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
Storifying the week in Queensland politics.
The Qld Weekly - No Fibs

Mermaid Ray’s media dance continues - The Qld Weekly blogazine

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.

.

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.


.

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

Labor ramps up Rod Harding for Mayor campaign

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

Projects which provide benefits for the community

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.

.

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

Carmody releases emails to public

The Courier Mai - Broken Law -  May 8, 2015.

The Courier Mai – Broken Law – May 8, 2015.

Fallout from Carmody withdrawal

David Lewis reported: Justice McMurdo encouraged CJ Carmody to disclose his meeting with Hetty Johnston. Carmody ordered their emails made public.

David Lewis reported: Justice McMurdo encouraged CJ Carmody to disclose his meeting with Hetty Johnston. Carmody ordered their emails made public.

Geoff Breusch reported: Cheif Justice Tim Carmody ordered emails between himself and Justice McMurdo be made public.

Geoff Breusch reported: Cheif Justice Tim Carmody ordered emails between himself and Justice McMurdo be made public.

Combining BaT and Cross River Rail projects

Fire ants hit Brisbane

Max Futcher reported: The march of the fire ant has now reached inner-Brisbane with a colony discovered at Gardens Point.

Max Futcher reported: The march of the fire ant has now reached inner-Brisbane with a colony discovered at Gardens Point.

.

(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

Carmody withdraws from Cowan appeal

Donations face off

Springborg refuses refusal

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

.

(May 6, 2015) – Suggested scripts

Copy and paste journalism

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’

.

(May 5, 2015) – Courier Mail fashion police

Belt buckle journalism

The Courier Mail - Call In The Fashion Police May 5 2015.

The Courier Mail – Call In The Fashion Police May 5, 2015.

Inquiry into Caboolture floods

.

(May 4, 2015) – Mischief and mayhem

Tough week ahead as parliament sits


.

(May 3, 2015) – Premier leads Labour Day

Hardship funding activated

Kristina Harazim reported: Qld Government announces hardship funding for storm victims.

Kristina Harazim reported: Qld Government announces hardship funding for storm victims.

Rare plant species threat downgraded by Newman Govt

Eric Tlozek reported: Land clearing: Rare plant species under threat due to Newman Govt protection downgrade.

Eric Tlozek reported: Land clearing: Rare plant species under threat due to Newman Govt protection downgrade.

Indigenous prison population soars in wake of Newman Government

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.

Labour Day in May

Amber Austin-Wright reported: Premier Palaszczuk leads Labour Day march in Brisbane.

Amber Austin-Wright reported: Premier Palaszczuk leads Labour Day march in Brisbane.

-Ends