Mermaid Ray’s media dance continues – The #QldWeekly blogazine: #qldpol @Qldaah

Storifying the week in Queensland politics.

Table of contents

Mermaid Ray’s media dance continues.

(May 9, 2015) – Labor’s Brisbane mayoral race kicks off.

(May 8, 2015) – Carmody crisis revisited in Cowan appeal.

(May 7, 2015) – Resetting donation laws.

(May 6, 2015) – Suggested scripts.

(May 5, 2015) – Courier Mail fashion police.

(May 4, 2015) – Mischief and mayhem.

(May 3, 2015) – Premier leads Labour Day.

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Mermaid Ray’s media dance continues

Conflict of interest lost in a chicken dance

An investigation by Independent Australia has revealed a conflict of interest in the involvement of the member for Mermaid Beach, Ray Stevens and company Skyride. However, the main stream media has taken very little interest in the revelation. (For background information on ‘Mermaid’ Ray Stevens, check our report from November: A developer in the House.

• Alex McKean reported, “Barrister Alex McKean says the long awaited Integrity Commissioner advice to Ray Stevens over his cable car plans for the Gold Coast suggests Ray Stevens has misled Parliament and the public over his clear conflicts of interest. Exclusive: Uncovered Integrity Commission advice poses more questions for Ray Stevens to dance around Mr Ray Stevens MP has a long history of involvement as a proponent of a cable-way in the Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast Hinterland. In 1998, the project, then named ‘Naturelink’, was rejected by the Beattie Government after a campaign by environmentalists.”: Analysis: Ray Stevens’ chicken dance with the truth over Gold Coast Skyride.
• Dave Donovan reported, “IA finally uncovers the Integrity Commissioner’s advice relating to ‘Mermaid’ Ray Stevens and his controversial Skyride project — and an IA investigation suggests he may have misled Parliament over its contents. Managing editor David Donovan reports. Analysis: Ray Stevens’ chicken dance with the truth over Gold Coast Skyride Independent Australia has finally received the Integrity Commissioner’s advice relating to Ray Stevens’ investment in the controversial Gold Coast Skyride cable car project.”: Exclusive: Exposed Integrity Commission advice poses more questions for Ray Stevens to dance around.
• Dave Donovan reported, “Why did Ray Stevens give his long concealed Integrity Commission advice only to Channel Nine and why did Nine not release it until IA followed it up with them? Managing editor David Donovan reports. As was discussed yesterday, even a cursory reading of LNP MP Ray Stevens’ long hidden Integrity Commission advice about the Gold Coast Skyride project showed it did not give him the unqualified sign-off he had claimed in Parliament and elsewhere. It stood to reason that this would be the case, as Stevens does have an obvious conflict of interest, being a major investor and advisor in a highly controversial business development in a national park that only legislative changes he had voted for, made by the Government he was a senior figure in, had made viable.”: The integrity of Ray Stevens and channel nine.

It appears unlikely the media will report any further on the case. We asked Shane Doherty from Channel 9 why there wasn’t more interest in the story.

@Qldaah yes

— Shane Doherty (@ShaneDoherty9) May 4, 2015

@ShaneDoherty9 What was the verdict?

— David Marler (@Qldaah) May 4, 2015

@ShaneDoherty9 Barrister Alex McKean has examined the case & argues Stevens told IC what he intended to do not what the actual situation was

— David Marler (@Qldaah) May 4, 2015

@ShaneDoherty9 So by the time the document was released to Ch9, Stevens was square with what the advice said; he'd made the changes.

— David Marler (@Qldaah) May 4, 2015

@Qldaah no, I think by the time I was into it the election was over and Ray's influence was moot

— Shane Doherty (@ShaneDoherty9) May 4, 2015

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(May 9, 2015) – Labor’s Brisbane mayoral race kicks off

Labor ramps up Rod Harding for Mayor campaign

• Kristian Silva reported, “The man hoping to beat Graham Quirk at next year’s council election will hold a $3300-per-head fundraising dinner on May 28.”: Labor’s lord mayor candidate Rod Harding to hold $3300-per-head fundraiser.

https://twitter.com/rod4bris/status/596834628113027072

Bit of a cameo appearance from the lovely Rod Harding, Labor for Lord Mayor, at my listening posts today #qldpol pic.twitter.com/81z92Llqzn

— Terri Butler MP (@terrimbutler) May 8, 2015

Projects which provide benefits for the community

• Amy Remeikis reported, “Partnerships with the private sector will be “key” to Queensland’s infrastructure future, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said, which extended to off-loading state owned land, in exchange for projects which “provides benefits for the community”.”: Government to consider ‘unsolicited’ development proposals for public land.

