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
The week that was in Queensland politics.

Northern Spirit - The Queensland Weekly

The Qld Weekly - No FibsTable of contents

(June 20, 2015) – Abbott’s cuts to Queensland.
(June 19, 2015) – Media frenzy over Carmody.
(June 18, 2015) – No investigation into Police Minister.
(June 17, 2015) – Remembering Ravenshoe.
(June 16, 2015) – Newman’s destruction halted.
(June 15, 2015) – Making medicine in Queensland.
(June 14, 2015) – Newman’s lavish plans axed.

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(June 20, 2015) – Abbott’s cuts to Queensland

Legal services suffer

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “More than 80,000 people were turned away from Queensland’s community legal centres last year– more than half the national total. And with federal government cuts on the table, there are fears the number of vulnerable Queenslanders sent away without help will grow exponentially. Director of the Queensland Association of Independent Legal Services, James Farrell, said the proposed Commonwealth budget savings would see funding to free legal centres cut by 23 per cent. Those cuts are expected to kick in from July 1, 2017.”: Community legal centres facing more turn aways.

The week in politics with Professor Anne Tiernan

Ode to Winton, Qld

  • Amy Remeikis wrote, “To truly understand Queensland, you must understand the outback. Queensland, the land the legend, was not born in the big smoke. It was birthed on the back of the sheep’s back in the west, under skies that reveal life’s mysteries, in soil as red as the blood which toiled it. To truly understand all that makes Queensland ‘true’, you must journey to the never-never.”: Winton: A true survivor of the Qld outback.

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(June 19, 2015) – Media frenzy over Carmody

Governor leaves Carmody as Deputy, media melts down

The media went into a spin this week as Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey left the state and in his place Chief Justice Tim Carmody took on the acting role. As Carmody was still on sick leave as Chief Justice caused speculation and consternation. Yet, the Constitution of Queensland  is clear on whom should fill in for the Governor when he’s away. Carmody also performed this role when Former Premier Campbell Newman called the snap January election.

The Courier Mail - Hello Guv'nor - June 19, 2015.

The Courier Mail – Hello Guv’nor – June 19, 2015.

Constitution of Queensland 

Exctract from Constitution of Queensland - Section 40 Delegation by Governor to Deputy Governor.

Exctract from Constitution of Queensland – Section 40 Delegation by Governor to Deputy Governor.

Police whistleblower stood down

  • Joshua Robertson reported, “A Gold Coast police sergeant faces a possible jail term of up to seven years after being charged over allegedly leaking footage that showed colleagues bashing a man in handcuffs under Surfers Paradise station. Rick Flori, 44, was stood down and charged on Friday with one count of misconduct in public office after he allegedly released CCTV footage to the Courier-Mail newspaper of the police assault on chef Noa Begic in 2012. Flori, who is due to appear in Southport magistrates court on 15 July, will fight the charge with representation from Queensland police union solicitor Calvin Gnech, a union spokesman said. The two officers who assaulted Begic were disciplined but faced no charges.”: Gold Coast police officer faces jail for allegedly leaking film of police assault.
Nicky Haydon reported: A Gold Coast officer who allegedly leaked footage of four colleagues bashing a man could lose his job.

Nicky Haydon reported: A Gold Coast officer who allegedly leaked footage of four colleagues bashing a man could lose his job.

Toondah marina project

  • Judith Kerr reported, “Construction of a $1.3billion 300-berth marina and retail precinct at Toondah Harbour is set to start in 2017. The date was unveiled when construction firm Walker Group met with deputy premier Jackie Trad at the ferry terminal on Friday.”: Environmental study next step in Toondah project.

Premier push for more films

Geoff Breusch reported: Annastacia Palaszczuk has been hard at work trying to convince Universal Studios to bring its blockbuster shoots to Queensland.

Geoff Breusch reported: Annastacia Palaszczuk has been hard at work trying to convince Universal Studios to bring its blockbuster shoots to Queensland.

Gold Coast City Council budget 2015

  • Tony Moore reported, “Gold Coast ratepayers will save about $30 a year on average after Gold Coast Council made a “surprising trim”, Mayor Tom Tate said on Friday. The council reduced its rates increase from 1.4 per cent to 1 per cent. But the city’s water bills will rise despite the council freezing all its levies because the Queensland government’s cost of water increases to the Gold Coast lifted 9.23 per cent.”: Gold Coast Council budget delivers ‘surprising trim’ to rates increase.
Kendall Gilding reported: Gold Coast residents will face a 1pc rate rise.

Kendall Gilding reported: Gold Coast residents will face a 1pc rate rise.

No police breathalyzing of patrons

The LNP attempted to make mileage out of a fabricated News Corporation story that the Palaszczuk Government was planning to breathalyze patrons at clubs and pubs with a case being built against venues. The article featured two doe-eyed lovers peering into each others eyes and contemplating what this could mean to their lives. As the report was splashed all over Friday night news bulletins, Deputy Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek Tweeted that the government had backed down due to public pressure. Even Crikey journalist Bernard Keane reacted violently to the report.

However, Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath confirmed that there was never a plan to do this. “There is no plan to random breath test drinkers and there never has been,” Ms D’Ath said in a statement on Friday.

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(June 18, 2015) – No investigation into Police Minister

LNP’s smear of Jo-Ann Miller fails

Springborg visits museum, catch fire

Fire at Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton, Queensland.

Fire at Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton, Queensland.

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/611285735577100288

News Corp clears Billy Gordon but not the police

In a front page exclusive in The Cairns Post, News Corp raced to clear Labor MP Billy Gordon of domestic violence allegations but Queensland police are yet to conclude their investigation. Get the latest at NoFibs  blog, Get your house in order – The media trial of Billy Gordon. 

Win for Dr Bruce Flegg

State of Origin San Fran time

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(June 17, 2015) – Remembering Ravenshoe

In the wake of the cafe blast

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Just a few millimetres did it. “A stunt driver couldn’t hit it if they tried,” Ravenshoe local Johnno says. He still can’t talk about it without shaking his head and clearing his throat. It’s been a week and a day since an out-of-control utility slammed into a gas tank at the back of the Serves You Right Cafe, sparking an explosion that cost two locals their lives and left another 18 seriously or critically injured.”: Ravenshoe cafe explosion in the words of locals.
  • ABC News Queensland report, “Acting Premier Jackie Trad has met with residents and emergency services personnel at Ravenshoe in far north Queensland and laid flowers at the cafe where 20 people were injured in a gas explosion. Two women later died from their injuries and 18 people remain in hospitals in Brisbane and Cairns, after a ute crashed into a gas bottle at the Serves You Right cafe, triggering the blast.”: Ravenshoe cafe explosion: Community coming to grips with ‘deep trauma’, Acting Premier Jackie Trad says on visit to blast site.

LNP MP Mark Robinson doesn’t want marriage equality

LNP walk out of PCCC meeting

Tegan George reported: The State Opposition has blasted Parliament's most powerful committee, calling it 'dysfunctional', with LNP members walking out of a meeting that was supposed to help choose a new head for the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Tegan George reported: The State Opposition has blasted Parliament’s most powerful committee, calling it ‘dysfunctional’, with LNP members walking out of a meeting that was supposed to help choose a new head for the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Brisbane City Council budget 2015

  • Cameron Atfield reported, “Brisbane ratepayers will have an average 2.5 per cent rise in their rates bill in 2015-16, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said on the eve of handing down his $2.6 billion Brisbane City Council budget. With the rates rise, the average annual Brisbane rates bill would increase by about $32.20 to $1322 in the next financial year. Cr Quirk said the budget would retain its 40 per cent remission for full pensioners, capped at $924.”: BCC Budget: Brisbane rates to rise 2.5 per cent.

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(June 16, 2015) – Newman’s destruction halted

Olive Grove project suspended

  • Joshua Robertson reported, “Queensland’s largest tree clearing project, which was approved by the former Newman government without any assessment of environmental impact by the commonwealth, has ground to a halt. Bulldozers stopped work at Olive Vale in Cape York last Friday after the cattle operators who owned the property agreed to belatedly refer the project to the commonwealth for any impact on threatened species.”: Queensland land clearing project halted amid concerns over threatened species.

Robot revolution

Geoff Breusch reported: Queensland’s biotechnology industry could grow into something that would one day rival coal exports, if Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gets her way.

Geoff Breusch reported: Queensland’s biotechnology industry could grow into something that would one day rival coal exports, if Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gets her way.

Newman’s Tower of Power

  • Amy Remeikis reported, “Queensland’s Tower of Power just got a boost – its tenants will now consist entirely of public servants. With the Labor Government encountering the same problem as the previous LNP Government, which contracted the 1 William Street premises – a lack of interest from the private sector – Treasurer Curtis Pitt said he was left with no other options, other than to move more public servants into the building. It means the lower seven floors, which had been set aside for the private sector , will now house government departments.”: 1 William Street to be entirely filled by public servants.

Wildlife in danger from Carmichael coalmine

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(June 15, 2015) – Making medicine in Queensland

Biotechnology expo

Geoff Breusch reported: Annastacia Palaszczuk wants some of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies to start making medicine in Queensland.

Geoff Breusch reported: Annastacia Palaszczuk wants some of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies to start making medicine in Queensland.

Mining write-offs

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(June 14, 2015) – Newman’s lavish plans axed

The furnishings for Tower of Power

Damien Hansen reported: The Newman government's lavish plan to furnish the State's new executive headquarters with expensive materials has been quashed.

Damien Hansen reported: The Newman government’s lavish plan to furnish the State’s new executive headquarters with expensive materials has been quashed.

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