One man dares to review all

Chances are you have never met anybody like Myles Barlow and you’ve never seen a show quite like his. The premise is simple enough: a half-hour show where an awkward host with perfectly parted hair gives reviews with a star rating. The show begins with the narrator making a bold declaration. “Whilst other critics waste their time on trivial matters like film, food or art, one man dares to review all facets of life at your behest…” So what are these facets? Myles,... Read More

‘Sexy’ light rail may help win Cwlth Games

The “sexy piece of infrastructure” that is light rail will be critical in securing the 2018 Commonwealth Games for the Gold Coast, according to Queensland government architect Phillip Follent. While the event is still eight years away and preparation in its early stages, Mr Follent (pictured) said light rail, with correct planning and infrastructure, had the ability to bring the Commonwealth Games to the Gold Coast. On the back of her recent trip to Canada, Premier Anna Bligh... Read More

Monday is ‘sorry day’ for domestic violence

Domestic violence workers call Monday “sorry day’’ because that’s when all of the parties experience regret. Counselling and accommodation referral service Dvconnect community liaison worker “Valerie” (surname withheld) said, “We are busiest on a Monday. We call it ‘national sorry day’ because everyone is sorry; the women are sorry they are at the refuge, the men are sorry that the women have gone.” Australian Institute of Criminology researchers last year... Read More

14,000ha station to become bird sanctuary

A renowned birding destination has been saved for future generations, becoming the latest addition to the National Reserve System which protects unique Australian environments. The 14,000 hectare station “Bowra” near Cunnamulla, which had been in the McLaren Family for five generations, was offered to the not-for-profit Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) by former owners Julie and Ian McLaren. The property was bought with money from the federal government through... Read More

Gay pride exhibit exposes prejudice

Once a marker used by Nazis to identify homosexuals for persecution, the hot pink triangle has been reclaimed – with pride! It’s a symbolic reminder of the ongoing journey for recognition as experienced by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community. This is celebrated in the exhibition “Prejudice and Pride” at the Museum of Brisbane running until October 17. Thought to be the first of its kind in Australia, the exhibition comes 20 years after the decriminalisation... Read More

Naughty girl sent to the front of the class

Nicole Johnston sits alone at the front bench on the opposition side of the Brisbane City Council chamber. She is like a naughty girl forced to sit in front of the headmistress. The council’s headmistress is chairman Margaret de Wit, who has twice this year thrown Cr Johnston out of meetings after clashes and warnings. Behind the independent councillor sit the official Opposition. Cr Johnston was elected as a member of Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s Liberal Party... Read More

Demolition change an ‘assault on Camp Hill’

Brisbane City Council voted on Tuesday to remove building restrictions on hundreds of houses in Camp Hill, although it faced opposition from the Opposition. Following the decision, more than 500 homes in the area will be removed from Brisbane’s Demolition Control Precinct (DCP), lifting restrictions on building and renovating that previously ensured new homes maintained the character of the area. Opposition Leader Shayne Sutton (pictured), whose ward includes Camp Hill,... Read More

Mabo Day remembered [with audio]

Torres Strait and Aboriginal people took part in events across Brisbane on Thursday to commemorate the historic Mabo land rights judgment of 1992. Aboriginal community leader Sam Watson said the Mabo decision by the High Court on 3 June, 1992, was of great importance to indigenous people. “Mabo is one of the most significant moments ever achieved in the Aboriginal [and] Torres Strait Island struggle,” he said. Mr Watson said the celebrations were to remember the 10-year... Read More

Newman won’t table garden report

Controversy over the new Graceville community garden continued to rage at last week’s Brisbane City Council meeting, with rebel councillor Nicole Johnston repeatedly asking the administration to table a report on the garden. The 33-page report was funded by Council and prepared by the Benarrawa group, a small community-managed organisation based in Graceville which supported the garden. Cr Johnston represents the ward (Tennyson) where the garden is located, but opposed... Read More

Anti-Israel protests in city streets

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through the city on Friday night protesting against the deaths of 10 people when Israeli commandos boarded a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid and activists to the Gaza Strip. The march followed a similar gathering on Tuesday night. Organiser of the two protest marches, Justice for Palestine’s Kathryn Zahran, said Australia must break diplomatic relations with Israel immediately. She said Israel had broken international humanitarian... Read More

Shingle Inn to have new life in City Hall

Brisbane City Council today signed an historic agreement with the Shingle Inn to recreate its original shop in City Hall. The original booths, windows and silverware have been saved from the iconic Shingle Inn (pictured left), which operated at its Edward Street address from 1936 to 2002. They will now be unpacked to form part of City Hall’s refurbishment project. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the Shingle Inn would donate the fittings of the shop free of charge, but the... Read More

A bikini is not a bikini unless…

A bikini is not a bikini unless it can be pulled through a wedding ring, according to the new “Exposed” exhibit at Queensland Museum. The exhibition is a showcase of Australia’s beach identity and the development of a million dollar industry that now has its own fashion week. The development is a seductive one that was, and still is, closely tied with women’s rights. A century ago, it took five square metres of fabric to make one swimming costume. Today it takes... Read More

One entry can kill your rights

Queenslanders who enter the Government’s “One Punch Can Kill” competition would give up almost all of their rights to their own work, an intellectual property lawyer said yesterday. The competition calls for entries with an anti-violence theme to be used in ads for the campaign. But anyone who enters the competition would need the permission of the Queensland Government to use their own entry anywhere else, even if they did not win, Queensland University of... Read More

‘Grange-gate’ slanging match

In a fiery exchange at today’s Brisbane City Council meeting, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman attacked the Opposition over the $6,000 bottles of Grange consumed by the previous administration and demanded an apology. “The leader of the opposition’s comments were in the paper, they were a lie, and they have not been withdrawn and I’m quite happy to say this today,” Cr Newman said. The Lord Mayor’s ire was provoked when Opposition leader Cr Shayne... Read More

Council plans will destroy Kangaroo Pt – residents

Kangaroo Point residents are angry about Brisbane City Council plans they say will destroy character housing in the area. More than 100 residents attended a meeting with Councillor Helen Abrahams last week to discuss the Brisbane City Council’s Kangaroo Point South Renewal Strategy. Preserve Kangaroo Point spokesman Trevor Gordon said the area’s character housing was in danger of being lost. “This is a heritage area. This is where tourists come to see Brisbane at... Read More