Not now, not ever – The Qld Weekly blogazine #qldpol: @Qldaah

Blog the week.

Not now, not ever.

(March 7, 2015) – Get out of jail free.

(March 6, 2015) – International Women’s Day .

(March 5, 2015) – Selling non strategic assets.

(March 4, 2015) – March 4 march.

(March 3, 2015) – Hear and say.

(March 2, 2015) – Terror guards.

(March 1, 2015) – Scorched earth.

Highlights

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Blog the week

Check back with us as we blog the week in Queensland politics. Former Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce’s report into domestic violence in Queensland, the Queensland LNP hosts International Women’s Day at male only members club and Premier Annastcia Palaszczuk takes up the charge against Prime Minister Tony Abbott ahead of the 2016 federal election campaign.

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Not now, Not ever

“Let us together send a message to Queenslanders. Not now, not ever. We must eliminate domestic and family violence,” wrote former Australian Governor-General and former Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce in her report into domestic violence in Queensland. The report was handed by her to Premier Annastcia Palaszczuk on Saturday, February 28, 2015.

On the following Monday night, another suspected murder-suicide was reported at Biddeston, 25 kilometres west of Toowoomba, taking the lives of a 7-year old boy and his pregnant Mum. His Grandfather was also found deceased in their home of suspected self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Governments don’t seem as effective in responding to the problem as they do to an act of terrorism. Even though domestic violence is happening all around Australia, perhaps it’s because the community can’t see a domestic violence incident happening in the same way they witness a terrorist siege being played out on live television or on the front pages of newspapers.

From the report, “in 2013-2014 there were 66,016 occurrences, a 2.7{17ac88c265afb328fa89088ab635a2a63864fdefdd7caa0964376053e8ea14b3} increase on the previous year. This means, on average, 181 incidents of domestic and family violence were reported to police every day in Queensland in 2013-2014. Tragically, 17 domestic and family violence related homicides occurred in Queensland in 2012–2013, a significant proportion of the total 49 homicides in the state in the same period.”

Bryce’s task group made 140 recommendations, ranging from a community prevention strategy, modifications to the court system, establishing more crisis shelters and greater training for police officers. All recommendations should culminate in amendments to the “Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act”.

The Queensland Government will now take time to research the report and respond. The trick for Palaszczuk will be to get all parties of the 55th Queensland Government to put politics aside and work together in consultation with the community to implement the recommendations. If not, it will be just another document on top of the growing pile of reports.

The full document is available for public comment here, “Not now, not ever – Putting an end to domestic and family violence in Queensland”.

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(March 7, 2015) – Get out of jail free

• Jason Tin reports, “Jo-Ann Miller, the new Police and Corrective Services Minister, said she was worried about the conditions prisoners were in, doubling up in cells, and facing a construction bill of more than $1 billion for new jails if radical action wasn’t taken. She said serious offenders would be kept behind bars but lesser risk criminals could be better off monitored in society.”: Police and Corrective Services Minister Jo-Ann Miller denies increasing community corrections orders a case of ‘going soft’ on criminals. 

The Courier Mail has sensationalised the piece by its own reporter Jason Tin resulting in a misleading front page, “Get out of jail free”. The “revelation”suggests Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will let criminals out of jail, a far fetched claim. This misinformation provides no intelligent debate on the issue of overcrowding in Queensland jails. As indicated by ABC’s Matt Wordsworth this week, the number of indigenous prisoners since Campbell Newman came to power in 2012 has surged. Early in his administration, the decision was taken by former Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie to close the indigenous Murri Court system which allowed offenders to be sentenced but serve time in the community under indigenous elder supervision.

With funding cut to Murri, founding member Uncle Albert Holt warned the Newman Government in 2012 that it would need to build more jails.

“It is absolutely disgraceful for the elders who participated in the Murri Court,” he told The Satellite. “It’s unacceptable the over representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system. We’ve got a lost generation just in our jails. The government didn’t even have the decency to address the issue with the elders and I think that’s abysmal.”

