David Marler

David Marler

Queensland reporter at No Fibs
David is a full time Queensland carer for his son and in quiet times contributes to NoFibs.
David Marler

Latest posts by David Marler (see all)

David Marler
https://nofibs.com.au/meeting-david-marler-nofibs-twitter-activist-by-griffithelects

The Qld Weekly - No Fibs

Can Qld lead the way against domestic violence?

Blog the week.
Not now, not ever.
(March 7, 2015) – Get out of jail free.
(March 6, 2015) – International Women’s Day .
(March 5, 2015) – Selling non strategic assets.
(March 4, 2015) – March 4 march.
(March 3, 2015) – Hear and say.
(March 2, 2015) – Terror guards.
(March 1, 2015) – Scorched earth.

Highlights

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Blog the week

Check back with us as we blog the week in Queensland politics. Former Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce’s report into domestic violence in Queensland, the Queensland LNP hosts International Women’s Day at male only members club and Premier Annastcia Palaszczuk takes up the charge against Prime Minister Tony Abbott ahead of the 2016 federal election campaign.

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Not now, Not ever

“Let us together send a message to Queenslanders. Not now, not ever. We must eliminate domestic and family violence,” wrote former Australian Governor-General and former Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce in her report into domestic violence in Queensland. The report was handed by her to Premier Annastcia Palaszczuk on Saturday, February 28, 2015.

9 News Brisbane: Inquiry into domestic violence by Quentin Bryce handed to Premier Palaszczuk.

9 News Brisbane: Inquiry into domestic violence by Quentin Bryce handed to Premier Palaszczuk.

On the following Monday night, another suspected murder-suicide was reported at Biddeston, 25 kilometres west of Toowoomba, taking the lives of a 7-year old boy and his pregnant Mum. His Grandfather was also found deceased in their home of suspected self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Governments don’t seem as effective in responding to the problem as they do to an act of terrorism. Even though domestic violence is happening all around Australia, perhaps it’s because the community can’t see a domestic violence incident happening in the same way they witness a terrorist siege being played out on live television or on the front pages of newspapers.

From the report, “in 2013-2014 there were 66,016 occurrences, a 2.7{17ac88c265afb328fa89088ab635a2a63864fdefdd7caa0964376053e8ea14b3} increase on the previous year. This means, on average, 181 incidents of domestic and family violence were reported to police every day in Queensland in 2013-2014. Tragically, 17 domestic and family violence related homicides occurred in Queensland in 2012–2013, a significant proportion of the total 49 homicides in the state in the same period.”

Bryce’s task group made 140 recommendations, ranging from a community prevention strategy, modifications to the court system, establishing more crisis shelters and greater training for police officers. All recommendations should culminate in amendments to the “Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act”.

The Queensland Government will now take time to research the report and respond. The trick for Palaszczuk will be to get all parties of the 55th Queensland Government to put politics aside and work together in consultation with the community to implement the recommendations. If not, it will be just another document on top of the growing pile of reports.

The full document is available for public comment here, “Not now, not ever – Putting an end to domestic and family violence in Queensland”.

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(March 7, 2015) – Get out of jail free

07/03/15 The Courier Mail - Get Out Of Jail Free.

07/03/15 The Courier Mail – Get Out Of Jail Free.

The Courier Mail has sensationalised the piece by its own reporter Jason Tin resulting in a misleading front page, “Get out of jail free”. The “revelation”suggests Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will let criminals out of jail, a far fetched claim. This misinformation provides no intelligent debate on the issue of overcrowding in Queensland jails. As indicated by ABC’s Matt Wordsworth this week, the number of indigenous prisoners since Campbell Newman came to power in 2012 has surged. Early in his administration, the decision was taken by former Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie to close the indigenous Murri Court system which allowed offenders to be sentenced but serve time in the community under indigenous elder supervision.

With funding cut to Murri, founding member Uncle Albert Holt warned the Newman Government in 2012 that it would need to build more jails.

