Queensland’s probe into the CFMEU and misconduct in the construction sector was also back today, with senior counsel assisting for the first time spelling out four lines of inquiry into “regulatory capture” by the union
some of that early crunching is here already (and not good for Labor in Gaven) bsky.app/profile/poll...
initial pass at the proposed Queensland state redistribution out this afternoon here, which would see Stretton and Hill folded into neighbouring seats, new seats of Caboolture and Springfield, + a bunch of other boundary changes a lotta folks are still trying to work through
The CFMEU inquiry is back, with four WHSQ witnesses called this week. Senior counsel assisting Patrick Wheelahan says he'll lay out a case study of "regulatory capture" of WHSQ by the CFMEU under former minister Grace Grace, described as a form of "institutional corruption".
and of course, as always, sing on out with any tips and tidbits.
DM me, email me (m.dennien@brisbanetimes.com.au), or reach me more securely via mattdennien@protonmail.com or @mattdennien.15 on Signal
The second Public Circus, our weekly Queensland public sector column, is up. And it’s standing room only.
There’s more public sector movement (& cash, to consultants), uncertainty over the State Library’s stripped awards, a bottle of bubbles for the most clued-in at DPC, & a Games boss’ Maserati
“A network of current and former Liberals is quietly behind two childcare groups who call themselves ordinary parents campaigning for the cost of au pairs, nannies and other in-home care to be subsidised by the federal government.”
University of Sydney professor emerita in constitutional law, Anne Twomey, after passage of the Qld govt's pro-Palestine slogan ban, says govt has "cast off the constitutional armour that its bill had carefully constructed, & left its law wide open to attack" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
icymi last night
Full wrap: Queensland’s Deputy Premier has launched an inflammatory tirade accusing Labor of supporting terrorists and antisemitism after the opposition party ultimately voted against contentious government hate speech and gun control laws.
from the blog post I shared (and wrote) at that link:
“While voting for the second reading of the bill as flagged earlier this week, all 30 Labor MPs in the chamber voted against the ultimate third reading of the bill to cries of “shame” from the LNP government benches.”
(In contrast to what the morning headline on that blog foreshadowed)
Despite their indications earlier this week, they actually ended up voting against in the ultimate third-reading vote
Breaking: The Queensland government’s contentious hate speech and gun control bill has been passed into law by parliament, with jeers from the government as the Labor opposition ultimately voted against the laws.
Queensland’s State Library will no longer manage the state literary awards on behalf of the government, in response to a long-awaited review into the sinking of a fellowship last year. Who will is so-far unclear.
The Qld government has been told to make high-powered e-motorbikes legal – rather than ban them – over safety fears. But the proposed crackdown will instead target people like Clive Bassett, who uses an electrically assisted recumbent trike, Felicity Caldwell reports.
Some key headlines BT's Qld parliament blog so far today:
- Bleijie avoids ethics referral over ‘I’ll get you’ barb
- Queensland opens tenders for 18 new oil, gas, coal and minerals exploration areas
- Government ramps up Labor antisemitism claims with Corbyn comparison
some key headlines from our Queensland parliament blog today:
- Labor calls on state auditor to investigate victims data change
- Miles defends colleague over antisemitic claims
- Treasurer outlines call for GST shake-up for mining-friendly states
- Katter introduces long-promised ‘castle law’ bill
Queensland’s CFMEU inquiry has accused a Gold Coast traffic management operation of having links with Melbourne underworld identity Mick Gatto, in an unusual Wednesday morning media conference outside the firm in which top inquiry figures called for public help.
Queensland’s opposition has raised concerns about a decision to contract out commercial roles on a major infrastructure project to members of a new consulting firm who recently left another government agency. www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/que...
Another change to BT’s coverage in my round: we’re now running a blog on parliament days to help share key events and themes, or anything else of note.
Here’s a snapshot of today’s headlines in that space, including the government’s previously flagged drug reform reversal
Dive into the first crack via James Hall and I here, and then our DMs (or your safe-for-work comms channel of choice) with all your tips, tidbits and feedback.
It will be frank, it will be fearless. It will poke valid fun (at government, the sector, and the intersections of the two). It may* be funny.
*Depending on your current location on the if-you-don't-laugh-you-cry scale
Last night, we published something new on Brisbane Times: a weekly Queensland public sector column we've called Public Circus.
The tent? Wide enough to stretch from the departmental depths to government-owned corps, frontline figures to City Hall staffers.
Julius Dennis with some more internal docs from Redland City Council. This time showing a recruiter tasked with finding a new CEO raised conflict of interest concerns before he quit, citing what he saw as significant internal issues. www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/que...
In some late pre-parli sitting movement yesterday, the Crisafulli govt will now take the power to ban speech off the attorney-general, and instead write two contested pro-Palestinian phrases directly into laws Labor concedes it will ultimately support despite criticisms.
