Qld views sought on national broadband network

The Queensland Government is asking the public to provide feedback on the best way to use its controversial national broadband network. A discussion paper released last week by the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Simon Finn, invites feedback from Queenslanders about the best way to use the NBN. Mr Finn called the infrastructure project the biggest ever undertaken in Australia, providing $9 billion to Queensland’s economy and 5,500 construction jobs. He... Read More

Government losing obesity battle

Problems with weight are getting the better of her, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh admitted yesterday. Not personally – Ms Bligh said her government had found itself underperforming in its aim to combat the rising obesity numbers among the Queenslanders. “It is a very serious issue for our health system,” Ms Bligh said. “We are not meeting our targets in that area.” Bligh defended the failure, saying that it came “despite the terrific efforts” on the government’s... Read More

Newman’s move “born of corruption” – Fraser

LNP leader Campbell Newman’s move to state politics was “born of corruption”, Treasurer Andrew Fraser said in Parliament today. The Crime and Misconduct Commission launched an inquiry last month into allegations LNP president Bruce McIver tried to bribe a sitting MP to stand aside for Mr Newman. Mr Fraser named Fraser Stephen, who works for LNP senator Russell Trood, and Seb Monsour, Mr Newman’s brother-in-law and former candidate for Ashgrove, as being on... Read More

Bligh accuses former mayor of borrowing for pet projects

Campbell Newman borrowed recklessly for his pet projects, the Premier, Anna Bligh, said in Parliament today. “The former mayor of Brisbane has been out borrowing, borrowing, borrowing – committing money forward for his pet projects,” Ms Bligh said. She said her government paid $1 billion for the Council’s water assets and had made the council debt free. “We have a higher credit rating, we have sound economic management that is delivering jobs and delivering... Read More

Go Between “a bridge from nowhere”

Brisbane City Council’s Go Between bridge was slammed as a financial disaster in State Parliament today. Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the project’s costs doubled and the new toll bridge, which runs between Milton and South Brisbane, was rarely used. “It is a bridge from nowhere to nowhere that no-one drives on,” he said. Mr Fraser’s attack was part of a Government assault on council spending under new LNP leader Campbell Newman’s control. “What... Read More

Deputy Premier attacks Newman’s treatment of dissenters

Campbell Newman’s management of Brisbane City Council showed how he would treat dissenters if elected to power in Queensland, Deputy Premier Paul Lucas said in Parliament today. “In recent times we have seen an LNP member in the Brisbane City Council chamber removed 11 times,” he said. [In fact the councillor suspended, Nicole Johnston, is a former LNP member who now sits as an independent.] “I have never seen that during my time in parliament under speakers of either... Read More

Extra $39m to help disaster victims

A $39 million disaster relief package will fund services for the emotional and psychological well-being of Queenslanders affected by cyclone Yasi and the recent floods. “We want them to know they’re not alone,” Premier Anna Bligh said in Parliament today. Ms Bligh announced another $10 million for mental health services, $20 million for community recovery, $5.8 million for financial counselling services and a $2 million disability care plan. The use of the $20 million... Read More

Dob in a pothole – minister’s plea

Queenslanders need to dob in potholes, according to the Minister for Main Roads, Craig Wallace. “We all hate potholes,” Mr Wallace said. Following the floods and recent bad weather, Queensland roads have worsened, with 4000kms of road damaged in the past few weeks. And although repair crews have been working constantly to repair the estimated 10,000 potholes, Mr Wallace has warned that the long term damage to roads cannot take place until the existing potholes are fixed. “There... Read More

Shadow boxing begins in Parliament

The battle between the Government and an Opposition without a leader in the chamber was launched today. This was the unofficial first day of a long, unusual election campaign. The anointed leader of the LNP, ex-Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, arrived at 9.15am and signed in (“C. Newman”) as a guest of the Opposition at the Queensland Parliament building. But he did not make his expected appearance in the public gallery, which was packed with schoolchildren. Instead... Read More

Minister vows to protect school kids from knife attacks

More than 100 students were expelled from Queensland schools last year for incidents involving weapons, Parliament was told today. In the wake of last week’s stabbing at Southport High School, Minister for Education Cameron Dick has announced initiatives and legislative changes to ensure Queenslanders “that our schools are safe”. “Incidents involving weapons are very rare. And when incidents do occur, the department responds swiftly,” Mr Dick said. In 2009-10... Read More

More trains for Brisbane

Commuters travelling by the train in and around Brisbane have been promised 150,000 more seats and the introduction of a simpler timetable. In what she claimed was one of the biggest public transport enhancements in south-east Queensland, Minister for Transport Anna Palaszcuk told Parliament today trains would now run through the Brisbane CBD every three minutes during peak hours. The changes, to take effect in June, affect the Caboolture, Ipswich, Rosewood and north coast... Read More

Govt accused of wasting dental health money

The Queensland Health Department has been accused of wasting money on an oral health scheme for schools where nothing is happening. Liberal National Party member for Mudgeeraba Ros Bates said the Government was “wasting money on an oral health scheme which is not achieving and is sitting idle wasting taxpayers’ money.” She said a leaked email from the Gold Coast director of oral health disclosed there had been “an unacceptable waste of public resources”. The... Read More

Speaker concerned at threat to independence

The speaker of Queensland’s Parliament today voiced his objections to proposals to change the way Parliament is administered and managed, accusing MPs behind the changes of “discourtesy”. Mr John Mickel said the Committee System Review Committee had proposed that Parliament be managed by a committee chaired by the leader of government business in the House and including nominees of the Premier and Deputy Premier among its six members. “These recommendations... Read More

Bligh calls on Queenslanders to help disaster-affected neighbours

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is calling Queenslanders to reach out and take care of their neighbours, families and friends, especially over the Easter holidays. “We all have a role to play in looking out for our family members, our friends, our neighbours, and our work colleagues [who were affected by the recent natural disasters],” Ms Bligh said in Parliament today. The Government will launch a mental health media campaign in metropolitan and rural areas aimed at normalising... Read More

Residents oppose Calamvale development

Calamvale community representative Ann RoffeyA plan to build 85 multi-unit dwellings at Calamvale with only one access point from a narrow suburban street has outraged local residents. They have called on Brisbane City Council to reject the development application by Heran Building Group. Road safety will be put at risk by the development, community representative Ann Roffey told Brisbane City Council’s meeting on Tuesday. With access denied to Beaudesert Road, the expected... Read More