“It is absolutely disgraceful for the elders who participated in the Murri Court,” he told The Satellite. “It’s unacceptable the over representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system. We’ve got a lost generation just in our jails. The government didn’t even have the decency to address the issue with the elders and I think that’s abysmal.”

However, Bleijie dismissed the 11 year old system saying, “The Murri Court was not delivering consistent results and did not justify the amount being spent to keep it operating. The program was not reducing imprisonment rates for indigenous offenders and has not stopped recidivism in the short term.”

As Tin pointed out in his article, with there currently being 7192 prisoners in custody, the options for the government are to continue to double up prisoners in cells, have some serve community service for misdemeanors or spend the $1 billion necessary to build new prisons. The latter would take a considerable amount of time to implement.

Eammon Atkinson reports: Police minister Jo-Ann Miller's concern for prison overcrowding.

Eammon Atkinson reports: Police minister Jo-Ann Miller’s concern for prison overcrowding.

First bionic heart

Amber Austin-Wright reports:  An Australian medical team in Brisbane is developing the world's first bionic heart.

Amber Austin-Wright reports: An Australian medical team in Brisbane is developing the world’s first bionic heart.

Hells Angels ride out for first time since VLAD

Michelle Rattray reports: 2 Hells Angels lead social riders from Qld to NSW as police watch on.

Michelle Rattray reports: 2 Hells Angels lead social riders from Qld to NSW as police watch on.

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(March 6, 2015) – International Women’s Day

LNP’s International Women’s Day at Tattersalls men’s only club

Melinda Howells reports:  LNP met with protesters at Tattersalls mens only membership club.

Melinda Howells reports: LNP met with protesters at Tattersalls mens only membership club.

7 News Brisbane: An LNP function to mark International Women's Day at an exclusive male only club has been overshadowed by protests.

7 News Brisbane: An LNP function to mark International Women’s Day at an exclusive male only club has been overshadowed by protests.

https://twitter.com/nick__w/status/573658737195380736

https://twitter.com/nick__w/status/573654825163825153

The women who helped form Qld’s Paliament

New research helping women with breast cancer history

Amber Austin-Wright reports: New Brisbane research is helping women with a family history of breast cancer make better informed decisions about whether they should get a mastectomy.

Amber Austin-Wright reports: New Brisbane research is helping women with a family history of breast cancer make better informed decisions about whether they should get a mastectomy.

One of Qld’s greatest female leaders retires

Logan's first female Mayor Pam Parker interviewed by Katherine Feeney as she departs office.

Logan’s first female Mayor Pam Parker interviewed by Katherine Feeney as she departs office.

Premier Palaszczuk rallies Labor NSW ahead of state election

  • 9 News Brisbane reports, “Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insists her stunning election victory can be replicated across the border. “I came here today to deliver a very simple message: it can happen here in NSW as well,” she told Labor’s north coast campaign launch in Banora Point on Friday. “I stand here today as living proof that pessimists got it wrong and we got it right.””: Palaszczuk rallies NSW Labor troops.

Hells Angels ride against Newman’s VLAD laws

9 News Brisbane: Hells Angels to ride from Qld into NSW in first poker run since Newman's VLAD laws.

9 News Brisbane: Hells Angels to ride from Qld into NSW in first poker run since Newman’s VLAD laws.

Queensland Health waiting lists

Melinda Howells reports:  230,000 people now waiting to see a specialist in Queensland.

Melinda Howells reports: 230,000 people now waiting to see a specialist in Queensland.

TC Marcia – Counting the cost

Newman Government’s BaT tunnel scrapped

Qld developments

  • Marty Silk reports, “The property sector and businesses are warning Queensland’s new Labor government to beware of making rash decisions about major projects. The Palaszczuk government has been trying to prove to businesses it’s working in their interests since being sworn in three weeks ago. But the government has caught the business sector by surprise in the past week, halting three projects worth more than $7 billion and reinstating a coastal plan that was ditched by the previous government.”: Don’t freeze projects, Queensland government warned.
  • Charmaine Kane reports, “An executive from the construction sector has urged the Queensland Government to reconsider its opposition to the proposed Wavebreak Island development in the Gold Coast Broadwater. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she stood by her election commitment not to allow a complex including a casino and cruise ship terminal to be built on the site. The director of construction for Master Builders Queensland, John Crittall, attended a briefing session on the project, hosted by the proponent, and said the jobs it would generate could not be ignored.”: Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged to rethink opposition to Gold Coast’s Wavebreak Island development.

