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

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David Marler
https://nofibs.com.au/meeting-david-marler-nofibs-twitter-activist-by-griffithelects
Blogging the week in Queensland politics and news.

Breaking The Law To Save Lives - The Qld Weekly

The Qld Weekly - No FibsTable of contents

Breaking the law to save lives.
(June 13, 2015) – To the Pentagon.
(June 12, 2015) – Courier Mail attempts leadershit.
(June 11, 2015) – Tuberculosis on the march.
(June 10, 2015) – Legal action against Linc widens.
(June 9, 2015) – Trap set for premier.
(June 8, 2015) – Picketing now blackmail.
(June 7, 2015) – Medicinal cannabis in use.

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Breaking the law to save lives

Cannabidiol (medicinal cannabis), the active ingredient in the oil extracted from the marijuana plant will always have a “druggy” stigma attached to it. It is only one of 85 such cannabinoids in the plant and as a medicine, has no hallucinogenic effects. The substance is being used illegally but is giving hope to hundreds of Queenslanders with sick family members.

Last week Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick informed parliament that the substance was changed from a schedule 9 poison to a schedule 4 (S4) prescription medicine. It means it can proceed to Therapeutic Goods Administration for listing on the Australia Register of Therapeutic Goods. Even though the S4 medicines require a prescription, there is always a potential for misappropriation and misuse. No system is water tight.

Should it be successful, it would have the same listing as midazolam, a sedative currently used to prevent seizures in epilepsy suffers. These types of drugs can have side effects such as headache, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, hiccups, coughing, pain & inflammation. They also may not work at all for a group of patients. However, there are no such side effects from cannabidiol.

ABC News Qld: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces medicinal cannabis trials.

ABC News Qld: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces medicinal cannabis trials.

Brisbane Times reporter, Cameron Atfield, interviewed four families where medicinal cannabis was in use for his article; “Families already using medicinal cannabis on children ahead of trials”. Some did not give their real names to the piece as technically they are breaking the law.

“Mark” told Atfield, “A lot of people don’t realise the number of people affected and the number of people involved because we’re all worried about prosecution,” he said. “…We realise that it’s illegal, but if I had to go to jail, I’d go to jail for my daughter if it meant she could stay on it.”

NoFibs has also been in contact with a family where the daughter has suffered multiple daily seizures as a result of complications from a deliberating condition. When the standard drugs didn’t work, this desperate family also turned to cannbidiol. The family says it is early days yet, but after a short term of treatment there have been no seizures.

The family also expressed frustration at not being able to share results with health practitioners and the public. They suggested an amnesty to allow individual cases to be discussed and reviewed.

With official testing of the medicine scheduled begin in 2016, the three Eastern states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria have agreed to co-ordinate efforts in the outcomes and research. However, Brisbane Times columnist John Birmingham recently wrote that Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk should skip the trials; “Rigorous, peer reviewed clinical trials have been completed overseas in Europe and the US. Our medical professionals are every bit as good as the scientists who conducted those earlier trials and they will return exactly the same results. The policy will change. That is inevitable.”

Not to be left out, Queensland Liberal National Party Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg also laid claim to proceedings.

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(June 13, 2015) – To the Pentagon

Palaszczuk’s United States trade mission

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s United States trade mission has taken her to the Pentagon. Ms Palaszczuk, who left for America on Thursday, met US Navy brass at the famed Washington building to discuss how Queensland can help the leader of the free world meet its renewable energy targets. The world’s largest Navy, which includes a fleet of more than 280 battle ships and 10 aircraft carriers, wants to have half its energy needs met by alternative fuel sources by 2020. Ms Palaszczuk wants Queensland to be a part of helping the US meets that goal. “If we can lock down this partnership, we can unlock the opportunities to Queensland this will bring,” Ms Palaszczuk said in a statement. “My Government is keen to work with industry and research organisations to maximise Queensland’s potential when it comes to biofuels and bio-manufacturing industries.””: Annastacia Palaszczuk’s offers US Navy help for renewable energy targets.
Geoff Breusch reported: Premier Annastacia Palaszczu has used a visit to the Pentagon to unveil a bold plan for Queensland to become a major fueling stop for the US navy..

