from wearing a mask, legislate that they have to be issued with an official card saying they are exempt (without having to say why).

It would make life a lot easier for hospitality staff and it would certainly keep some from having to defend themselves at ‘human rights hearings’.

Then those folk who felt violated by being asked if they had any documentation at entry to a venue could certainly come up with it at the hearing.

There has been an element of selfishness that has emerged post-COVID. Picture: Shutterstock.

Just thought I would clear that up before I make another example of changed human behaviour post-COVID.

Take that story the other week at a 5-star Brisbane hotel where guests were getting up at 5am over the holiday period and putting personal belongings on pool lounges so they didn’t miss out later on in the day when they wanted to sunbake by the pool.

If you don’t believe me, go to any local park near the beach on the weekend and see poor old dad sitting at a park pavilion at 5.30am, getting dibs so they can have a birthday party for little Johnny or Milly there many hours later.

Have you noticed these days it is far more common when you let a car into a line of traffic that they don’t give you a thank-you wave for being courteous?

They seem to believe, post-COVID, it’s their rite of passage. Every human for themselves.

I am sure I know what started this and should have mentioned it last week, saving all the confusion. Toilet paper.

It seems we all changed during COVID when we binged on dunny rolls.

While we are hopefully recovering from the pandemic, we may never recover from the selfishness of hoarding toilet tissue.

Ashley Robinson is a columnist with Sunshine Coast News and My Weekly Preview. His views are his own.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share