However, Bleijie dismissed the 11 year old system saying, “The Murri Court was not delivering consistent results and did not justify the amount being spent to keep it operating. The program was not reducing imprisonment rates for indigenous offenders and has not stopped recidivism in the short term.”

As Tin pointed out in his article, with there currently being 7192 prisoners in custody, the options for the government are to continue to double up prisoners in cells, have some serve community service for misdemeanors or spend the $1 billion necessary to build new prisons. The latter would take a considerable amount of time to implement.

The graph that should keep new Police/Prisons Minister @JoAnnMillerMP awake at night #qldpol pic.twitter.com/qX9pmsBhYY

— Matt Wordsworth (@MattWordsworth) March 5, 2015

First bionic heart

Hells Angels ride out for first time since VLAD

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(March 6, 2015) – International Women’s Day

LNP’s International Women’s Day at Tattersalls men’s only club

• Nathan Paull reports, “Knitted beards. Manly clothes. Fake, um, male appendages. Try as they might, a group of women protesters dressed as men couldn’t talk or trick their way into the Liberal National Party’s International Women’s Day event at the exclusive men-only Tattersall’s Club in Brisbane on Friday.”: Protesters try to crash LNP Women’s Day lunch at men-only club.
• John Taylor reports, “Queensland’s former speaker Fiona Simpson admits there have been “eyebrows raised” over the Liberal National Party (LNP) staging an International Women’s Day event at a men’s only club in the Brisbane CBD.”: LNP women’s day event at Brisbane men-only club ‘raised eyebrows’, says MP Fiona Simpson.

https://twitter.com/nick__w/status/573658737195380736

https://twitter.com/nick__w/status/573654825163825153

Protest against LNP holding its Int Women's day lunch at men's only club Tattersall's @tennewsqld #qldpol pic.twitter.com/lSSCGoXlxf

— Tegan George (@tegangeorge) March 6, 2015

The women who helped form Qld’s Paliament

• Jessica Hinchliffe reports, “Outgoing Queensland Speaker Fiona Simpson hopes to shine a light on the women who influenced state politics through a new film. Alongside former governor Penelope Wensley, the Member for Maroochydore produced the film while in the Office of the Speaker. Released as part of International Women’s Day, the film focuses on two Queensland women Eliza O’Connell and Irene Longman.”: Film celebrates the women who helped form the foundations of Queensland’s Parliament.

New research helping women with breast cancer history

One of Qld’s greatest female leaders retires

Premier Palaszczuk rallies Labor NSW ahead of state election

• 9 News Brisbane reports, “Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insists her stunning election victory can be replicated across the border. “I came here today to deliver a very simple message: it can happen here in NSW as well,” she told Labor’s north coast campaign launch in Banora Point on Friday. “I stand here today as living proof that pessimists got it wrong and we got it right.””: Palaszczuk rallies NSW Labor troops.

Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk rallying Labor party faithful in nthn NSW w tales of her David v Goliath victory. pic.twitter.com/X9LkCimXO1

— Sarah Gerathy (@sarahgerathy) March 6, 2015

Hells Angels ride against Newman’s VLAD laws

Queensland Health waiting lists

Qld health minister says 114,000 patients waiting longer than clinically reccmded on hospital list. @7NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/gw3xwelmoj

— Katrina Blowers (@katrinablowers) March 6, 2015

TC Marcia – Counting the cost

• Zara Margolis and Paul Robinson report, “Central Queensland business groups have joined the State Government and local councils to identify the full cost of Cyclone Marcia on local businesses. The online survey will identify the physical damage suffered by businesses as a result of the storm, as well as details of closures, loss of trade and potential long-term impacts.”: Cyclone Marcia: Central Queensland businesses count cost of damage.

Newman Government’s BaT tunnel scrapped

• Tony Moore reports, “For the third time in eight years, and with its fourth premier, the Queensland government has to start from scratch to find a new cross river rail line for Brisbane. South East Queensland has a growing rail congestion problem because it has only one rail bridge across the Brisbane River.”: BaT tunnel scrapped as government looks for different cross river rail line.