Geoff Breusch reported: Premier Annastacia Palaszczu has used a visit to the Pentagon to unveil a bold plan for Queensland to become a major fueling stop for the US navy..

Qld budget 2015 – Return to net operating balance

  • Chris O’Brien reported, “The new Queensland Labor Government’s first budget will be handed down in a month and it is a tricky prospect for Treasurer Curtis Pitt. Put simply, he cannot do much because he will not have much to do it with. Labor will not sell assets, resources royalties are down, the feds are not overly keen to give Queensland more money for infrastructure right now, and the Government has promised to pay down debt. That does not leave many budget options for bright new things.”: Queensland budget confusion looming as the goal posts are shifted again.

Ravenhoe burn victims

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “The head of Queensland’s burns unit was prepared for what he would see following the Ravenshoe disaster. Michael Rudd served in Afghanistan for nine months, as well as treating patients following the Bali bombings and Ashmore Reef disaster. “I’ve seen a lot of this,” he said.”: Ravenshoe burns victims facing 50 hours of surgery.

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(June 12, 2015) – Courier Mail attempts leadershit

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad

The Courier Mail - Captain Jack - 12 June 2015.

The Courier Mail – Captain Jack – 12 June 2015.

Premier arrives in Washington

Geoff Breusch reported: Premier arrives in Washington

Geoff Breusch reported: Premier arrives in Washington

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(June 11, 2015) – Tuberculosis on the march

Tuberculosis at Caboolture State High

  • Jorge Branco reported, “Students from a high school north of Brisbane are being tested after a classmate was diagnosed with tuberculosis. The Metro South Clinical Tuberculosis Service is working with Caboolture State High School to test other students. A Department of Education and Training spokesman said those who had “prolonged exposure” would be screened.”: Tuberculosis diagnosis at Caboolture State High School.
07/06/12 Peter McCutcheon reported:  Qld doctors leave TB clinics in Torres Strait islands of Boigu and Saibai for the last time.

07/06/12 Peter McCutcheon reported: Qld doctors leave TB clinics in Torres Strait islands of Boigu and Saibai for the last time.

Carmody crisis revelations

  • Matt Wordsworth reported, “The senior judge who had her private conversations revealed by former Queensland attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie has publicly condemned one of his last acts in the position as “anti-democratic”. In March 2014, Mr Bleijie was under fire over airing the contents of discussions he had with Court of Appeal president Justice Margaret McMurdo, about who should be appointed to the bench. Last month, Justice McMurdo was the keynote speaker at a conference of Community Legal Centres (CLCs).”: Community Legal Centres funding change proposal was ‘anti-democratic’, Justice Margaret McMurdo says.

Everyone’s a critic

  • Cameron Atfield reported, “Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has denied suggestions the appointment of retired Supreme Court Justice Alan Wilson was a reward for his public stance against Carmody. Justice Wilson, who slammed Justice Carmody in his farewell speech in March was on Thursday appointed to head a review into the controversial laws introduced by the former Newman government. Before embarking on a trade mission to the United States, Ms Palaszczuk was asked whether Justice Wilson had been rewarded for his public stance against the controversial Chief Justice.”: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk denies rewarding Tim Carmody critic Justice Alan Wilson.

Great Barrier Reef qualifies for ‘in danger’

 

Godspeed Premier

Work of the Qld Governor

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(June 10, 2015) – Legal action against Linc widens

  • Mark Willacy reported, “The Queensland Government has widened its legal action against resources company Linc Energy over the alleged contamination of the environment by its underground gas plant on the Darling Downs in the state’s south-east. The Government has today filed a fifth charge of wilfully and unlawfully causing serious environmental harm against the company. An investigation — the largest and most protracted in the history of the Queensland Environment Department — has found that Linc Energy’s Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) plant at Hopeland caused irreversible damage “to more than one environmental receptor [which includes the atmosphere, vegetation, water and soil]”.”: Queensland Government widens legal action against Linc Energy over alleged Underground Coal Gasification contamination.

Rick Williams – No criminality in matters from Cairns legal firm

Queensland Auditor-General report: Managing water quality in Great Barrier Reef catchments

The Auditor-Genera submitted Report 20: 2014-15 – Managing water quality in Great Barrier Reef catchments.

