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
Blog along with us as we cover the week in Queensland politics.

Infrastructure and power

The Qld Weekly - No FibsTable of contents

(October 31, 2015) – Newman’s book tour, dwindling crowd.
(October 30, 2015) – Byrne Inquiry finds police resources diverted to bikies under Newman Government.
(October 29, 2015) – Medicinal cannabis: Epileptic kids, MS sufferers first to be trialled.
(October 28, 2015) – Jeff Seeney referred to Ethics Committee.
(October 27, 2015) – Breach of standing order 271, LNP referred to ethics.
(October 26, 2015) – Draft infrastructure plan released.
(October 25, 2015) – House of power.

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(October 31, 2015) – Newman’s book tour, dwindling crowd

Book sales through the floor

Byrne Inquiry: A chilling warning

  • Cameron Atfield reported, “The threat of paedophilia was only set to rise in the future, according to a disturbing prediction in the Queensland Organised Crime Commission of Inquiry. Commissioner Michael Byrne, QC, handed down the report from the $6 million, six-month inquiry on Friday and there were predictions that would cause considerable community concern. “There can be little doubt that child sex offending, particularly to feed the illicit and insatiable child exploitation market, represents a risk with an upward trajectory,” the report finds.”: Crime commission issues chilling child exploitation warning.
  • Sarah Vogler and Thomas Chamberlain reported, “The “blinkered” pursuit of bikies at the expense of other criminals has allowed pedophiles and fraudsters to flourish in Queensland, the state’s organised crime inquiry has found.”: Boiler room scams take over from bikies in Gold Coast crime wave.
The Courier Mail: October 31, 2015 - War On Bikies Aided Crime.

The Courier Mail: October 31, 2015 – War On Bikies Aided Crime.

Newman accuses Labor of being dishonest

Peter Doherty reported: Former Premier Campbell Newman has hit back after an inquiry found his governments obsession with bikies, allowed child exploitation and fraud to flourish.

Peter Doherty reported: Former Premier Campbell Newman has hit back after an inquiry found his governments obsession with bikies, allowed child exploitation and fraud to flourish.

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(October 30, 2015) – Byrne Inquiry finds police resources diverted to bikies under Newman Government

Full report: Byrne Inquiry into Organised Crime in Queensland

Police resources diverted away from child exploitation and financial crime

  • Sarah Elks reported, “Campbell Newman’s blinkered pursuit of bikies allowed internet paedophiles to flourish and Queensland to become Australia’s epicentre of “boiler room” financial scams, an organised crime inquiry has discovered.”: Campbell Newman’s pursuit of bikies let paedophiles flourish, inquiry finds.
  • Mark Solomons reported, “Child exploitation and financial crimes have flourished in Queensland because police have focused too much on outlaw bikies, a commission of inquiry has found. The Queensland Organised Crime Commission of Inquiry found that while members of outlaw motorcycle gangs accounted for 0.5 per cent of all crime in the state, the Queensland Police Service had 200 detectives working in the area.”: Queensland’s anti-bikie crackdown came at the expense of fighting other organised crime, report states.
  • Cameron Atfield reported, “The Newman government’s focus on bikie gangs allowed other areas of organised crime to flourish, a commission of inquiry has found. Commissioner Michael Byrne, QC, handed his 568-page report to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Friday morning in Brisbane. Mr Byrne said while he was not “pointing the finger at anyone”, other non-bikie-related crimes, such as child exploitation, had been neglected.”: Focus on bikies allowed other criminals to prosper: inquiry.
  • Sarah Elks reported, “An organised web of criminals who exploit children was allowed to flourish unchecked in Queensland as police focus and funding shifted to cracking down on bikies.Top Queensland barrister Michael Byrne QC today delivered his $6m organised crime commission of inquiry report to the government and revealed the Newman government’s controversial anti-bikie crackdown left other areas of crime neglected, particularly child exploitation and financial crimes.”: Queensland CCC report: web exploiting children left unchecked.
  • Guardian Australia reported, “The Newman government’s focus on bikies drew attention away from other crimes in Queensland such as child exploitation, an inquiry has found. The Queensland Organised Crime Commission of Inquiry’s report, released on Friday, shows the previous Liberal National Party (LNP) government directed a disproportionate amount of resources at bikie gangs at the expense of other areas like child exploitation, illicit drugs and financial crimes.”: Focus on bikies in Queensland led to neglect of other crimes, report finds.
  • State political reporter for ABC Queensland Chris O’Brien explains the findings of the Byrne Inquiry into organised crime in Queensland, (click to enlarge).
ABC News Brisbane reporter Chris O'Brien explains the findings of the Byrne Inquiry.

