In a stark reminder of the lives lost on Australian roads each year, more than 1400 pairs of shoes lined Brisbane Square today for Fatality Free Friday. Superintendent Andy Morrow of the State Traffic Safety Branch told Newsbytes younger drivers were disproportionately represented in road toll figures. He said the most critical factor of fatal […]

The next four years of Brisbane will be about economic growth and prosperity, according to newly re-elected lord mayor Graham Quirk. Cr Quirk (pictured) told this week’s Brisbane City Council meeting he was committed to his election promises and had a four-year-plan to make this happen. “They are visionary plans, which aren’t achieved overnight, but […]

It is important that an educated media cover state and national politics, Queensland Parliament’s new speaker, Fiona Simpson, said this week. In a talk to Jschool Journalism College students at Parliament House, Ms Simpson (pictured) stressed the importance of a well-educated media presence in politics. “It is absolutely critical that we have an educated media,” […]

The Senate has postponed the reporting date of a committee inquiring into setting up an integrity commissioner and code of conduct for parliamentarians, prompting renewed debate on the topic. A Newsbytes street poll showed people had strong views about acceptable standards of behaviour for parliamentarians. The Senate’s decision came two days after Fair Work Australia […]

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minister and a rail lobby group have congratulated Newsbytes on publicising the issue of water fountains being withdrawn from Brisbane railway stations.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 […]

Sovereign tent embassy protesters brought CBD traffic to a standstill today when they marched from Parliament to Roma Street watchhouse after their eviction from Musgrave Park. The Aboriginal elders and supporters took over the streets, causing chaos to lunchtime traffic. Around 200 people walked the route yelling slogans and waving signs. “One two three, sovereignty, […]

Thirty-one people were arrested as hundreds of police officers moved to evict protestors from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Musgrave Park, South Brisbane this morning. The Brisbane City Council ordered the eviction in preparation of this weekend’s annual Paniyiri Greek festival which uses the park. Police began closing nearby streets and surrounding the camp at […]

The Queensland Rail ban on bubblers has been reversed by Transport Minister Scott Emerson after the policy was revealed by Newsbytes. Mr Emerson said he became aware of the water fountain ban on Friday and scrapped it on Saturday. Newsbytes reported on the policy last week following investigations by student journalist Melissa Archer. Mr Emerson […]

Class warfare was the main theme of Tony Abbott’s budget reply speech last night, as the opposition leader criticised the government’s budget for its emphasis on targeted handouts. Mr Abbott said abolishing the carbon tax was his first priority because the tax would be a drag on economic growth and cost of living. “Abolishing the […]

Wayne Swan’s fifth budget is a win for the battlers as well as a return to surplus, according to the Treasurer. Mr Swan told Parliament on Tuesday night the 2012 federal budget contained a combination of big spending cuts, handouts and new spending initiatives. Describing it as a “Labor budget to its bootstraps” Mr Swan […]

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 […]

François Hollande has been elected president of France with 51.7 percent of the 35 million votes cast in Sunday’s election. His opponent Nicolas Sarkozy received 48.3 percent of the national vote. Mr Hollande is the first Socialist president since the end of François Mitterrand’s second term in 1995. Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been president for […]

With flags fluttering and to the bagpipe strains of “Hills Of Argyle”, the Gold Coast Labor Day march set off this morning from outside the Southport Workers’ Club. After a tough 12 months dealing with issues like the health payroll crisis, the Queensland Nurses’ Union led the cavalcade along Scarborough Street to the Broadwater Parklands. […]

Tension ran high in yesterday’s three-hour debate between French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist rival François Hollande. Every issue, from immigration to the economy to Afghanistan, was an opportunity for the two candidates to launch into a war of words. Mr Hollande said he protected children instead of favouring the rich, referring to Sarkozy’s […]