december2006

King George V Trucked Off!

The statue of King George V was finally trucked off into storage today [20/12/06] but it is unclear whether he, and the other historic sculptures formerly located in King George Square, will return.

A Brisbane City Council spokesperson has said the sculptures, including the lions, the Petrie Tableau and those in 'Speakers' Corner' (Steele Rudd, Emma Miller and Sir Charles Lilley) will be returned to King George Square if the Council's Heritage Unit considers their place in the square to be of significance.

Windmill Illuminated

A celebration to illuminate the old Windmill on Wickham Terrace was hosted by Deputy Mayor David Hinchcliffe last Wednesday evening [13/12/06]. The Windmill, which was built in 1828, is Brisbane's oldest structure and has had various roles over the years. It has been a working mill to grind flour for the early settlement, a telegraph signal station, a watch tower for the fire brigade, and in 1935 it was used to pioneer television experiments.

The Windmill is bathed in coloured lights every evening from 7 pm until 10 pm.

Australian Women Lose Out With Catholic Pregnancy Counselling

Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle has condemned the government's decision to award the pregnancy counselling hotline to the Catholic Church.

"Women across Australia can not access independent pregnancy counsellingfrom the Catholic Church which opposes abortion," said Senator Nettle.

"In awarding this contract the government has failed to ensure that women's health is at the forefront of their decision making.

"Minister Abbott has clear views on abortion but his role as Health Minister requires him to look after the health of Australian women. In his Ministerial responsibilities he has failed.

"The Government should not be funding and promoting a pregnancy counselling service that can not provide independent advice on all three options for women with a unplanned pregnancy.

"The Greens call on the Government to reconsider this tender with the health of Australian women at the forefront of their minds," concluded Senator Nettle.

Senator Nettle jointly introduced a bill on the final day of Parliament last year to ensure transparency in advertising by pregnancy counselling services. This bill is due for debate this year.

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle has called on the Prime Minister to voice Australia's opposition to the death penalty.

"Following the execution of Saddam Hussein, Prime Minister Howard should join European leaders and the Vatican in condemning the death penalty," said Senator Nettle.

"Saddam Hussein was a vile and repugnant dictator but if the Australiangovernment has a position of opposing the death penalty in all circumstances then the Prime Minister should say so.

"The Australian Government and Opposition's commitment to the abolition of the death penalty has not been consistent in all circumstances, eg. the Bali bombers and Saddam Hussein.

"Consistent opposition to the death penalty is required, if Australia is to be taken seriously by the international community especially whenmaking appeals for clemency for the lives of Australians who face the death penalty."

"By not opposing the death penalty in all circumstances, the government is making it harder to save the lives of Australians facing the death penalty.

"In 1989 Australia was the third country to sign up to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. We have signed up to 'an international commitment to abolish the death penalty' and this means calling on other countries to abolish the death penalty.

"The Greens Global Charter, agreed to by 70 Green parties on five continents is clear in its opposition to the death penalty.

"Saddam's execution won't end the conflict in Iraq which has alread claimed the lives of hundred of thousands of Iraqis and almost 3000 Americans. According to the UN as many as 1000 Iraqis are now dying each
week."

"The Prime Minister should withdraw Australian troops from Iraq and counsel George Bush against increasing the number of American troops."

A few weeks ago a historic Moreton Bay fig located on the slopes of Wickham Park was felled. According to the Brisbane City Council the tree was a victim of the drought. It seems other trees in the park are suffering too, such as this pine, which is located near the old reservoirs.

The Howard government's attempt to dress up a blatant push by the nuclear industry for expanded uranium mining, waste dumps and nuclear reactors as a response to global warming is grossly cynical politics,Greens Senator Christine Milne said today. She was responding to the Prime Minister's release of the final report of the Switkowski Taskforce review of uranium mining, nuclear processing and nuclear energy in Australia.

'Global warming and Australia's failure to address it will be a major election issue.

'The government is now scrambling to create a perception that it is doing something, knowing full well that nuclear power is too slow, too expensive and too dangerous to provide any answer to global warming.

'Foolish, backward-looking and old-fashioned' are words that well describe the Prime Minister's response to the crisis of global warming,

'The Prime Minister was brought up in the industrial age and has no conception of a future powered by clean green renewable energy.