ABC News Brisbane reporter Chris O’Brien explains the findings of the Byrne Inquiry.

https://twitter.com/nick__w/status/659928047206842368

https://twitter.com/nick__w/status/659915874711695360

Shane Doherty reported: Byrne Inquiry reveals Campbell Newman diverted 200 detectives to bikies committing 0.52pc of crime.

Shane Doherty reported: Byrne Inquiry reveals Campbell Newman diverted 200 detectives to bikies committing 0.52pc of crime.

"Frightening news": Bruce Morcombe comments on the findings of the Byrne Inquiry.

“Frightening news”: Bruce Morcombe comments on the findings of the Byrne Inquiry.

 Max Futcher reported: Child exploitation has been allowed to flourish in Queensland while police focus on the war on bikies.

Max Futcher reported: Child exploitation has been allowed to flourish in Queensland while police focus on the war on bikies.

MP for Cairns Rob Pyne supports euthanasia

Un-vaccinated can be excluded from childcare centres

Undo CanDo – Funding restored for Qld Working Women’s Service

  • Curtis Pitt announced, “An invaluable women’s employment service has been saved from having to close its doors, with the Palaszczuk Government reinstating funds taken away during the LNP era. Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations Curtis Pitt said he had approved $210,000 to support the Queensland Working Women’s Service, which provides free support for women on work related matters. “This funding should never have been cut in the first place but with the QWWS today celebrating its 20th anniversary, this announcement couldn’t come at a better time,” Mr Pitt said.”: Labor reinstates funding to support vulnerable working women.

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(October 29, 2015) – Medicinal cannabis: Epileptic kids, MS sufferers first to be trialled

Sativex to be legalised

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Queensland children with severe epilepsy and multiple sclerosis patients will have access to medical marijuana from next year. The Palaszczuk government will work with its NSW counterparts to begin a $3 million medicinal cannabis trial at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital to help treat children with drug-resistant epilepsy from 2016.”: Cannabis to be trialled on epileptic Queensland kids, MS sufferers: Premier.

Springborg labels author Robert Hoge a ‘Labor hack’

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Ghosts from Labor government’s past have come back to haunt the Palaszczuk government, with the appointment of a former Bligh government staffer to a $160,000 Health Department job put under the spotlight. The Opposition came armed to question time with right-to-information documents which they said showed Robert Hoge, a former staffer for Bligh government minister Paul Lucas and the department of Main Roads, had been offered a job by a former colleague without going through the Palaszczuk government mandated “merit-based” application process.”: Dick defends staffer’s $160,000 Health appointment offered without resume.

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “It was the plea of an MP who knew he’d lost before he even began. While the debate over the redistribution electoral bill raged on between the major parties, with Labor hurling gerrymander accusations across the chamber, which the LNP lobbed back as not caring about regional and rural Queensland, Robbie Katter cut through the chafe and to the heart of the matter. He’s slept in his car attempting to cover his Mount Isa electorate, which is now the size of France and at risk of growing to the western outreaches of Toowoomba.”: Redistribution bill voted down in Queensland parliament.

MP for Mt Isa, Rob Katter explains to the House the problem Queensland has with its large regional electorates. (Click to enlarge),

Rob Katter explaining to the House the problem Queensland has with its large regional electorates.

Rob Katter explaining to the House the problem Queensland has with its large regional electorates.

Electricity network providers must accept regulator’s decision

  • Chris O’Brien reported, “Household power bills will stabilise but there is no promise of a price drop for every customer, the Queensland Government says. It said the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) final ruling on network costs for Energex and Ergon would bring an end to the big price increases of recent years. The regulator’s final determination recommended Energex could charge households and business $6.6 billion and Ergon Energy could collect $6.3 billion between 2015-2020.”: Queensland power bills will not rise but ‘may not fall’, Government says.
  • Chris O’Brien reported, “Queensland’s electricity providers have been ordered by the Government not to appeal against a revenue ruling by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER). Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk said the decision meant power prices would be stable, or could fall, over the next five years.”: Energex and Ergon ‘must accept’ Queensland Government directive not appeal AER decision.
  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered the state’s electricity companies to accept the ruling of the energy regulator and not attempt to raise the amount of money they can recover from customers. The Australian Energy Regulator handed down its five-year revenue determination for Energex and Ergon, setting out what it can recoup in network prices. That measure has been a key driver of the increase in power prices over the past few years, along with the solar feed-in-tariff rebate, with electricity prices jumping by almost 45 per cent over three years.”: Queensland electricity companies ‘must accept’ regulator’s revenue ruling.