Qld developments

• Marty Silk reports, “The property sector and businesses are warning Queensland’s new Labor government to beware of making rash decisions about major projects. The Palaszczuk government has been trying to prove to businesses it’s working in their interests since being sworn in three weeks ago. But the government has caught the business sector by surprise in the past week, halting three projects worth more than $7 billion and reinstating a coastal plan that was ditched by the previous government.”: Don’t freeze projects, Queensland government warned.
• Charmaine Kane reports, “An executive from the construction sector has urged the Queensland Government to reconsider its opposition to the proposed Wavebreak Island development in the Gold Coast Broadwater. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she stood by her election commitment not to allow a complex including a casino and cruise ship terminal to be built on the site. The director of construction for Master Builders Queensland, John Crittall, attended a briefing session on the project, hosted by the proponent, and said the jobs it would generate could not be ignored.”: Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged to rethink opposition to Gold Coast’s Wavebreak Island development.

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(March 5, 2015) – Selling non strategic assets

Asset sales on agenda

• Melinda Howells reports, “Some state-owned assets, such as public housing stock, could be sold by the Labor Government as part of its “normal day-to-day business transactions”, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says. The ALP campaigned heavily against privatisation and the LNP’s plans to lease $37 billion worth of port and electricity assets in the lead-up to the January state election.”:  Some state-owned assets could be sold as part of ‘normal business transactions’, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says.
• Brisbane Times reports, “Queensland’s new government will sell some public assets but denies this conflicts with its dogged opposition to these type of transactions under the former LNP government. Labor Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says assets such as unused land and vacant buildings will go under the hammer. She insists Labor isn’t backflipping on its anti-privatisation promise made during the recent state election campaign. “What we said was that we would not sell assets that deliver dividends to the Queensland state budget, that made sure we had money to deliver the infrastructure and the services for the future,” she said on Thursday.”: Queensland Labor Government to sell ‘non strategic’ assets.
• On September 5, 2012, Kym Agius  reported that the former Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls “The Queensland government won’t seek a mandate to sell off public buildings in Brisbane, because they’re not considered big-ticket assets. The Liberal National Party went to the March election promising not to sell off public assets without taking any plans to the next election. But Treasurer Tim Nicholls today clarified the government’s position, saying the pledge applied only to “major” public assets. “That is, things like the power generators, the poles that transmit the power, those assets,” he told reporters. “Those major government-owned assets.””: No need to seek public opinion on selling some assets: Nicholls.

#Qld Deputy Premier @jackietrad has confirmed minor #assets like unused land and vacant buildings will go under the hammer #qldpol

— @MartySilk (@MartySilkHack) March 5, 2015

#Qld deputy premeir @jackietrad has hinted some #asset sales may have to go ahead because the @LNPQLD govt already signed contracts #qldpol

— @MartySilk (@MartySilkHack) March 5, 2015

"We said that we would not sell assets that deliver the dividend to the Queensland state budget," Deputy Premier @jackietrad says #qldpol

— @MartySilk (@MartySilkHack) March 5, 2015

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/573371422946402304

Eastern Busway project back in favour under Labor

• Tony Moore reports, “Demolition of the old Myer site at Coorparoo will start within weeks, paving the way for 360 apartments and a transport hub which has been on three consecutive governments’ agenda. Townsville-based property group, Honeycombes, will build a mixture of apartments, terrace homes and a cinema on the site on the corner of Old Cleveland Road and Harries Road, delivering the complex in three stages.”: Eastern Busway project back on the table.