'Nothing in the Switkowski review will remove one gram of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in less than 15 years. In fact, all the additional mining activity will increase greenhouse gas emissions.

'Dr Ziggy Switkowski has admitted that he has no expertise in either renewables or energy efficiency and yet makes a completely unsubstantiated and incorrect claim that nuclear power is the lowest cost low emission technology that can meet the need.

'The Prime Minister has refused to conduct a review into the capacity of renewable energy and energy efficiency to meet Australia's future energy needs. Until he does so, his global warming response has no
credibility', said Senator Milne.

A lunchtime rally and march was held in Brisbane's CBD today [20/12/06] to protest the decision not to lay charges arising from the Deputy State Coroner's findings in the Mulrinji Doomadgee case.

Approximately 1000 people rallied in Queens Park around the middle of the day

Protesters marched from Queens Park to Government House, where a petition was presented to the Clerk of Parliament. The petition demanded that the Director of Public Prosections, Leanne Clare, be sacked and that Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley be charged.

Protestors marched up George Street to Parliament House escorted by police on motorbikes, as a helicopter hovered above.

A heavy police presence was observed in and around Parliament House. Police on horseback guarded the front and side of the building while police on mountain bikes and on foot watched the protestors intently. A minivan full of police in "SWAT" style overalls were spotted on Alice Street.

Premier Peter Beattie visited Palm Island today, and one speaker pointed out that Premier Beattie had left his house for the women to defend because he knew the protestors would be at Parliament House today.

On November 18, 2004 Mulrunji Doomadgee was taken into police custody on Palm Island. He had been arrested by Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley on a 'public nuisance' charge. Within one hour he lay dead in a cell, with four broken ribs and a liver split in two.

Queensland Deputy State Coroner Christine Clements found that Mr Doomadgee's death was caused by blows from Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley. She also found that the initial arrest was inappropriate. Last week the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions, Leanne Clare, said that Mr Doomadgee died from accidental injuries.

Writing for Crikey! on 15 December, 2006, Graham Ring from the 'National Indigenous Times' wrote:

"Forensic pathologist Dr Guy Lampe performed an autopsy on Mulrunji's body at Cairns' Base Hospital mortuary on 23 November 2004 and found that the deceased's liver was "almost cleaved in two". The right side of his rib-cage showed fractures of four ribs "from the sixth to the ninth inclusively".

"You want more Mr Doomadgee, you want more? Have you had enough Mr Doomadgee?" Sergeant Hurley had asked his prisoner, according to Mr Roy Bramwell, a witness who testified at the coronial inquiry."

Brisbane City Council held an Industry Briefing on the Hale Street Link at City Hall on Thursday (14/12/06).

A spokesperson from the Council's Major Projects Office said that interested parties would be briefed on the process that will be used to deliver the project.

Following the presentation, Council will call for expressions of interest from suitably qualified companies.

In recent days the West End Community Association (WECA) and several individual residents have written to the CEO of the Brisbane City Council requesting the reasons for Council's approval of the Hale Street Link, the first step toward a judicial review of the decision.

WECA is also writing separately to the CEO of the Brisbane City Council to request an independent external review of the decision by Council to approve construction of the toll bridge from Milton to South Brisbane contrary to the wishes of the communities adversely affected by its impacts.

Today's (15/12/06) 'Australian Financial Review' reported that Council decided the project would be funded through a $200 million-plus loan from the Queensland Treasury Corporation. Australian and international construction companies (including Leighton, John Holland, Multiplex, Abigroup, Seymour White, Maunsell and French company Bouygues) attended the briefing. Interested companies will have until 25 January to submit proposals.

Police have charged a 29-year-old man with grievous bodily harm following an assault at a Spring Hill boarding house on Tuesday night. The man allegedly punched the 45-year-old male victim repeatedly about the head and face in a vicious assault about 11.30pm. The victim, who is a resident of the boarding house, was taken to the intensive care unit at the Royal Brisbane Hospital where he is in a serious condition. The offender has been refused bail and will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning (14/12/06).

Cleaners will hold rallies throughout Australia in the weeks leading up to Christmas as part of the Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Union's (LHMU) 'Clean Start' campaign. Launched in April this year, the 'Clean Start' campaign demands a fair deal for cleaners and involves supporters from religious groups, ethnic organisations and the union movement.