Toowoomba’s resettlement plan

Solar farm approved for Burdekin Shire

  • Brisbane Times reported, “Queensland’s government has re-approved one of the country’s largest solar farms in the state’s far north. Deputy Premier Jackie Trad approved global firm FRV’s $400 million solar farm in the Burdekin Shire on Thursday, after announcing the project would be reassessed in late August. “This is a decision that future generations of energy-conscious Queenslanders will thank us for,” she told parliament.”: Qld govt reapproves $400m solar farm.

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(October 28, 2015) – Jeff Seeney referred to Ethics Committee

The Ethsix

  • Nine News Brisbane reported, “Queensland Speaker Peter Wellington referred a sixth opposition MP to the Ethics Committee for talking about an investigation into embattled Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller in parliament. Former deputy premier Jeff Seeney will face the parliament’s disciplinary body after he failed to back up his claim Labor MP Peter Russo used the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee to leak the Miller investigation as part of a Labor factional war. “Members should not make any charges or allegations against other members without supporting or substantiating those allegations by some proof,” Mr Wellington told the House.The Speaker has already referred Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg, deputy leader John-Paul Langbroek and opposition frontbenchers Scott Emerson, Tim Nicholls and Jarrod Bleijie to the Ethics Committee for asking about Miller during Question Time.”: Seeney referred to Qld Ethics Committee.
  • Chris O’Brien reported, “State Opposition frontbencher Scott Emerson has avoided criticising Speaker Peter Wellington for referring a group of LNP MPs to the parliamentary ethics committee, but says the independent MP “has backed Labor over and over again”.”:Queensland Speaker warns on confidentiality as he refers six LNP MPs to ethics committee

Speaker Peter Wellington’s ruling on the MP for Callide Jeff Seeney referred to the Ethics Committee. (Click to enlarge.)

Speaker Peter Wellington's ruling - MP for Callide @JeffSeeney referred to Ethics Committee.

Speaker Peter Wellington’s ruling – MP for Callide @JeffSeeney referred to Ethics Committee.

Bob Katter cutting remarks on petty policing

  • Joshua Robertson reported, “Bob Katter, speaking from a ride-on lawnmower, has railed against the “petty, pedantic” style of enforcement permeating the police force in Queensland, helping make it “the most restrictive state on Earth”. The veteran federal MP drove the mower to a media conference in a Brisbane pub on Wednesday, as a gesture of solidarity with a constituent who was recently booked for unregistered driving on his way to mow a park and school grounds in Prairie, north-west Queensland.”: Bob Katter makes cutting remarks on ‘petty’ policing from ride-on lawnmower.

LNP MP Ian Walker’s constitution bill before the house

https://twitter.com/IanWalker_MP/status/659163308130349056

Ian Walker’s changes to electoral redistribution commission

  • Nine News Brisbane reported, “Queensland’s opposition wants either more electorates or for regional voters to have more voting power. Shadow attorney-general Ian Walker’s bill to create an independent body to consider the changes – which he says are needed as regional electorates grow as populations shrink, making it harder for bush politicians to represent their constituents – will be debated in parliament on Wednesday. “We in the LNP believe it is time before the next redistribution to have a look at a fairer electoral system for Queensland,” he said.”: Qld LNP seeks change to voting, electorate.
  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Labor has come out swinging against a bill which could create five more seats in regional and rural Queensland. The LNP bill, due to be debated in the parliament on Wednesday night, has the two Katter Party MPs’ support, with Shane Knuth and Robbie Katter already representing two of the state’s biggest electorates. Mr Katter’s seat, Mount Isa, may expand into the western suburbs of Toowoomba, given the population distribution. The LNP redistribution bill, put forward by shadow attorney-general Ian Walker, would lead to the state establishing its own mini redistribution commission, which could potentially add five more seats to the Queensland parliament, and increase the weighting, currently set at two per cent, given to regional seats.”: LNP bill could create five more seats for rural Queensland.
  • ABC Radio Brisbane reported, “Do you believe in ‘one vote one value’? That your vote in the city has the same value and power as someone’s vote in the country? A bill will be debated in state parliament today which could potentially change that. Ian Walker – the Shadow Attorney-General spokesperson for the LNP – says after 30 years of no action the matter needs to be examined. While former Labor Attorney-General Matt Foley says it’s reverting to the bad old days of Queensland’s infamous electoral gerrymander.”: “One Vote One Value” could be changed in Qld.
  • Electoral (Redistribution Commission) and Another Act Amendment Bill 2015.