Demolition of old Myer Coorparoo to start in a few weeks says @jackietrad @abcnews #qldpol pic.twitter.com/YLH0dR2Q7m

— Chris O'Brien (@COBrienBris) March 5, 2015

#Qld Deputy Premier @jackietrad and Greenslopes MP Joe Kelly look over plans for new #Coorparoo development #qldpol pic.twitter.com/Lq7Q4HSD0I

— @MartySilk (@MartySilkHack) March 5, 2015

MP pay rise will not be implemented

• Melinda Howells reports, “A recommended 2.58 per cent pay rise for state MPs will not be implemented, the Queensland Government says. The Independent Remuneration Tribunal awarded the rise in its latest ruling today, and it was to take effect next month, taking politicians’ base salaries to about $153,000. However, the new Labor government has committed to linking politicians’ pay to public service wage rises. Public servants received 2.2 per cent pay increases for the past two years but were still in arbitration on a new core agreement.”: Queensland Government disallows politicians’ pay rise despite tribunal ruling.
• Tony Moore reports, “”: Palaszczuk moves to link MP pay rises to those of public servants.

Weapons in schools

TC Marcia triggers green river bloom

TC Marcia – Federal Government called on to do more

• ABC News Queensland reports, “Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to make extra grants available to cyclone-affected farmers in central Queensland. Friday marks three weeks since Tropical Cyclone Marcia slammed into the coast as a category five system. Among those still cleaning up in the wake of the storm are farmers.”: Tropical Cyclone Marcia: Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urges PM to lend farmers more support.

AIDS Council funding restoration

• Cameron Atfield reports, “One of the most high-profile early victims of Newman government funding cuts has welcomed a review from new state government into community health funding. Health Minister Cameron Dick on Thursday said the review into state government funding to non-government community health providers, which was a Labor election promise, had begun. “There is more to the health portfolio than just hospitals,” Mr Dick said.”:  Health Minister Cameron Dick gives Queensland AIDS Council hope for state funding.

Autumn heatwave

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(March 4, 2015) – March 4 march

Sexual assaults in schools on the rise

Charges dropped for ‘Not Campbell Newman’

• Jorge Branco reports, “Charges against the man behind a parody Campbell Newman Twitter account have been dropped almost two months after he was arrested wearing an “I’m with stupid” T-shirt on the election campaign. Iain Fogerty’s case drew international attention when he was charged with public nuisance following complaints to police after he stood near LNP campaigners wearing the now infamous shirt.”: ‘I’m with stupid’ t-shirt: Not Campbell Newman’s election charges dropped.

LNP to celebrate International Women’s Day at men only membership club

• Cameron Atfield reports, “The Liberal National Party will on Friday host a celebration of International Women’s Day this Friday at an exclusive Brisbane club that only allows men to be members. The lunch, organised by LNP Women, will be held at the Tattersall’s Club from 11.45pm on Friday, two days before International Women’s Day on March 8.”: LNP hosts International Women’s Day lunch at men-only club.
• “Try Booking” lists the LNPW International Women’s Day Lunch at Tattersall’s Club Brisbane.
• On its application for membership form under “Are you”, Tattersall’s Club Brisbane lists “Son”, “Father”, “Grandson”, “Son-In-Law” or “Nephew of a Member (Junior Membership)”.

#qldpol @LNPQLD to hold International Women's Day event at men only membership club. pic.twitter.com/qwzsxMVPwK

— David Marler (@Qldaah) March 4, 2015

To the gates – Protesting the Abbott Government

• Cameron Atfield reports, “”I’m standing on the outside looking in” The strains of Cold Chisel’s Standing on the Outside served as a warm-up to Wednesday’s union protest in Brisbane, part of a coordinated national campaign, outside Parliament House on George Street. It was, perhaps, an odd choice of song.”: Unions protest Abbott government in Brisbane.

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/572994803647922176

Addressing the #March4 rally for workers rights in Brisbane with thousands of Queensland workers. #qldpol pic.twitter.com/O8YJVHNNa2

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 4, 2015

https://twitter.com/nick__w/status/572942400768720897

Blunt message. Brisbane Union rally #9News #qldpol pic.twitter.com/x2RiA1cmYR

— Shane Doherty (@ShaneDoherty9) March 4, 2015

Parliamentary visitors get a lesson in democracy #union rally #9News #qldpol pic.twitter.com/hEihIOns8J

— Shane Doherty (@ShaneDoherty9) March 4, 2015

Queensland research into Ebola vaccine

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(March 3, 2015) – Hear and say