“This report sought to determine whether the adverse impact of broad scale land use on the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef was declining. To determine this we focused on:

  • the efficacy of the activities and programs undertaken or funded by Queensland Government agencies
  • the effectiveness of monitoring of these activities and programs
  • the reliability of public reporting of outcomes, particularly the reporting on the achievement of the Reef Plan targets and progress toward long-term goals.”
  • ABC News Queensland reported, “A report from Queensland’s auditor-general has questioned the State Government’s claim that water quality on the Great Barrier Reef is improving. The auditor-general’s report examines the Queensland Government’s handling of agricultural run-off from farms over the last 12 years. It found the State Government’s response has been uncoordinated, lacks purpose, and holds no-one accountable. The auditor-general’s report said Queensland was yet to design a program for its contribution to the Reef Plan, which was developed 12 years ago. It said a 2014 reef report card’s claims the decline in water quality had been reversed was not necessarily true.”: Great Barrier Reef: Public reporting of water quality ‘misleading at worst’, Queensland auditor-general says.
  • Melissa Grant reported, “UNESCO hasn’t been misled about the Great Barrier Reef’s health, ministers have insisted following revelations there may have been no improvements in water quality. A report, released by Queensland’s auditor-general on Wednesday, says data suggesting an improvement in the quality of water entering the reef is unreliable and comes just weeks after UNESCO’s draft decision to leave the reef off its “in-danger” list. Conservationists have accused governments of deceiving UNESCO, which is set to deliver its final ruling on the reef’s status at the end of June.”: UNESCO not misled on reef: ministers.
  • Joshua Robertson reported, “The federal environment minister, Greg Hunt, was alerted to a report casting doubt on claims of progress in tackling pollution in Great Barrier Reef waters weeks before he trumpeted those claims to justify a UN draft ruling not to list the natural icon as “in danger”. The report by Queensland’s auditor general, Andrew Greaves, has found the latest joint state and federal reef “report card” – which stated that reef water quality had improved – was misleading given “significant uncertainty” about the evidence. Greaves’ report more broadly warned the Queensland government would fail to meet its water quality targets – critical in avoiding a future “in danger” listing – because its programs were weak and lacked “urgency and purpose”.”: Greg Hunt trumpeted Great Barrier Reef health to UN weeks after alert to contrary report.
Emily Fardoulys reported: There are claims Australians and UNESCO have been misled about the health of the Great Barrier Reef..

Emily Fardoulys reported: There are claims Australians and UNESCO have been misled about the health of the Great Barrier Reef..

Katherine Feeney reported: Qld Auditor-General finds 2014 Great Barrier Reef report "misleading".

Katherine Feeney reported: Qld Auditor-General finds 2014 Great Barrier Reef report “misleading”.

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(June 9, 2015) – Trap set for premier

Opposition wants Palaszczuk to comment on cases before police and CCC

  • Sarah Vogler reported, “The Opposition has called on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to explain how three of her MPs have been referred to police in just three sitting weeks. “We think that Queenslanders deserve better,” Mr Langbroek said.
    “It’s time we got on with the job of giving Queensland … some direction. “The Premier is about to jet off overseas, leaving the Labor Party stumbling from crisis to crisis. “Premier Palaszczuk needs to come clean with Queenslanders and give them some more information about what it is in the Labor Party that has meant three MPs have been referred to the police in three sitting weeks of Parliament.””: Opposition calls on Annastacia Palaszczuk to address triple threat.

Premier’s Business Advisory Council

Springborg misleads Qld over business

OL Lawrence Springborg claims there is a difference between meeting with unions and business.

Springborg claims Palaszczuk hasn’t granted access to business.

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/608138087013752832

FlashBack Premier Palaszczuk meeting with business in February.

More ‘Left Turn on Red’

Katherine Feeney reported: Brisbane Council rolls out more "Left Turn On Red" intersections.

Katherine Feeney reported: Brisbane Council rolls out more “Left Turn On Red” intersections.

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(June 8, 2015) – Picketing the new blackmail

Dirt unit claims blackmail threat

The Courier Mail - Blackmail Threat - June 8, 2015.

The Courier Mail – Blackmail Threat – June 8, 2015.