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(October 27, 2015) – Breach of standing order 271, LNP referred to ethics

LNP referred to ethics committee

  • Gail Burke reported, “Five senior Liberal National Party MPs have been referred to Queensland Parliament’s ethics committee, in an extraordinary move by Speaker Peter Wellington. Mr Wellington said Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg, Deputy Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek and MPs Tim Nicholls, Scott Emerson and Jarrod Bleijie breached Parliament’s rules.”: Five LNP MPs referred to parliamentary ethics committee.
  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Queensland Speaker Peter Wellington has referred most of the LNP senior leadership team to the ethics committee for breaching parliamentary standing orders. Another 14 LNP MPs have been asked to show cause over why they should not be referred to the Ethics Committee over allegations they misled the House in questions on notice.”: LNP leadership referred to parliamentary ethics committee.
  • Nine News Brisbane reported, “Queensland’s opposition leadership has been referred to the Ethics Committee for allegedly breaching parliamentary standing orders. Speaker Peter Wellington says Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg, his deputy John-Paul Langbroek and Liberal National Party frontbenchers Scott Emerson, Tim Nicholls and Jarrod Bleijie breached standing orders by asking about a probe into Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller in parliament. “The deliberate breach of standing order 271, which prohibits matters before the Ethics Committee being debated in the house must also cease,” Mr Wellington told the House on Tuesday.”: Qld opposition ‘breached standing orders’.
  • Amy Remeikis reported, “The Speaker of the Queensland Parliament, Independent MP Peter Wellington, will address Opposition concerns with some of his parliamentary rulings, after tensions boiled over between former deputy premier Jeff Seeney and Mr Wellington during Tuesday’s question time. Mr Seeney kicked off parliamentary proceedings with a matter of privilege, saying he received a phone call from a “media operative” overnight, asking questions “about an issue which had been dealt with at the meeting of the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee earlier in the day”. That, and the ensuring recommendation to refer the matter to the Parliamentary Ethics Committee, occurred during the private PCCC meeting, to which media and the public are not privy to.”: Former LNP leader Jeff Seeney in stoush with Speaker of Queensland Parliament.

Hansard sequence of events, LNP referred to ethics committee

At 8:32am, the Member for Callide Jeff Seeney used privilege to inform the House of a phone call with a media operative. (click to enlarge).

Jeff Seeney used privilege to inform the House of a phone call from a media operative.

Jeff Seeney used privilege to inform the House of a phone call from a media operative.

Later during question time, there were multiple points of order and an exchange between Speaker Peter Wellington and Jeff Seeney. (click to enlarge).

Exchange during question time between Speaker Wellington & Jeff Seeney.

Exchange during question time between Speaker Wellington & Jeff Seeney.

Speaker Peter Wellington reviewed the morning’s transcript and in consultation with the clerk of parliament referred 5 LNP MPs to the Ethics Committee for breach of standing order 271.

Speaker’s Ruling, Referral to Ethics Committee.

Speaker’s Ruling, Referral to Ethics Committee.

Health Minister to inject $70m into hospital over three years

Politicking aside, the most important thing is to get the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital fully funded & fully staffed so it can function at one hundred percent capacity. It has never been been at that level of efficiency.

