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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

Disaster relief and toxic waste were among issues fielded by Australian ministers at yesterday’s community cabinet meeting in Ipswich. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the establishment of a natural disaster fund was debated at the time of the Queensland floods -“in economic terms, the most costly natural disaster we had ever seen”. At the time, […]

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 […]

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, […]

With almost 700,000 Queenslanders booked for speeding last year, the government denies speed cameras are used mainly for revenue-raising. Speed cameras brought in $69 million in revenue last year, while more than 110,000 people have been booked in the first two months of this year. A Newsbytes street poll has found people divided about traffic […]

Facebook has raised the ire of many of its Australian users by quietly rolling out a feature that charges users to highlight their posts. Although Facebook has always said it would remain free, the feature enables users to pay to ensure their posts are seen by more of their friends. The controversial feature was introduced […]

People are having to wait too long for overgrown trees on footpaths to be trimmed by council workers, according to independent councillor Nicole Johnston. Cr Johnston told last week’s Brisbane Council meeting it was taking more than 12 months for trees to be trimmed. She said the chairman of the Environment, Parks & Sustainability Committee, […]

Families and friends of suicide victims gathered in a moving memorial service at Post Office Square to mark White Wreath Day. White Wreath Association founder Fanita Clark fought back tears as she delivered her speech to onlookers. “What you see here today takes 12 months to organise. But what we are here for is to […]

After being forcibly removed from Musgrave Park last week to make way for the annual Paniyiri Festival, Aboriginal protestors today joined in celebrations with the Greek community. Indigenous dancers gave a Welcome to Country ceremony to show that their quarrel was with local and state government, not the festival organisers. More than 200 police forced […]

A State Government minister and a rail lobby group have congratulated Newsbytes on publicising the issue of water fountains being withdrawn from Brisbane railway stations. Transport Minister Scott Emerson said Newsbytes should be credited for breaking the story, while Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said Newsbytes deserved congratulation for the “fantastic outcome”. A […]

Commuters in need of water are being forced to go thirsty following the removal of water fountains across the Queensland Rail network. Bubblers that were standard at stations are being quietly dismantled with no consultation with rail users. Thirsty travellers and an advocacy group have blasted the secret policy. Catherine Stokes (pictured left), a commuter […]

The Labor Party used today’s Labor Day march in Brisbane to apologise for the defeated state government’s privatisation policies. Queensland opposition leader Anastacia Palasczuk told marchers she would return the party to its traditional values. Ms Palasczuk apologized for privatisation under the Labor Government and promised she would “bring back the old values”. She received […]