Turtle deaths – Keep plastic bags says LNP

  • Joshua Robertson reported, “Deputy opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek says consumers will suffer if the government goes ahead with a scheme to restrict plastic bag use. The Queensland opposition has urged the government to resist a scheme to cut marine wildlife deaths by restricting plastic bag use because they say it will raise the cost of living. The environment minister, Steven Miles, raised the issue of plastic waste causing deaths in turtles on Monday, World Oceans Day, while highlighting the government’s establishment of an advisory group on ways to tackle the litter issue.“: Cost of living matters more than plastic ban to save turtles, Queensland MP says.
  • Tony Moore reported, “More than 940 turtles were stranded in Queensland in 2014 and half of them were in Southeast Queensland’s Moreton Bay, Environment Minister Steven Miles told reporters on Monday. In addition, on average 36 turtles and one dugong each year were hit by boats and either killed or badly injured.”: Moreton Bay turtle deaths under spotlight: Environment Minister.
  • Isabella Higgins reported, “A ban on single-use plastic bags in Queensland is one option being considered by the State Government to reduce the amount of pollution entering waterways and taking a toll on marine life. Environment Minister Steven Miles said there was more litter in Queensland than in any other state, with discarded rubbish recorded at levels almost 40 per cent above the national average.”: Plastic bag ban considered by Queensland Government in bid to reduce toll on marine life.

Undo Cando – Restoration of civil unions

Max Futcher reported: Laws to restore civil partnership ceremonies for same sex couples could be in place in Queensland by the end of the year.

Max Futcher reported: Laws to restore civil partnership ceremonies for same sex couples could be in place in Queensland by the end of the year.

Great Keppel Island casino bid

  • Cameron Atfield reported, “Queensland’s peak tourism body has backed the developer of the new Great Keppel Island resort in its bid to have a “boutique” gaming licence on the island to allow for a 35-table casino. Tower Holdings had development approval to build its $2 billion Great Keppel Island resort project sans casino, but has claimed it could not source international finance without the promise of a gaming revenue stream.”: Tourism industry backs Great Keppel casino bid.

Queens Birthday Honours

Happy birthday Queen (born  April 21, 1926)

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/607670650581311488

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(June 7, 2015) – Medicinal cannabis in use

Desperate families turn to medicinal cannabis

  •  Cameron Atfield reported, “Queensland is set to join a New South Wales-led push for medicinal cannabis trials, but some parents of children suffering from epilepsy say they just want to skip that process and continue to administer the controversial drug. Both major parties in Queensland politics have claimed credit for the upcoming trial, which would be a first step towards legalising the practice. State Health Minister Cameron Dick told Parliament on Thursday that, as of Monday, medicinal cannabis had been rescheduled by the Therapeutic Goods Administration from a schedule 9 poison to a schedule 4 medicine for therapeutic use only.” : Families already using medicinal cannabis on children ahead of trials.

Problems at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital

  • Gail Burke reported, “Children’s Health Queensland will address claims later today that seriously ill children are being turned away from the new Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, Health Minister Cameron Dick says. The Sunday Mail newspaper reported staff had been told the hospital was full and there were not enough general overnight beds to meet expected demand. It was also reporting some children have been diverted to the Gold Coast and other Brisbane hospitals. However, Children’s Health Queensland chief executive Fionnagh Dougan said the Lady Cilento hospital was not full. She said there were 287 overnight beds commissioned and available.” : Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital: Claims seriously ill children being turned away from Brisbane hospital.
  • Tony Moore reported, “The new Lady Cliento Hospital at South Brisbane has 287 beds, averages 210 patients per day and during a busy period in May 2015 experienced close to 225 patients. As in other hospitals some elective surgeries – not emergency surgeries – were deferred to allow for critical emergency children’s surgeries in May. However no child was removed to other hospitals the new chief executive of Children’s Health Queensland, Fionnagh Dougan, told reporters on Sunday. “We have not transferred any child to another hospital for surgeries,” she said.”: New Children’s Hospital busy, but has 77 beds spare – hospital CEO.
Michael Best reported: Despite The Sunday Mail report, LCCH confirms no children have been turned away.

Michael Best reported: Despite The Sunday Mail report, LCCH confirms no children have been turned away.

– Ends