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital was “never properly funded”, Health Minister Cameron Dick said, announcing an additional $70 million funding over four years for the headline-plagued hospital. Already the subject of two reviews, the government has been forced to announce further funding measures after parents and clinicians continued to come forward with issues and concerns regarding the hospital, which was found to have been opened before it was ready.”: Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital “never properly funded”.
  • Sarah Vogler and Rhian Deutrom reported, “Health Minister Cameron Dick says 100 extra staff will be recruited to help staff the extra beds promised to help address problems at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed the State will pump an extra $70 million into the hospital over four years to provide an extra 31 beds, following a raft of patient and staff complaints.” Lady Cilento’s $70m cash cure.
  • Kristian Silva reported, “The embattled Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital will receive a $70 million funding boost as the government responds to a string of complaints. Another 31 beds, a 10 per cent increase, will also be added to the facility under a plan to be announced by Health Minister Cameron Dick on Tuesday. The move came after the Australian Medical Association called for a funding boost and increased beds at the facility, which opened in 2014.”: Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital: Government to release plan to fix woes.
  • ABC Radio Brisbane reported, “When the $1.8 billion Lady Cilento Hospital was opened it was lauded as a state-of-the-art paediatric facility in Queensland. But since its opening it has been riddled with issues for patients and staff. The Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital has been plagued with concerns over staffing levels, a lack of beds and limited parking. Child neurologist Dr Kate Sinclair has spoken out to highlight the significant flaws in the system since the hospital opened. Steve spoke to the Health Minister Cameron Dick, President of the Australian Medical Association in Queensland Dr Chris Zappala and Opposition Leader and former Health Minister Lawrence Springborg.”: $70 million to help fix Lady Cilento could have come sooner, AMAQ.
The Courier Mail: October 26, 2015 - Cilento's Cash Cure.

The Courier Mail: October 26, 2015 – Cilento’s Cash Cure.

 

Kim Skubris reported: A 70-million dollar rescue package has been unveiled to bail out the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital promising more beds, staff and equipment. AMA Queensland is backing the State Government strategy with a message to parents to have confidence in the hospital.

Kim Skubris reported: A 70-million dollar rescue package has been unveiled to bail out the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital promising more beds, staff and equipment. AMA Queensland is backing the State Government strategy with a message to parents to have confidence in the hospital.

LNP blames everyone for LCCH woes

Queensland to take 3,500 Syrian refugees

Blame game over OneSchool IT failure continues

  • Suzanne Simonot reported, “John-Paul Langbroek has accused Education Minister Kate Jones of buck passing after she attacked him over the former LNP government’s failed roll-out of child protection software for the state’s schools.”: ‘Not on my watch’, as Langbroek blasts Jones.

KAP power play

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “The Katter Party is attempting to position itself as the real power brokers of Queensland’s hung parliament. Having announced it would not support Labor’s proposed lock out laws, and having received Billy Gordon’s support on their stance, the two Katter Party MPs have since moved to “settle the ongoing jostling” between Labor and the LNP regarding the Stradbroke Island sand mining industry.”: Katter Party emerges as power player in Queensland’s hung parliament.

Ditch the coal?

Infrastructure vision in NSW

  • Tony Moore reported, “Queensland is looking at western Sydney’s futuristic 33 kilometre-long WestConnex tollway – yet to-be finished – as one possible way of paying for future infrastructure in Queensland. While the Queensland Government plans to spend $35 billion of its own money on infrastructure over the next four years, it is looking for innovative funding ideas for projects in the 5-to-15 year time horizon. Part of the plan is more opportunities for private sector investment in “market-led” projects with the government.”: Queensland looks to Sydney for infrastructure funding ideas.

Ghosts of Newman’s VLAD still with us

  • Brisbane Times reported, “A Victorian tourist has posted a video online allegedly showing a Gold Coast police officer aiming a Taser at her boyfriend. The clip was posted on Facebook on Monday and appears to show the moment a female officer prepares to discharge her Taser at a heavily tattooed man. “We have legislation down here, if we identify a potential member of a criminal motorcycle gang we have the power to stop, detain and search you,” the officer says in the footage, which had been watched more than 1.7 million times on Tuesday.” Gold Coast cop pulls Taser in viral clip.

George Bender suicide ‘hijacked’ claims Michael Roche

  • Nine News Brisbane reported, “The head of Queensland’s mining lobby should be sacked over “disrespectful” comments made about a farmer who took his own life, the Australian Greens say. The chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council, Michael Roche, issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon remembering George Bender, the Chinchilla farmer who vocally opposed the coal seam gas sector before his death this month.”: Mining advocate should be sacked: Greens.
  • Brisbane Times reported, “An outspoken farmer’s recent suicide has been “hijacked” by some politicians, activists and journalists, Queensland’s peak mining body says. The Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche released a statement on Tuesday afternoon remembering late Chinchilla farmer George Bender, who vocally opposed the coal seam gas sector before his death earlier this month.”: Death of farmer Bender ‘hijacked’: mining body.

