Review: David Campbell

The promotional material promised a night of classic and modern Broadway songs accompanied by a dazzling orchestra. Finely groomed and in a shiny three-piece suit, David Campbell promises “an election free zone” and “no swingin’… until later.” With the coloured lights and overworked smoke machine it’s easy to imagine you are knocking heads in a mosh pit. That is until Campbell dons a sequin jacket leaning suggestively on the piano to pay homage to Peter... Read More

Review: The Secret Love Life of Ophelia

Fractal Theatre (Metro Arts Theatre, Brisbane) Reading between the lines of Shakespeare’s Hamlet there is little doubt that the prince of Denmark had his way with the daughter of the king’s minister, Polonius – or at least tried to. Steven Berkoff speculates about the possibilities in this clever parallelquel to Hamlet, reminiscent of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. The lovelorn couple communicate via letters, penning their thoughts... Read More

Rudd hits campaign trail in Brisbane

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd spent more than an hour today campaigning in a Carindale shopping centre in support of the local Labor candidate. Mr Rudd (pictured) chatted and drank coffee with shoppers alongside Bonner MP Kerry Rea, who won the seat at the last election and now holds it with a less than 5 percent margin. The appearance coincided with the Coalition campaign launch, also in Brisbane, and came after Mr Rudd met Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday for the first... Read More

No dodgem Latham as Gillard moves forward into sideshow

Outspoken former Labor Party leader Mark Latham gatecrashed Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s tour of the Brisbane Ekka yesterday. Barging through show-goers and a tight media scrum, Mr Latham greeted Ms Gillard brusquely with “Long time, no see”. Mr Latham quickly made it clear his words were not in welcome of his former friend and ally, immediately questioning her about an alleged complaint about him from the Labor Party. “Can I just ask you about why the Labor Party... Read More

Construction workers hammer govt red tape

Dozens of construction workers jammed into the Brisbane City Council public gallery this week to support a union representative addressing the council on their behalf. Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Michael Ravbar (pictured) told the council construction workers were concerned about the future of the industry. “The outlook is anything but encouraging,” he said. High fees and red tape held up projects that could create jobs and support the... Read More

Major parties’ mental health policies slammed

The major parties’ mental health policies in the current federal election campaign are an improvement but still a long way short of Australia’s needs, the chief executive of the Mental Health Council, Mr David Crosbie, said today. Mr Crosbie (pictured) said the Greens’ policy was the most comprehensive and well-developed put forward by any party, but was unlikely to be put into action. “If I could choose a policy I would say the Greens, but realistically we... Read More

Roadside memorials tell of pointless loss

Like silent sentinels, accident-related roadside memorials have altered the physical landscape of road verges and stand as poignant markers of lives lost suddenly in traumatic events. One such memorial lies alongside the Bruce Highway on a notorious stretch of single lane road near Coles Creek, south of Gympie – a tribute to the memory of Cory Whitmore, 29, his partner Rachel Purdy, 31, (pictured) and their unborn child. Along with a truck driver, the three died tragically... Read More

Farmers to rally over coal seam gas dangers

Environmental activists and farmers will hold a rally outside Brisbane parliament house tomorrow to call for an end to coal seam gas extraction research due to fears it may cause irreversible environmental damage. Friends of the Earth spokesperson Bradley Smith said farmers from Kingaroy and the surrounding Surat Basin would join environmental groups at a midday rally to call for a ban on Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) research in South East Queensland. He said the rally... Read More

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