‘Not now, Not ever’ – Breaking down male stereotypes

• Blythe Moore reports, “The stereotype that boys are tough and should not cry is part of the problem when it comes to domestic violence, says former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce. Dame Quentin, who was was asked by former Queensland premier Campbell Newman to head a taskforce looking at domestic violence, handed her review to the new premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, over the weekend.”: Dame Quentin Bryce says breaking down male stereotypes is crucial in addressing domestic violence.
• Steve Austin interviews Dame Quentin Bryce on 612 ABC Brisbane, “The former Premier, Campbell Newman asked the Honourable Quentin Bryce to head a taskforce looking at Domestic Violence. The taskforce’s report, titled ‘Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland’, was handed to the new Premier over the weekend.” Quentin Bryce on domestic violence taskforce.

Premier holds promise to oppose Wavebreak Island development

• Paul Weston writes, “Mayor Tom Tate has urged Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to rethink her opposition to the planned $7.5 billion cruise ship terminal. “Four days before the election the now Premier put the referendum to the city of the Gold coast that a vote for Labor was a vote to stop the cruise ship terminal,” Cr Tate said. “Well I say to you, the Gold Coast has spoken. LNP gained one additional seat. What does that mean. It means 10 our of 10 LNPs who pushed for the cruise ship terminal.”: Premier stays firm on opposition to Wavebreak Island cruise ship terminal plan. 

Year of the goat

Chinese New Year is being celebrated tonight at Parliament House to welcome the Year of the Goat. #qldpol pic.twitter.com/LK8NARcUYD

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 3, 2015

Racism condemned by top cop

• Lucy Smith reports, “Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart has co-signed an open letter, condemning “abhorrent” acts of racial and religious violence. The letter, also signed by members of the Police Ethnic Advisory Group and the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, encouraged Queenslanders to report acts of racial or religious vilification to the police or the Anti-Discrimination Commission. It condemned recent acts of vilification in Australia.”: Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart condemns racism in open letter.

New Hear and Say centre for Ashgrove

Premier with @QldGovernor, @katejonesqld & Dr Dimity Dornan AO at the opening of the Ashgrove @HearAndSay centre. pic.twitter.com/Ci4vkmUD04

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 3, 2015

Welcome @katejonesqld to the Official Opening of our Brisbane Centre with Ambassador Jamie-Lee Lewis pic.twitter.com/XaFpvCv6HA

— Hear and Say (@HearAndSay) March 3, 2015

Miss Zia Dredge & @HearAndSay Patron the Governor unveil a plaque at the new Ashgrove #HearnandSay Centre pic.twitter.com/N7AE7sLZrK

— Governor of Queensland (@QldGovernor) March 3, 2015

Lunch with the LNP

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/572586962579681280

https://twitter.com/SpringborgMP/status/572545307646406656

Dr Ken Levy

On Ken Levy remaining head of CCC 'we're getting some advice there' #9News #qldpol pic.twitter.com/qjChlEkaWn

— Shane Doherty (@ShaneDoherty9) March 3, 2015

Farewell to Qld Health staff from D-G

• Jason Tin reports, “Health Minister Cameron Dick has demanded an explanation as to why an outgoing director-general sent out a “thank you” email to staff, ­accusing him of ignoring internal processes.
  Ian Maynard, who has since left the position of Queensland Health director-general, sent an email to department staff on February 26 in which he also noted advancements achieved during the Newman government’s time in office”: Queensland Health director-general sends farewell email to staff.

Queen’s Wharf casino concerns

• Jason Tin reports, “Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has requested an investigation into “issues” she has raised relating to Brisbane’s Queens Wharf casino development. The former Liberal National Party government initiated the project last year, offering a licence for the resort and casino development on prime real estate in the CBD. Ms Palaszczuk, who attended the opening of the new Hear and Say centre in Ashgrove, said she had asked bureaucrats to look into certain issues associated with the proposal. “My Government is committed to seeing the redevelopment of that site,” she said. “However, I do have some issues that I’ve raised with the department and I want them to investigate those issues first before I make further comment.”: Annastacia Palaszczuk has Queen’s Wharf casino concerns.

