Three candidates in the federal seat of Ryan last week battled overcrowded buses and tight schedules to get to their campaign commitments. The were trying to show voters they understood the issues around public transport by actually using it. ACF Sustainable Transport Campaigner Gail Broadbent said the LNP’s Jane Prentice (pictured left), Labor’s Steven Miles, […]

A community action group has accused Brisbane City Council of not following correct procedures before approving a community garden in Wynnum. Bridge Street Action Group spokeswoman Simone Bleaney said yesterday the council had failed to consult properly with local residents before it approved the garden at Kitchener Park, adjacent to Bridge St. “As residents, we […]

An Australian wounded in the Gaza flotilla raid has accused the Israel military of brutal conduct. Mr Ahmed Talib was speaking at an Amnesty International forum in Brisbane on Saturday. The United Nations will this week begin its investigation into the raid on the aid flotilla that left nine activists dead and dozens wounded, including […]

Like silent sentinels, accident-related roadside memorials have altered the physical landscape of road verges and stand as poignant markers of lives lost suddenly in traumatic events. One such memorial lies alongside the Bruce Highway on a notorious stretch of single lane road near Coles Creek, south of Gympie – a tribute to the memory of […]

Hundreds of die-hard iPhone fans lined up outside the Queen Street Mall’s Optus and Telstra stores for this week’s launch of Apple’s iPhone 4. Harsh criticism of poor reception from reviewers did not stop customers from queueing outside the stores from midday on Wednesday. By 11.30pm the 400 Optus queuers were being pampered with free […]

For refugees escaping persecution in their homeland, adjusting to Australian culture can be difficult. Refugee inclusion groups in Brisbane are using sport and music to break down social barriers, not only between refugees and the Australian community, but also between separate cultures within the refugee community. Brisbane Women’s Volleyball coach Mandy Cox said sporting clubs […]

Brisbane blood donation levels were given a welcomed boost over the weekend when motorcycle enthusiasts united to give blood in the fifth annual Merlo Coffee Red Ride for Life campaign. More than 115 riders from across south-east Queensland roared into the Springwood Red Cross Blood Donor Centre on Saturday to help resuscitate much-needed blood supplies […]

In the last few days the public discussion around smoking in the Mall has fired up. Brisbane City Council opposition leader Shayne Sutton is spearheading this movement. “The issue of banning smoking in the Queen Street Mall is not new and organisations such as Cancer Council Queensland have been calling for the ban for some […]

Thousands of lords and ladies turned out to re-create history and celebrate all things medieval at Caboolture last weekend. The Abbey Medieval Tournament included medieval markets, dancing, mock battles and jousting, as well as new events horse archery and falcolnry. Abbey Museum CEO Edith Cuffe said the festival was the largest of its kind in […]

The introduction of zero-alcohol limits for novice drivers of any age has been welcomed by Queensland’s motoring body, the RACQ. The tough new laws, which came into effect last month, prohibit all learner and provisional licence holders, and all restricted (RE) motorcycle licence holders in their first year of riding, from driving after consuming any […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]