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(October 26, 2015) – Draft infrastructure plan released

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s plan

Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg pans plan immediately

Lockout laws face blocking

  • Chris O’Brien reported, “Former Labor member Billy Gordon has begun to flex his political muscle as a balance of power MP, turning his attention to a second piece of Palaszczuk Government legislation. Mr Gordon will combine with the two Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MPs, Shane Knuth and Robbie Katter, to vote against earlier lockout times for pubs and clubs, unless the Government reworks the laws. “People have voted for me and I am blessed to have very significant power, I think, or influence in the Parliament and I want to use that in a responsible way,” Mr Gordon said.”: Independent MP Billy Gordon flexes political muscle as Palaszczuk Government flags changes.
  • Jorge Branco reported, “Embattled MP Billy Gordon says the Labor government’s proposed lockout laws could have “relevance” for the south-east but are wrong for far north Queensland. Mr Gordon and Katter’s Australian Party MPs Rob Katter and Shane Knuth will reportedly block Labor’s plans to reduce alcohol-related violence with 1am lockouts, 3am closing times and no shots after midnight. The Member for Cook told the ABC he was open to compromise but after speaking to police, community services and nightclub owners he didn’t think the legislation was right for the state’s far north, particularly Cairns.”: Billy Gordon: Lockout laws don’t benefit far north Queensland.

George Bender’s family vows to fight CSG industry

Qld abortion laws to remain unchanged

  • Amy Mitchell-Whittington reported, “Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said the Queensland government would not be considering any changes to the abortion laws in the immediate future. “We have no plans to change the laws at this time.” Current Queensland law states it is illegal for a woman to have an abortion unless it can be proven the woman’s mental or physical well-being is at risk. A pregnancy termination can be either medical (prior to nine weeks) or surgical (after nine weeks).”: Queensland abortion laws to stay the same: D’Ath.

Crisis talks over Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital

  • Kristian Silva reported, “The Queensland Government will release a plan outlining how it intends to fix problems at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital by the end of this week. The Australian Medical Association is calling for a funding boost and increased beds at the facility, which opened in 2014. It prompted an urgent meeting between Health Minister Cameron Dick and the AMA Queensland president Chris Zappala on Monday afternoon.”: Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital: Government to release plan to fix woes.
  • ABC News Brisbane reported, “A plan to fix Brisbane’s troubled Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital will be released by the Queensland Government in the coming days. The Australian Medical Association of Queensland (AMAQ) has demanded changes at the year-old hospital, including more beds, resources and an improved IT system. The AMAQ had an urgent meeting late on Monday afternoon with Health Minister Cameron Dick. AMAQ president Dr Chris Zappala said Mr Dick had a support plan, which was expected to be announced within days.”I believe that those concerns have been listened to by the Minister and he understands them,” Dr Zappala said.”: Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital: Crisis meeting held between doctors, Health Minister Cameron Dick.
  • Jorge Branco reported, “Problems at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital have sparked an urgent meeting between doctors and the Queensland government as the health minister hints at a funding boost. Australian Medical Association Queensland president Chris Zappala said the government needed to listen to doctors calling for more beds and administration fixes at the under-fire hospital. “We need to accept that they’re going to need more space, a little bit more money and definitely more time, to get things working properly,” he said.”: Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital problems spark urgent meeting.
 Katrina Bowers reports: More problems at the Lady Cilento Children's hospital have been the focus of crisis talks with doctors warning of potentially fatal consequences.

Katrina Bowers reports: More problems at the Lady Cilento Children’s hospital have been the focus of crisis talks with doctors warning of potentially fatal consequences.

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(October 25, 2015) – House of power

Journalist Amy Remeikis looks at the seat of power

Changes to combat domestic violence

  • Drew Creighton reported, “The Palaszczuk government plans to introduce new amendments to the Family and Domestic Violence Protection Act this week. The new amendments will be part of what the Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Shannon Fentiman said were a way for victims of domestic violence to keep the life they had before the violence. ​The changes include making it mandatory for magistrates to consider issuing an ouster order on a perpetrator of domestic violence.”: Palaszczuk Government moves on new domestic violence laws.