One of the most telling aspects of the terrible injustices involved in the death in police custody of Palm Island man Mulrunji Doomagee is that, five years on, there has been no public investigation and report, writes Andrew Bartlett.
Politics / Australia / QLD
Mike Kaiser sails away with $450k as Bligh’s office implodes
Anna Bligh remains keen to recruit an outsider to replace Mike Kaiser as her chief-of-staff, in an effort to halt the destabilisation campaign that has seen nearly every member of her inner circle linked to a mutiny attempt.
Peter Garrett: Why I rejected the Traveston Dam
Environment Minister Peter Garrett outlines the environmental concerns that led him to reject the Queensland government’s proposal to build a dam at Traveston Crossing yesterday.
Antony Green on the battle for Brisbane: the Bartlett effect
Brisbane will be a key contest in the 2010 Federal election. Former Democrats senator Andrew Bartlett’s running for the Greens, former MP Teresa Gambaro will stand for the Libs, while Arch Bevis will defend his seat of 20 years. How will it play out? asks Antony Green.
Bartlett: Why I’m running as a Greens candidate
Former Australian Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett is standing as a Greens candidate in the seat of Brisbane at the next federal election. Why is he diving back into politics? Well, climate change and affordable housing, for a start.
How Bligh blew the QLD premiership
Just eight months after Anna Bligh was elected QLD premier, voter satisfaction has dropped to just 30%, thanks to privatisation of state assets, broken election promises and scrapping petrol subsides. Is her decline terminal? asks Cosima Marriner.
Grattan: Is this the end of the Coalition?
The Coalition is straining to stay together, as the Nationals — lead symbolically by Barnaby Joyce — try to forge their own identity separate to the Libs. But the Coalition would be better off staying together to fight Rudd, writes Michelle Grattan.
The growing force of Barnaby Joyce
Queensland is critical to federal politics, with a growing population and influential seats, but its parties are a mess. The Nationals criticise the Liberals, the Libs fear the power of the LNP and Barnaby Joyce is just looking after himself, writes Scott Prasser.
Democracy in Queensland goes from bad to verse
It is 7.45pm in the Queensland parliament, debate continues on the Criminal Code (Honesty and Integrity in Parliament) Amendment Bill. Democracy is hard at work …
Queensland doctors continue medical abortions bans, use of RU-486 widens
The ban on medical abortions by specialist obstetricians in Queensland Health hospitals is now in its third month, writes Caroline de Costa. And while some discussion continues between doctors and the state government, little progress has resulted.
Anna Bligh: Why I’ve sold off QLD’s assets
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh explains her decision to sell off five government owned commercial businesses, major state assets. The GFC blew QLD’s budget and it was either selling assets or raising your taxes, she says.
Bligh faces fresh dissent over abortion law
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is facing fresh dissent in internal party ranks over the future of abortion law reform, despite at least 60% of the Queensland public supporting a woman’s right to choose.
Dutton chows down some humble pie
Lib frontbencher Peter Dutton has returned, tail between his legs, to announce he will stand again for his Brisbane seat of Dickson, just weeks after missing out for preselection in a safer seat.
Things looking up at Pacific Film and Television Commission
Like the upheavals in the broader Australian film industry, Queensland’s Pacific Film and Television Commission has had a turbulent recent history — but industry insiders are cautiously optimistic.
Too many ruined lives in the wake of the Beattie Government
Eventually, the culture of bullying and cronyism that marked the Beattie Government in Queensland must surely be exposed. There are too many unanswered questions, too many ruined lives and wrecked careers, to stay in denial about it forever.
Queensland Libs strike a blow for incompetence
The Peter Dutton fiasco is evidence of many things — silliness most of all. But it is also the bitter fruit of the Liberals having chosen short-term expediency over long-term considerations, writes Norman Abjorensen.
Dutton has nobody to blame but … Dutton
The real villain of the piece in Peter Dutton’s failed attempt to move to McPherson is … Peter Dutton himself. His efforts to argue against the redistribution of his electorate were purely token.
Who dudded Dutton?
Was Peter Dutton’s preselection loss the result of a vindictive Nats agenda? Or, an attack on Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership? The real political plot is in the minds of News Ltd journos, writes Bernard Keane.
Bartlett: Libs’ low hopes tangled in Dutton
One of Malcolm Turnbull’s golden hopes for the Liberal party, Peter Dutton, has failed to win preselection for McPherson. Turnbull is testing his authority with his demands on QLD pollies, says Andrew Bartlett.
Milne: LNP kicks Turnbull while he’s down
A split with the Liberal National Party now seems inevitable. Why? Because the Nationals refused to let Peter Dutton be the senior QLD Coalition member, a kick in the face to Malcolm Turnbull. Glenn Milne explains.
Dutton deserved to lose
While Peter Dutton is blaming his preselection ballot loss on not being a male or local, it helps to remember that Dutton hasn’t been the most perfect of MPs, even walking out of the Sorry speech, writes Mac.
Queensland clerk: political culture is sick
In a scathing 17,500-word call for reform, Neil Laurie, Clerk of the only legislative chamber in Queensland’s Parliament, has suggested the current political culture is in some ways worse than the pre-Fitzgerald era, says Andrew Bartlett. Full submission can be found here.
Constituents not happy about Dutton dumping Dickson
Last week a disgruntled LNP member from Peter Dutton’s seat of Dickson wrote to Crikey venting their spleen at Dutton’s decision to abandon the seat for Margaret May’s seat of McPherson.
Abortion stand-off continues — and Queenslanders pay
It’s time for Queensland’s antiquated abortion laws to change. Anna Bligh must instigate reforms that will benefit women and give legal certainty to doctors, writes Caroline de Costa.