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(March 5, 2015) – Selling non strategic assets

Asset sales on agenda

  • Melinda Howells reports, “Some state-owned assets, such as public housing stock, could be sold by the Labor Government as part of its “normal day-to-day business transactions”, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says. The ALP campaigned heavily against privatisation and the LNP’s plans to lease $37 billion worth of port and electricity assets in the lead-up to the January state election.”:  Some state-owned assets could be sold as part of ‘normal business transactions’, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says.
  • Brisbane Times reports, “Queensland’s new government will sell some public assets but denies this conflicts with its dogged opposition to these type of transactions under the former LNP government. Labor Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says assets such as unused land and vacant buildings will go under the hammer. She insists Labor isn’t backflipping on its anti-privatisation promise made during the recent state election campaign. “What we said was that we would not sell assets that deliver dividends to the Queensland state budget, that made sure we had money to deliver the infrastructure and the services for the future,” she said on Thursday.”: Queensland Labor Government to sell ‘non strategic’ assets.
  • On September 5, 2012, Kym Agius  reported that the former Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls “The Queensland government won’t seek a mandate to sell off public buildings in Brisbane, because they’re not considered big-ticket assets. The Liberal National Party went to the March election promising not to sell off public assets without taking any plans to the next election. But Treasurer Tim Nicholls today clarified the government’s position, saying the pledge applied only to “major” public assets. “That is, things like the power generators, the poles that transmit the power, those assets,” he told reporters. “Those major government-owned assets.””: No need to seek public opinion on selling some assets: Nicholls.

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/573371422946402304

Eastern Busway project back in favour under Labor

  • Tony Moore reports, “Demolition of the old Myer site at Coorparoo will start within weeks, paving the way for 360 apartments and a transport hub which has been on three consecutive governments’ agenda. Townsville-based property group, Honeycombes, will build a mixture of apartments, terrace homes and a cinema on the site on the corner of Old Cleveland Road and Harries Road, delivering the complex in three stages.”: Eastern Busway project back on the table.

MP pay rise will not be implemented

Weapons in schools

7 News Brisbane: More than 1400 items - including knives, bombs and guns - have been seized in Queensland schools, raising questions about why children are arming themselves in the playground.

7 News Brisbane: More than 1400 items – including knives, bombs and guns – have been seized in Queensland schools, raising questions about why children are arming themselves in the playground.

TC Marcia triggers green river bloom

7 News Brisbane: Water lettuce blooming along Brisbane & Bremer Rivers in wake of TC Marcia.

7 News Brisbane: Water lettuce blooming along Brisbane & Bremer Rivers in wake of TC Marcia.

TC Marcia – Federal Government called on to do more

AIDS Council funding restoration

  • Cameron Atfield reports, “One of the most high-profile early victims of Newman government funding cuts has welcomed a review from new state government into community health funding. Health Minister Cameron Dick on Thursday said the review into state government funding to non-government community health providers, which was a Labor election promise, had begun. “There is more to the health portfolio than just hospitals,” Mr Dick said.”:  Health Minister Cameron Dick gives Queensland AIDS Council hope for state funding.

Autumn heatwave

7 News Brisbane: Records tumbled as the mercury climbed across Queensland, creating dangerous conditions and putting extreme pressure on the power grid.

7 News Brisbane: Records tumbled as the mercury climbed across Queensland, creating dangerous conditions and putting extreme pressure on the power grid.

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(March 4, 2015) – March 4 march

Sexual assaults in schools on the rise

7 News Brisbane: Queensland teachers are calling for greater support to deal with problem students after a rise in sexual assaults, attacks and drug offences.

7 News Brisbane: Queensland teachers are calling for greater support to deal with problem students after a rise in sexual assaults, attacks and drug offences.

