Despite fierce objections from the Liberal National Opposition, a Bill to amalgamate control of the three racing codes was passed in State Parliament on Thursday. The new law will place the horse, harness, and greyhound racing sectors under one legislative body. It also lets the Government claim a portion of assets sold by racing clubs. […]

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health Paul Lucas this week refused to recommit to the building of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital by 2014. In Question Time in Parliament LNP Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie asked Mr Lucas to recommit to the original time frame of 2014, and “admit that the reckless delay in building […]

Neighbourhood rows about fences and overhanging trees are set to be reduced following tabling of proposed laws in the Queensland Parliament. Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick has called for public consultation on the draft Neighbourhood Disputes Resolution Bill. “We have modernised the outdated laws regarding dividing fences, which were introduced almost 60 years ago, to ensure […]

A device (pictured left) that lets turtles escape from prawn trawling nets has opened the way to increased overseas markets. The United States’ granting of export accreditation to Queensland prawn trawlers would open a vast export market according to Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin. Mr Mulherin said the new accreditation meant Queensland’s trawl fishers were now […]

The Premier and most women MPs were in their best red livery this week in honour of the Heart Foundation’s Go Red for Women campaign. The campaign seeks to raise awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of Australian women, killing 11,000 women in Australia each year. According to the Heart Foundation, heart […]

Premier Anna Bligh expects Deputy Premier Paul Lucas to take responsibility for the debacle in the payroll system, she told Parliament today. She was answering a question from Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek, who said some health workers had not been paid for five consecutive cycles. He said the Government could not fob off its “shoddy […]

Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick has ruled out meeting victim of procedural miscarriage of justice, Graham Stafford. Opposition member Peter Wellington asked the Attorney-General in Parliament yesterday if he would meet Mr Stafford and reassure him the the Government would seek to redress the terrible miscarriage of justice. A 1992 jury found Graham Stafford guilty of […]

Aboriginal community leader Sam Watson slammed a coronial inquest into Aboriginal deaths in custody at a rally outside Parliament House today.

The Bligh government was today accused of gagging debate after voting that four Bills be urgently passed through Parliament. Leader of the House Judy Spence provoked uproar in the chamber when she moved that four current Bills be marked as urgent, setting a severe time limit on debate for each Bill. She moved that all […]

Brisbane Council sent a message to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd this week opposing the Federal Government’s super tax on mining – and chose the Opposition leader Shayne Sutton as messenger girl. A motion carried at Tuesday’s council meeting directed Ms Sutton to “personally convey to the Prime Minister this Council’s deep concerns about the impacts […]

Former Liberal National Party (LNP) MP Rob Messenger yesterday called for the resignation of LNP deputy leader Lawrence Springborg and defended himself against claims he misused taxpayer funds. Mr Messenger said Mr Springborg played a prominent role in the publication of a story in the Courier-Mail last week which suggested he used his parliamentary travel […]

Opposition criticisms of the youth justice system were branded as “scandalous mistruths” today by Queensland Minister for Community Services and Housing Karen Struthers. Opposition deputy leader Lawrence Springborg said yesterday a youth who committed 19 property offences while on bail for grievous bodily harm would not serve a single day in detention. “This young criminal […]

Suspended LNP councillor Nicole Johnston tonight strongly denied allegations she acted violently towards Cr Ian McKenzie, who sits beside her at Tuesday meetings in the council chamber. She said such claims were “unsubstantiated”. Cr Johnston, who was suspended from the LNP in March for alleged gross disloyalty to her party, said she only learned late […]

Queensland Liberal National Party defector Aidan McLindon today released details of a volatile disciplinary meeting in which he claims he was ordered to pay $12,000 to the LNP secretariat and had to face “abusive and intimidating confrontations”. [WARNING: strong language follows] Mr McLindon, MP for Beaudesert, said the meeting occurred in February as a result […]

Windsor residents have attacked Brisbane City deputy mayor Graham Quirk for refusing to attend a rally to discuss claims the airport link construction traffic has made their street unliveable.   Windsor resident Stephen Pahl appealed to the Brisbane Council meeting last week for action after outlining major noise issues with heavy construction traffic in Victoria […]