Saving Queensland’s Green Sea turtles

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(March 2, 2015) – Terror guards

Fear of underground fire

• Christine Flatley reports, “An energy company has denied it is responsible for a reported underground fire in regional Queensland, saying its nearby underground coal gasification plant is no longer operational. Linc Energy’s Chinchilla plant is located near two private properties that last week returned positive soil sampling tests for carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide – three of the four main gases produced through underground coal gasification.”: Activist fears underground CSG fire.

Palaszczuk’s warning for Abbott

• Brisbane Times reports, “Annastacia Palaszczuk says Tony Abbott must heed the lessons of the Queensland election or risk guaranteeing his own party’s downfall at the next federal poll. The new Queensland premier received a rock star welcome when she appeared at an Australian Workers’ Union conference on Monday. Ms Palaszczuk, who has become a Labor hero following the party’s shock win over the Liberal National Party on January 31, was given a standing ovation by delegates before she even began her speech.”: Annastacia Palaszczuk warns Tony Abbott to learn from Queensland election.

The hot interior

• Kym Agius and Chrissy Arthur report, “A blistering heatwave is scorching western Queensland with temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius and will spread to the south-east later this week.”: Heatwave in western Queensland to head towards the south-east.

No specific threat to schools

• Tony Moore reports, “A spokesman for a Queensland school for Jewish students that has received extra federal funding for terrorism protection says growing anti-Semitism in Australia makes the funding necessary. Jason Steinberg, president of Queensland’s Jewish Board of deputies, said a small primary school college for Jewish students in Brisbane’s south-eastern suburbs was one of two Queensland schools which had applied for money for terrorism security.”: Anti-Semitism makes school terrorism protection necessary: spokesman.
• Tony Moore reports, “There is no specific terrorism threat to Queensland schools, even though two schools will receive additional funding for security guards, Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan says.”: No terror threat to Queensland schools: Kate Jones.

#qldpol Abbott Govt told CM about school security measures but not the community or Qld Govt: http://t.co/tiOiJbvojG pic.twitter.com/Xc3PW33YED

— David Marler (@Qldaah) March 2, 2015

 Greyhound racing

• ABC News Queensland reports, “Five Queensland greyhound trainers embroiled in a live-baiting scandal have been banned from training, preparing or owning a registered racing animal in the state for life. Debra Arnold, James Harding, Reg Kay, Tony McCabe and Tom Noble were “warned off” by the Racing Queensland board during a meeting at Deagon in Brisbane’s north on Monday evening.”: Five Queensland greyhound trainers banned for life following live-baiting scandal.

Review into greyhound racing in Qld has to 'tourniquet the problem' says Racing Min @BillByrneMP #7NewsQ #qldpol pic.twitter.com/abtgVCLNCl

— Geoff Breusch (@gbreusch) March 2, 2015

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(March 1, 2015) – Scorched earth

Chinchilla underground fire

• Mark Willacy reports, “Queensland’s Department of Environment says it is not ruling out an underground fire as the cause of gases detected just below the soil surface near Chinchilla, on the western Darling Downs. The department has revealed that preliminary tests carried out last week at two private properties at Hopeland, near Chinchilla, showed a positive result for carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide.”: Queensland’s Department of Environment not ruling out underground fire as cause of gases near Chinchilla.

Brisbane council election 2016

• Kristian Silva reports, “The man backed by Labor Party heavyweights to take on Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk at the 2016 elections has no formal political experience and has never been to a council meeting. However Rod Harding – an Ashgrove local, former senior Macquarie Bank manager and lawyer – believes he can achieve a huge swing at the polls to defeat Cr Quirk.”: Rod Harding Labor’s front-runner to take on Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

TC Marcia – Food vouchers

• Brisbane Times reports, “Thousands of Queenslanders who are still without power more than a week after Cyclone Marcia are eligible for food vouchers worth up to $1000 a household.”: Food vouchers for cyclone victims.