Hot and thirsty train commuters are welcoming the arrival of water bubblers on Brisbane station platforms this week – but it could take up to four months before they can take a drink. Newsbytes reported last year on the quiet withdrawal of bubblers across the Queensland Rail network. Our story resulted in reversal of the […]

The Newman government’s decisions on aged care and education were condemned by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and deputy Wayne Swan at last night’s federal community cabinet in Redcliffe. Mr Swan said the state’s closure of Eventide Sandgate to sell some of the site was “simply cruel”. The Commonwealth pays for residents in state-run nursing homes […]

Two helicopters were brought into waterbomb a bushfire at Doolandella on Brisbane’s south on Tuesday afternoon. A Queensland Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson said four fire trucks worked closely with air operations to contain the blaze. She said although there was no threat, crews were working to protect a caravan and nearby homes. Backburning began […]

Gold Walkley-winning journalist Hedley Thomas received an honorary Doctor of Journalism degree at Jschool’s annual graduation ceremony on Friday. Mr Thomas, national chief correspondent of The Australian, urged the new graduates to be constantly vigilant in their coverage of society. He recalled the media-initiated Fitzgerald Inquiry into government corruption in the 1980s to warn that […]

Animal shelters across Queensland are facing an increase of 5,000 animals passing through each year according to RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty. Mr Beatty said the number of animals being surrendered or confiscated annually had increased from 41,000 to 46,000 over the past five years. He believes the problem lies in people not thinking adoptions […]

Queensland’s new Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act includes a revised definition of domestic violence and changes to police powers. The new law came into effect this month. Ipswich Women’s Centre Against Domestic Violence program co-ordinator Rebecca Shearman said the 1989 Act was an important milestone but the new legislation took protection a step further. […]

Asthma Foundation Queensland this month launched a $50,000 appeal for “Men managing asthma”, a new community training program. The 2013 program will be in memory of Grant Fair, a 43-year-old Robina man who died from an asthma attack last year. His wife Mary Fair told Asthma Foundation Queensland (AFQ) that her husband was a “bloke” […]

Outspoken independent councillor Nicole Johnston was evicted by police from Brisbane City Council chamber this afternoon. Police were called when Cr Johnston refused to accept a suspension order and leave the chamber during a 10-minute adjournment of the meeting. Three police officers arrived after 20 minutes and one entered the chamber to escort Cr Johnston. […]

Rolling work stoppages across Victorian schools have been threatened, with the first to occur in Premier Ted Baillieu’s electorate of Hawthorn. As part of Wednesday’s teachers strike Australian Education Union (AEU) members voted not to hold another full-day strike this year but instead implement rolling work stoppages expected to be begin in Term 4. However […]

Opportunities for citizen journalists have been opened in a multi-media newsroom project at the State Library of Queensland. CitizenJ, an innovation of the library’s digital cultural centre The Edge, will let people try their hand at reporting and editing, with a view to adding to media diversity. Training includes journalism, video, film editing, audio production, […]

Independent councillor Nicole Johnston was suspended for eight days yesterday after claiming a “cover-up” by Brisbane City Council. Cr Johnston received a suspension warning from council chairman Cr Margaret de Wit when she continued to refer to the Queensland Ombudsman’s recent review into code of conduct complaints matters. Cr de Wit repeatedly ordered Cr Johnston […]

The CBD was transformed into a sea of green and gold as fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of Australia’s Olympic athletes after their return from London. Crowds in their thousands filled Queen Street Mall at midday on Friday to see about 80 athletes for the official Brisbane welcome home parade. Excited Olympians […]

A $57 million initiative had been axed because it was not the state government’s responsibility, according to Queensland’s Minister for Education. The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative had helped 57,000 Queenslanders find jobs and a return would have been made on the funds within 12 months, the Leader of the Opposition told parliament yesterday. Minister […]

A lack of long-term federal government funding could threaten Queensland’s health system, according to the state health minister. Lawrence Springborg said the federal Ggovernment needed to do more than just fund the initial start-up costs for health programs. “What we are seeing with regard to a range of projects which have been developed in Queensland […]

The contentious issue of government debt saw a medley of metaphors hurled across the chamber during question time in State Parliament. Answering a question yesterday from Labor MP Curtis Pitt about the government’s plans to lift debt to $85 billion by 2014-15, Premier Campbell Newman said the government was like an aircraft in a power […]

Boots were thrown at Parliament House during a lunchtime demonstration on Tuesday by hundreds of fire fighters and ambulance officers protesting against altered work conditions. Frontline emergency workers challenged Premier Campbell Newman to walk in their boots before his government implemented any changes. The protesters gathered at Southbank before heading to Parliament House to protest […]

The Queensland Nurses Union has launched a campaign to convince the government of the importance of nurses’ work. The union says rumours about job and service cuts are unsettling members and lowering morale. Union secretary Beth Mohle said today the union was launching a positive marketing campaign to remind government of the important role nurses […]

After selling 180,000 Dagwood dogs and 100,000 Strawberry Sundaes, Queensland’s largest annual event – the Ekka – has closed for another year. In the 135th running of the show more than 400,000 people attended the 10-day festival, showcasing the best of the Country in the City. According to the RNA more than 20,000 cheese toasties […]

Vietnam veterans have been honoured in a service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Veterans marched from Brisbane’s Treasury Casino to ANZAC Square yesterday ahead of the memorial service for their fallen comrades. The march was led by the National Servicemen’s Memorial Pipes and Drums, with the Australian Army […]

Queensland is facing a “horror budget”, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said today. The shock statement came as Mr Seeney was announcing a pilot program to give mining royalties to regional communities. “This is going to be a horror budget. There’s not a lot of money available,” he said. “But I think it is important we […]