Charges dropped for ‘Not Campbell Newman’

  • Jorge Branco reports, “Charges against the man behind a parody Campbell Newman Twitter account have been dropped almost two months after he was arrested wearing an “I’m with stupid” T-shirt on the election campaign. Iain Fogerty’s case drew international attention when he was charged with public nuisance following complaints to police after he stood near LNP campaigners wearing the now infamous shirt.”: ‘I’m with stupid’ t-shirt: Not Campbell Newman’s election charges dropped.

LNP to celebrate International Women’s Day at men only membership club

PM Tony Abbott reacts to Qld LNP holding an International Women's Day event at Brisbane Tattersalls club which only accepts male members.

PM Tony Abbott reacts to Qld LNP holding an International Women’s Day event at Brisbane Tattersalls club which only accepts male members.

To the gates – Protesting the Abbott Government

  • Cameron Atfield reports, “”I’m standing on the outside looking in” The strains of Cold Chisel’s Standing on the Outside served as a warm-up to Wednesday’s union protest in Brisbane, part of a coordinated national campaign, outside Parliament House on George Street. It was, perhaps, an odd choice of song.”: Unions protest Abbott government in Brisbane.
Ten News Qld: Unions march on March 4th against the Abbott Government in Brisbane.

Ten News Qld: Unions march on March 4th against the Abbott Government in Brisbane.

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/572994803647922176

https://twitter.com/nick__w/status/572942400768720897

Queensland research into Ebola vaccine

7 News Brisbane: A Queensland scientist has developed a vaccine which could protect humans against Ebola.

7 News Brisbane: A Queensland scientist has developed a vaccine which could protect humans against Ebola.

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(March 3, 2015) – Hear and say

‘Not now, Not ever’ – Breaking down male stereotypes

  • Blythe Moore reports, “The stereotype that boys are tough and should not cry is part of the problem when it comes to domestic violence, says former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce. Dame Quentin, who was was asked by former Queensland premier Campbell Newman to head a taskforce looking at domestic violence, handed her review to the new premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, over the weekend.”: Dame Quentin Bryce says breaking down male stereotypes is crucial in addressing domestic violence.
  • Steve Austin interviews Dame Quentin Bryce on 612 ABC Brisbane, “The former Premier, Campbell Newman asked the Honourable Quentin Bryce to head a taskforce looking at Domestic Violence. The taskforce’s report, titled ‘Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland’, was handed to the new Premier over the weekend.” Quentin Bryce on domestic violence taskforce.
612 Brisbane: 'Not now, Not ever' - Domestic violence you can stop this - Amy Compton-Keen on preventing domestic violence.

612 Brisbane: ‘Not now, Not ever’ – Domestic violence you can stop this – Amy Compton-Keen on preventing domestic violence.

Premier holds promise to oppose Wavebreak Island development

  • Paul Weston writes, “Mayor Tom Tate has urged Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to rethink her opposition to the planned $7.5 billion cruise ship terminal. “Four days before the election the now Premier put the referendum to the city of the Gold coast that a vote for Labor was a vote to stop the cruise ship terminal,” Cr Tate said. “Well I say to you, the Gold Coast has spoken. LNP gained one additional seat. What does that mean. It means 10 our of 10 LNPs who pushed for the cruise ship terminal.”: Premier stays firm on opposition to Wavebreak Island cruise ship terminal plan. 

Year of the goat

Racism condemned by top cop

  • Lucy Smith reports, “Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart has co-signed an open letter, condemning “abhorrent” acts of racial and religious violence. The letter, also signed by members of the Police Ethnic Advisory Group and the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, encouraged Queenslanders to report acts of racial or religious vilification to the police or the Anti-Discrimination Commission. It condemned recent acts of vilification in Australia.”: Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart condemns racism in open letter.

