Electric cars generating more interest
Electric cars on Australian roads lead the charge to a zero-emission future, but how soon will they become popular? Newsbytes asked a range of people, including car experts and members of the public, to find a mixture of views. Mitsubishi released the first mass-produced electric car to Australia’s fleet and government market in late 2010, […]
Rally told public service cuts will hurt kids
Angry public sector workers marched through city streets waving dolls to represent children they said would suffer from public service job cuts. Community Service Department members said the children would not receive the same attention when the workers were gone. Secretary of the union Together, Alex Scott, said the loss of temporary jobs in these […]
Demands for better conduct by politicians
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 […]
31 arrested at Musgrave Park tent embassy
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 […]
Construction worker feared ‘pauper’s grave’
A construction worker who claimed his boss hadn’t paid any money into his superannuation account for two years feared his family would be left destitute if he died. Sunny Manual, who now works as a project manager, said he found out early this year a previous employer hadn’t paid his super since 2009. “If I’d […]
Street poll: What did you think of the Budget?
The Gillard Government’s first budget drew praise and criticism from Brisbane people after its unveiling this week. People interviewed by Newsbytes praised increased expenditure on mental health, while criticising the free desktop box policy for pensioners. Comments on the budget included “tough on the right things”, “not for the people”, “bland”, “could do more for […]
Fun run attracts thousands to support breast cancer research
Thousands gathered in Brisbane on Sunday to run in support of breast cancer research. They were part of the 120,000 people Australia-wide taking part in the nation’s largest community fundraising event, the Mothers Day Classic. The annual event gives people of any age or athletic ability the chance to take part in a 4.5km or […]
Johnston kicked out of council again, fined $5500
Police were called to escort independent Nicole Johnston from today’s Brisbane City Council meeting after she refused to obey a suspension order. She was also threatened with a fine of $5,500 for disobeying the ruling. Cr Johnston was last ejected from the council in March in a blaze of publicity on the day former lord […]
Street poll: Do we need a publicly-funded National Broadband Network?
The National Broadband Network is the largest single infrastructure investment in Australian history, with an estimated cost of $35.7 billion. The federal government hopes the network, which may perform up to one thousand times faster than current average wireless, will mean immediate advantages in education, health, and even civic spirit. But reception to the plan […]
Do newspapers have a future?
With the continual rise of online news and the closures of many newspapers around the world, it’s important to ask: do newspapers have a future? To save costs many newspapers have cut jobs, outsourced subediting or gone completely online in response to the growing popularity of online news. Several high-profile journalists and academics have had […]
Street poll: Should Osama bin Laden have been shot or captured?
Ten years after 9/11 US special forces shot and killed bin Laden in a raid on his house in Pakistan. His body was hastily buried at sea. Two different versions of the attack and the manner of bin Laden’s death have so far been released by the US government. Some commentators such as QC Geoffry […]
Asian fusion the key to new life for Brisbane restaurants
Brisbane’s restaurants have fallen under harsh scrutiny from critics and the press alike. Its culinary scene has received harsh criticism over the years, with claims that Brisbane food culture represents a “cultural desert”. Alchemy Restaurant manager Edward Bray rejects the criticism. “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a cultural desert as such, it’s constantly evolving, desert […]
Street poll: How will you celebrate Mothers Day?
This Sunday 46 countries around the world will honour their mothers with this ancient Greek custom. Australia is one of those countries that commemorates Mothers Day on the second Sunday of May. Founders of the modern observance of Mothers Day were Americans Anna Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe. It is an opportunity for people to […]
Street poll: Should we have an R18+ classification for video games?
Questions have been raised about whether Australia should have an R18+ classification for video games. The Attorney-General of South Australia John Rau has supported the idea – with the condition that the classification MA15+ be removed. “By abolishing the MA15+ classification, we will create a clear distinction between games that may be suitable for children […]
Street poll: Death of Osama bin Laden
US president Barack Obama announced yesterday that the most wanted man in the world, Osama Bin Laden, had been killed by US forces in Pakistan. Osama Bin Laden, head of Al Qaeda was responsible for the deaths of nearly 3000 people during the September 11th terrorist attack in New York. He has been in hiding […]