Protocol breach in Cowan appeal

• Michael McKenna and Sarah Elks reported,  Protocol breach suspected in Tim Carmody’s delay on Morcombe appeal.

  Queensland Chief Justice Tim Carmody appears to have breached court protocol by his delay in drafting a judgment on the appeal of Daniel Morcombe’s killer.

  Five months after the Court of Appeal’s full bench of Chief Justice Carmody, judge Margaret McMurdo and judge Hugh Fraser heard the appeal of Brett Peter Cowan, the Chief Justice had yet to deliver a draft judgment to his colleagues.

  Justice McMurdo and Justice Fraser had drafted and circulated their judgments within the full bench, as is the practice, in February.

  Supreme Court of Queensland protocols maintain that unless there are exceptional circumstances, a reserved judgment should be delivered “within three months of the conclusion of the hearing or the last receipt of submissions, excluding court vacations’’.

  Despite the Christmas break, emails tendered to the court after Chief Justice Carmody withdrew from the case on Thursday show that the other two judges were still waiting for his draft judgment as late as April 28.

  A spokesman said Chief Justice Carmody was not available for comment when contacted by The Weekend Australian about the delay in delivering his draft judgment.

  Under the protocol, parties are able to raise their concerns about a delay in the delivery of a judgment with the president of the Queensland Law Society or the President of the Bar Association. The concerns are then relayed to the Chief Justice. who then consults with the presiding judges.

Too many adults behaving badly this week, today is Kids being children, join us at Ormeau FC Score for Daniel @DanielMorcombe

— Denise Morcombe OAM (@DeniseMorcombe) May 8, 2015

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(May 8, 2015) – Carmody crisis revisited in Cowan appeal

Carmody releases emails to public

• Kate Kyriacou reported, ““I regret to inform you,” the second highest judge in Queensland wrote, “that following an extraordinary memorandum yesterday from the Chief Justice … I cannot sit with him again on any court.””: Explosive emails between top judges Tim Carmody and Margaret McMurdo reveal animosity.

Fallout from Carmody withdrawal

• ABC Radio Brisbane interviewed, “Shadow Attorney General Ian Walker and Supreme Court judge Alan Wilson”: McMurdo & Carmody.
• ABC Radio Brisbane reported, “In a stinging attack, Alan Wilson said Justice Carmody needed to consider his position or Parliament can hold an inquiry into his suitability. Both side of politics however do not want to interfere.”: Chief Justice Tim Carmody has himself to blame for judiciary’s dysfunction, recently retired Supreme Court judge says.
• Amy Remeikis reported, “Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has told the state’s judiciary to “sort their issues out now’ as the feud between the Chief Justice and the state’s top judges continues to spill into the public. Emails published between Chief Justice Tim Carmody and President of the Court of Appeal Margaret McMurdo on his orders in the Court of Appeal on Thursday show the continued animosity between the pair.”: Annastacia Palaszczuk scolds Tim Carmody and Margaret McMurdo.

Bruce Morcombe: "Has (Chief Justice Carmody) been asleep at the wheel?" Strong stuff. #qldpol @McKennaattheOz https://t.co/74mTd8VhYu

— Sarah Elks (@sarahelks) May 8, 2015

#qldpol #auslaw Timeline of events in the #CarmodyCrisis pic.twitter.com/yYddA2xqC5

— David Marler (@Qldaah) May 9, 2015

Combining BaT and Cross River Rail projects

• Melinda Howells reported, “Elements of Labor’s Cross River Rail project and the Liberal National Party’s Bus and Train (BaT) Tunnel could be combined to find a public transport solution for Brisbane, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says.”: Cross River Rail project and Bus and Train tunnel could be combined, says Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad.

Fire ants hit Brisbane

• Kim Stephens reported, “Fire ants are on the march. Six weeks after the invasive pest was detected in the inner north’s New Farm Park, they have now been found close to the City Botanic Gardens.”: Fire ants found near the Brisbane City Gardens.

