‘No no Nicole’ – Mayor refuses Johnston’s questions but honours Hinchliffe

Independent Nicole Johnston says she is “feeling left out” at Brisbane City Council meetings, after being repeatedly denied the chance to question Lord Mayor Campbell Newman at this week’s explosive meeting. After postponement of the regular question time, councillors resorted to a quaint provision in the rules letting them interrupt the Lord Mayor mid-speech to pose questions. Cr Newman’s farewell speech detailing the council’s achievements under his leadership... Read More

Street poll: Should Nicole Johnston have been thrown out of Council?

This week’s Brisbane City Council meeting didn’t exactly go to plan. After refusing to leave council chambers following her suspension, Independent Cr Nicole Johnston was escorted from the building by police. We talked to people in Brisbane’s CBD to get their reactions, and asked them what they thought should have been done.  Read More

Another scoop for Newsbytes

For the second week in a row Newsbytes has beaten all major Queensland television and multimedia news services with our exclusive coverage of dramatic scenes in the Brisbane City Council. Video-journalist David Stuart recorded the only video footage of the expulsion of independent councillor Nicole Johnston from last night’s meeting. Keeping to his post long after other camera crews departed, Stuart captured the refusal of Johnston to leave the chamber when ordered to do... Read More

Police evict rebel Brisbane councillor – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

Police were called to evict independent Nicole Johnston from tonight’s Brisbane City Council meeting when she refused to obey a suspension order. Four police officers escorted Cr Johnston from the building after being called by council chair Krista Adams. Cr Johnston had refused to leave after Cr Adams suspended her for eight days following angry clashes in the chamber. “This is a joke. You cannot keep doing this,” she said to Cr Adams after being suspended... Read More

Newman takes his last bow as mayor

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has said his goodbyes, giving an extended farewell speech at today’s Brisbane City Council meeting. Cr Newman, who is quitting in a bid to enter Queensland Parliament as leader of the Liberal National Party, reviewed his seven years as mayor and gave thanks to councillors, public servants and council workers. “I have an enormous amount of respect for what you people do,” Cr Newman said of council workers. “You get in there and do the fundamental... Read More

Street poll: Should euthanasia be legalised?

Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke is reportedly looking for a location in Adelaide to build Australia’s first euthanasia clinic. A bill to allow doctor-assisted euthanasia is close to being passed by the South Australian parliament – but there are mixed opinions on this issue. We went to Queen Street Mall to find out people’s opinions on this controversial topic.  Read More

Street poll: Anna Bligh or Campbell Newman?

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman announced this week he will move to state politics, challenging Labor minister Kate Jones for the seat of Ashgrove. As leader of the Liberal National Party he will be campaigning to replace Anna Bligh as premier of Queensland. We asked people in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens whether they preferred Anna Bligh or Campbell Newman. Camera and production supervision: David Douglas Stuart  Read More

Street poll: Has Campbell Newman abandoned Brisbane?

The Labor Party has accused Campbell Newman of abandoning Brisbane in pursuit of his political career. Mr Newman is quitting his role as Brisbane lord mayor to run for election to the Queensland parliament as alternative premier to Anna Bligh. We went to the City Botanic Gardens to ask people what they thought. Camera and production supervision: David Douglas Stuart  Read More

Newman denies intervening in dam operation

Pressure is building on Campbell Newman to provide answers over claims the Council played a role in water not being released from Wivenhoe Dam before dangerous levels were reached. The issue has fresh urgency with the Lord Mayor’s decision to quit the council and fight Anna Bligh for the premiership of Queensland. The Australian journalist Hedley Thomas has linked the council to what he called the “dam mistake”. Council Opposition leader Shayne Sutton seized on the... Read More

Newsbytes has a scoop with exclusive video of historic day in Council

Newsbytes video-journalist David Stuart captured the only video record of Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s historic announcement to the council chamber of his decision to run for the Queensland Parliament. (See story.) Although an army of television cameramen and reporters covered early stages of Tuesday’s shock meeting, only Stuart outlasted an Administration filibuster to be still filming when the long-awaited announcement was made. He also captured footage... Read More

Newman will quit City Hall in bid to become Premier

In a shock move Campbell Newman today announced he would resign as Lord Mayor of Brisbane in a bid to become Premier of Queensland. Cr Newman is seeking preselection as Liberal National Party candidate in the state seat of Ashgrove, held by Labor minister Kate Jones. The parliamentary LNP has accepted Campbell Newman as their leader, despite the fact he will not enter Parliament unless he defeats Ms Jones at the next election. State Opposition leader John Paul Langbroek and his... Read More

Street poll: Is Julian Assange a hero or a villain?

Julian Assange is the founder of Wikileaks, a website that provides an anonymous way for independent sources around the world to leak information to journalists. After Wikileaks’ release of 250,000 US diplomatic cables late last year, including much controversial and embarrassing information on American diplomatic opinions of other countries’ leaders, former U.S. vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin said Assange should be hunted down like Osama Bin Laden. We went... Read More

Street poll: Should we still be in Afghanistan?

Australian troops went into Afghanistan as part of the United States-led response to the 9/11 attacks. Ten years have passed. We asked people in Brisbane if Australian troops should still be there.  Read More

Street poll: Should the West intervene in Libya?

Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi has gained international attention as he uses government forces against rebelling Libyan citizens. The United Nations Security Council has enforced a no-fly zone, with Britain and the United States firing cruise missiles at Libyan air defences over the weekend. Today we asked the people of Brisbane if they believe Western forces should have intervened.  Read More

Street poll: Should Campbell Newman go into state politics?

It’s been revealed that moves have been made within the Liberal National Party to bring Lord Mayor Campbell Newman into State Parliament to replace John-Paul Langbroek as Opposition leader before the next election. We asked people in Brisbane what they thought.  Read More