Labor demands answers on public service cuts
Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has blamed the previous Labor government for public sector job cuts but refused Opposition requests to release figures on how many workers had been axed. Opposition leader Annastacia Palaszczuk asked in Parliament yesterday for full details. “Will the Premier finally be honest with Queenslanders and today give them the figures of how many working, temporary and contract government workers have been axed in the past three weeks?” Ms Palaszczuk... Read More
Government drops house sharing plan
Public housing tenants will not have to share their homes with other people. Housing Minister Dr Bruce Flegg said today a survey of tenants showed overwhelming opposition to the scheme, which had been proposed in the face of an accommodation crisis. Dr Flegg said 10,500 tenants responded to the survey and were unanimous in their disapproval of house sharing. “We have listened to that feedback and will not be proceeding with a system of house sharing unless that is initiated... Read More
Refugee begins new life in Australia after eight years a prisoner of war
Ethiopian Geteye Teka Fantabil is thrilled to show his Australian citizenship after escaping death and being released from eight years’ captivity. In the year 2000, aged 28, Geteye was trained by Ethiopia’s government to go to war against Eritrea. He went to the outpost Zela Ambesa without really knowing the reasons. “I saw many people die but I survived,” he said. “It was just about politics, the government was not good because before Ethiopia and Eritrea were... Read More
Review: The Mikado
Opera Queensland’s production of The Mikado fizzes with charm which belies its serious message. Flirting, the capital crime in The Mikado, reflects the hot potato of London politics in March 1885: child prostitution. The age of consent was raised from 13 to 16 some months later – after a sensationalist newspaper article (“The Maiden Tribute”) was published and virgins dressed in white marched to Hyde Park. Stuart Maunder provides tight direction to the cast – a... Read More
Review: Take this Waltz
I loved Sarah Polley’s impressive 2006 directorial debut film Away From Her. She showed a subtle hand in depicting an elderly couple dealing with the onset of Alzheimer’s without sinking into midday movie territory. In this her second feature film, the young Canadian actress, writer and director takes on the topic of marital infidelity. The film stars Michelle Williams as Margot, a young freelance writer married to Lou (Seth Rogen)- a cookbook writer who specialises in chicken.... Read More
Aussies fly on their broomsticks to England for wizard games
Accio broomstick! Australia’s quidditch team will compete in the international summer games in Oxford, timed to coincide with the London Olympics. The sport on broomsticks has swept the globe since 2005 when Xander Manshel adapted the rules in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books for muggles (non-magic humans). Quidditch summer games organiser Karen Kumaki said Australia, France, America and the UK will play a day-long tournament at Cutteslowe Park on July 8. “The games... Read More
Queensland makes it seven in a row
Queensland has cemented its place as the greatest rugby league team in history after clinching seven straight series wins at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night. A Josh Morris try and a Todd Carney conversion had scores locked at 20 a-piece with only nine minutes remaining. In a circumstance where Queensland would usually turn to Darren Lockyer it was magic man Cooper Cronk who stood up. Cronk kicked a 39-metre field goal that would eventually hand Queensland a... Read More