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(May 7, 2015) – Resetting donation laws

Labor’s Jim Pearce over eggs coal mining attack

• Amy Remeikis reported, “The chair of the parliamentary inquiry into fly-in fly-out mining workers has come under fire from the Opposition for a comment he made hitting out against mining companies. The LNP seized on Labor Member for Mirani Jim Pearce’s comments regarding coal mining. While attempting to criticise the LNP policy when it came to coal mining, he attacked the companies themselves, providing the opposition with ammunition.”: MP Jim Pearce sparks tiff ahead of FIFO inquiry.

Great Barrier Reef water science taskforce

• Matt Wordsworth reported, “The Queensland Government is set to announce a water science taskforce in a bid to convince UNESCO not to downgrade the world heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. The World Heritage Committee will decide in June whether to place the Great Barrier Reef on the “in danger” list.”: Great Barrier Reef: Queensland Government to appoint new water science taskforce to try and satisfy UNESCO.
• Queensland Chief Scientist Dr Geoff Garrett will lead the taskforce.

Carmody withdraws from Cowan appeal

• Statement from The Hon Tim Carmody Chief Justice.
• Rae Wilson reported, “Chief Justice Tim Carmody has recused himself from a bias hearing that he labelled a “bizarre side show” and “an exorbitant waste of public time and money”.”: Chief withdraws himself from bias hearing in Morcombe case.

Shame in the legal process, this has become personnel, this is NOT JUSTICE FOR DANIEL, shame on you all. I am disgusted

— Denise Morcombe OAM (@DeniseMorcombe) May 7, 2015

Donations face off

• Gail Burke reported, “Queensland political parties will now have to declare all donations more than $1,000 after the Labor Government scrapped its LNP predecessor’s initiatives. Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said Queenslanders had a right to know who gave and who received political donations. She said the State Government was intent on restoring integrity.”: Parliament passes retrospective laws that Queensland political parties must declare donations over $1,000.
• Amy Remeikis reported, “It was Attorney-General vs Attorney-General in the Queensland Parliament on Thursday morning, with Yvette D’Ath accusing her predecessor Jarrod Bleijie of thinking “the rules don’t apply to him”. Mr Bleijie tabled Crown Law advice he had sought while the state’s first law officer, about donation declaration threshold limits.”: Attorneys-General Yvette D’Ath and Jarrod Bleijie face off over donation limits.

Springborg refuses refusal

• Melinda Howells reported, “Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will again move tonight to try to resolve the impasse over the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee (PCCC). The Opposition wants former Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney to chair the committee, but the Government is refusing to accept the former deputy premier’s nomination. “: Annastacia Palaszczuk continues to refuse Jeff Seeney’s nomination for Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee chair.

Qld magistrates sworn in on wrong oath

• Amy Remeikis reported, “Parliament quickly passed the legislation to correct an administrative oversight which saw 24 magistrates use the wrong oath or affirmation during their swearing in from April 2013.”: Queensland magistrates took wrong oath.
• Guardian Australia reported, “Queensland’s parliament is rushing through new laws to correct an administrative oversight that casts doubt on the authority of some of the state’s newest magistrates. The attorney general, Yvette D’Ath, said magistrates who had been sworn in over the past two years have been taking the wrong oath, and at least one did not take an oath at all.”: Queensland’s magistrates sworn in on wrong oath for two years.

RACQ support for 2 percent ethanol mandate

• Kym Agius reported, “Motorist lobby group RACQ has done an about turn to finally support an ethanol mandate across Queensland’s fuel supply. All political parties in Parliament on Wednesday supported a motion setting an ‘intention’ to introduce the mandate, but a target or timeline was not committed to. While progress was made, the major parties voted down a Katter’s Australian Party push to have a 10 per cent mandate.”: Motorist lobby group RACQ supports 2 per cent ethanol mandate.

Queensland question time

• Amy Remeikis reported, “And on that note, we leave you. Slightly demoralised. Questioning the meaning of life. Forever left wondering what Ms O’Rourke would have said.”: Queensland Parliament live: Question Time May 7 2015.

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(May 6, 2015) – Suggested scripts

Copy and paste journalism

• Kym Agius reported, “Queensland’s Liberal National Party is trying to capitalise on the Billy Gordon saga by giving journalists complete stories to copy and paste. The office of Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg sent out a three-sentence radio script and a grab of Mr Springborg on Wednesday afternoon.”: LNP’s Lawrence Springborg hands out stories for journalists to copy and paste.

https://twitter.com/nick__w/status/595821804494704640

A great joke about The Courier Mail

• Peter Chapman wrote, “Let me take you inside a recent newsroom conference at one of Australia’s metropolitan newspapers. An excited reporter rushes into the room and tells everyone who’ll listen that she has an earth-shattering front page exclusive.”: OPINION: MP given belting over fake Louis Vuitton.