New Hear and Say centre for Ashgrove

Lunch with the LNP

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/572586962579681280

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/572545307646406656

Dr Ken Levy

Farewell to Qld Health staff from D-G

  • Jason Tin reports, “Health Minister Cameron Dick has demanded an explanation as to why an outgoing director-general sent out a “thank you” email to staff, ­accusing him of ignoring internal processes.
    Ian Maynard, who has since left the position of Queensland Health director-general, sent an email to department staff on February 26 in which he also noted advancements achieved during the Newman government’s time in office”: Queensland Health director-general sends farewell email to staff.

Queen’s Wharf casino concerns

  • Jason Tin reports, “Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has requested an investigation into “issues” she has raised relating to Brisbane’s Queens Wharf casino development. The former Liberal National Party government initiated the project last year, offering a licence for the resort and casino development on prime real estate in the CBD. Ms Palaszczuk, who attended the opening of the new Hear and Say centre in Ashgrove, said she had asked bureaucrats to look into certain issues associated with the proposal. “My Government is committed to seeing the redevelopment of that site,” she said. “However, I do have some issues that I’ve raised with the department and I want them to investigate those issues first before I make further comment.”: Annastacia Palaszczuk has Queen’s Wharf casino concerns.

Saving Queensland’s Green Sea turtles

9 News Brisbane: Major operation underway to save the Green Sea turtle on Raine Island.

9 News Brisbane: Major operation underway to save the Green Sea turtle on Raine Island.

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(March 2, 2015) – Terror guards

Fear of underground fire

  • Christine Flatley reports, “An energy company has denied it is responsible for a reported underground fire in regional Queensland, saying its nearby underground coal gasification plant is no longer operational. Linc Energy’s Chinchilla plant is located near two private properties that last week returned positive soil sampling tests for carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide – three of the four main gases produced through underground coal gasification.”: Activist fears underground CSG fire.

Palaszczuk’s warning for Abbott

  • Brisbane Times reports, “Annastacia Palaszczuk says Tony Abbott must heed the lessons of the Queensland election or risk guaranteeing his own party’s downfall at the next federal poll. The new Queensland premier received a rock star welcome when she appeared at an Australian Workers’ Union conference on Monday. Ms Palaszczuk, who has become a Labor hero following the party’s shock win over the Liberal National Party on January 31, was given a standing ovation by delegates before she even began her speech.”: Annastacia Palaszczuk warns Tony Abbott to learn from Queensland election.

The hot interior

No specific threat to schools

  • Tony Moore reports, “A spokesman for a Queensland school for Jewish students that has received extra federal funding for terrorism protection says growing anti-Semitism in Australia makes the funding necessary. Jason Steinberg, president of Queensland’s Jewish Board of deputies, said a small primary school college for Jewish students in Brisbane’s south-eastern suburbs was one of two Queensland schools which had applied for money for terrorism security.”: Anti-Semitism makes school terrorism protection necessary: spokesman.
  • Tony Moore reports, “There is no specific terrorism threat to Queensland schools, even though two schools will receive additional funding for security guards, Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan says.”: No terror threat to Queensland schools: Kate Jones.
7 News Brisbane: Federal Justice Minister announces two schools in Qld will receive funding for security guards but neither the Qld Education Minister or Police Commissioner were informed.

7 News Brisbane: Federal Justice Minister announces two schools in Qld will receive funding for security guards but neither the Qld Education Minister or Police Commissioner were informed.

4BC: Two Qld schools to receive security funding but Abbott Govt wont say which.

4BC: Two Qld schools to receive security funding but Abbott Govt wont say which.

 Greyhound racing

9 News Brisbane: 5 greyhound trainers banned as police taskforce to investigating allegations of animal cruelty.

9 News Brisbane: 5 greyhound trainers banned as police taskforce to investigating allegations of animal cruelty.

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(March 1, 2015) – Scorched earth

Chinchilla underground fire

Brisbane council election 2016

  • Kristian Silva reports, “The man backed by Labor Party heavyweights to take on Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk at the 2016 elections has no formal political experience and has never been to a council meeting. However Rod Harding – an Ashgrove local, former senior Macquarie Bank manager and lawyer – believes he can achieve a huge swing at the polls to defeat Cr Quirk.”: Rod Harding Labor’s front-runner to take on Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

TC Marcia – Food vouchers