Seeney the ‘rude bastard’

• Amy Remeikis reported, “Former Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has told a parliamentary committee that not liking him “because he’s a rude bastard” is not a valid reason to reject his nomination as chair of that committee.”: Seeney tells Labor not to turn down ‘rude bastard’.
• Melinda Howells reported, “Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wants Liberal National Party MP Trevor Watts to be in charge of the committee which oversees the state’s corruption watchdog. Labor already accepted Mr Watt to be acting deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee (PCCC) but Ms Palaszczuk now said he should be promoted to chairman.”: Labor wants LNP’s Trevor Watts to chair committee which oversees the Crime and Corruption Commission.

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(May 5, 2015) – Courier Mail fashion police

Belt buckle journalism

• Hannah Davies, Trenton Akers and Chris Honnery reported, “Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller has been accused of supporting organised crime after wearing a fake Louis Vuitton belt during the Labour Day march through Brisbane on the weekend. The MP for Bundamba was spotted in the faux-flashy accessory as she rallied for better pay and conditions for workers on Sunday. She later admitted it was a fake.”: Police Minister Jo-Ann Miller wears fake Louis Vuitton belt to Labour Day rally.

Inquiry into Caboolture floods

• Rae Wilson reported, “A hydrological analysis will take place to determine whether a rail link project in the Caboolture region contributed to the severe flooding event last week.”: Deadly Queensland floods earn independent review.

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(May 4, 2015) – Mischief and mayhem

Tough week ahead as parliament sits

'Mischief and mayhem' Premier predicts rough week as parliament sits #9News #qldpol pic.twitter.com/1vxMsgJ5JU

— Shane Doherty (@ShaneDoherty9) May 4, 2015

'This week will be about Labor taking the tainted vote of Billy Gordon' @SpringborgMP #9News #qldpol pic.twitter.com/Egm9rzNTI0

— Shane Doherty (@ShaneDoherty9) May 4, 2015

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(May 3, 2015) – Premier leads Labour Day

Hardship funding activated

Rare plant species threat downgraded by Newman Govt

• Eric Tlozek reported, “Rare plants could disappear from the wild, and new species might not be discovered, because the previous state government weakened plant protections in favour of development, Queensland conservationists say.”: Rare plants could disappear after LNP failed to update protected species list, Queensland conservationists fear.

Indigenous prison population soars in wake of Newman Government

• Joshua Robertson reported, “Queensland jails held a record number of Indigenous people last month after the state’s prison population soared 21{17ac88c265afb328fa89088ab635a2a63864fdefdd7caa0964376053e8ea14b3} in just two years.”: Indigenous incarceration at record levels as Queensland’s prison population soars.

Premier’s battle with endometriosis

• Rikki-Lee Arnold reported, “Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has spoken out about the crippling disease that has plagued her for most of her adult life and denied her the dream of ­becoming a mother. In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail, Ms ­Palaszczuk has detailed her ongoing struggle with the debilitating condition endometriosis and the surgery she has had to try to ease its excruciatingly painful symptoms. The Premier said she was opening up about her battle with the condition to help women everywhere who have suffered in silence with a disease that is difficult to diagnose.”: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks about crippling disease endometriosis.

And a massive thank you to @AnnastaciaMP, @emilyeverywhere, Lucy & Jenna for sharing those stories, as well as @AProfAY & @EndometriosisAu.

— Rikki-Lee Arnold (@RikkiLeeA) May 2, 2015

Labour Day in May

ETU members getting married at Brisbane's Labour Day March @7newsbrisbane #7newsq #labourday pic.twitter.com/WQ2dtS6GDI

— Amber Austin-Wright (@AmberAW) May 2, 2015

Cameraman Mark O'Leary has joined the band on the back @7newsbrisbane #labourday #7newsq pic.twitter.com/CI67fHfnDC

— Amber Austin-Wright (@AmberAW) May 3, 2015

The Qld Premier is leading Brisbane's Labour Day march @7newsbrisbane #7newsq pic.twitter.com/hnosOy4yKc

— Amber Austin-Wright (@AmberAW) May 3, 2015

-Ends