In October, Brisbane cleaners united with community leaders in Queens Park and marched through the CBD, to voice their fight against poverty on International Anti-Poverty Day. "Our cleaners have talked to their friends, their families, their pastors and priests. This is a true community campaign run by cleaners for cleaners," LHMU Assistant State Secretary Gary Bullock said.

According to literature from the LHMU, in some states in Australia - at present - cleaners earn an hourly rate of between $15 and $17. However, cleaners who take pride in their work usually commit to unpaid overtime reducing their pay rate to $11 or less. The rate is further undermined by a growing trend to subcontract to micro companies who pay an even lower hourly cash-in-hand rate and often avoid Workcover payments.

In unionised buildings in the United States cleaners are expected to clean 350 square metres per hour. The standard in Australia is closer to 1000 square metres per hour. This means buildings cannot be cleaned thoroughly - spot cleaning is the norm - and cleaners will often finish their jobs in their own time.

Cleaners work behind the scenes and after hours in un-air conditioned buildings so folks can buy their Christmas presents and work in clean surroundings. Cleaners at the Myer Centre have been told they have to wear a uniform, but issued with only one shirt to last them all week.

The LHMU will continue to call on cleaning contractors, both in the CBD and in regional areas to adopt (Clean Start) principles ensuring cleaners are treated fairly and with respect. A number of contractors, including global giant ISS the biggest contract cleaning company in Australia, have already articulated their support by signing the Responsible Contractor Policy (RCP).

The 'Australian Financial Review' today (14/12/06) reported that Consolidated Property Services sought an injunction in the Victorian Supreme Court to stop LHMU's campaign in Melbourne, which links working conditions with building hygiene. Flyers distributed by the LHMU allege that Consolidated Property Services cut costs by reducing the time cleaners are given to clean and undersupplying disinfectants.

About 500 people participated in a powerful march through Brisbane's CBD on Saturday [9/12/06] to demand the release of Australian citizen David Hicks, who for the past five years has been detained in Guantanamo Bay without trial or even being charged. Rallies were held throughout Australia calling on the government to act immediately.

David Hicks' lawyers recently filed papers with the Federal Court of Australia to argue that the government should be ordered to demand the United States release him. They accused Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer of failing in their constitutional duty to provide adequate assistance to Hicks as an Australian citizen abroad. The hearing has been set for 15 December.

Along Edward Street, Brisbane to a thumping soundtrack courtesy of the Saturday DJs at Elio Moda

Senators Nettle and Bob Brown introduced the Removal of Recognition of US Military Commissions (David Hicks) Bill 2006 into the Senate last Friday, but the government used its Senate majority to prevent the Legal Constitutional Affairs Committee from examining the bill.

Up Charlotte Street, past Brisbane icons Archives Books and the Pancake Manor.

Shadow Attorney General, Nicola Roxon has called on the government to take action. "Coming up to five years is just ridiculous. Five years is enough and the Australian Government now needs to demand that Mr Hicks be returned," she said last Wednesday.

Australia remains the only country on the planet that still recognises the now illegal US Military Commissions.

Gunns Ltd has dropped all charges against Greens national leader Bob Brown and the Greens Tasmanian leader Peg Putt. Proceedings have also stopped in relation to Helen Gee, Peter Pullinger and Doctors for Native Forests.

In a notice issued on Tuesday (12/12/06) Gunns effectively conceded it had no case to win. December 14, is the second anniversary of the writs being issued.

"This is not just a victory for us, it is a victory for free speech and for Tasmania's wild forests," Senator Brown said.

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today called for the immediate closure of Baxter Immigration Detention Centre in the wake of multiple attempted suicides over the weekend.

"News of attempted hangings, self inflicted slashings and detainees jumping from roofs is tragic and shocking. The Minister must bring onthe inevitable and close Baxter now," Senator Nettle said.

"Only 38 detainees remain in Baxter which has a capacity of over 500. These men could be rehoused in alternative detention in a matter of days.

"The mental health record of the Baxter Immigration Detention Facility is appalling. The detainees should be moved into the community or to other facilities in Sydney or Melbourne.

"These desert prisons are especially cruel because they isolate detainees from friends and family.

"The Government's mandatory detention policy breeds despair and in turn leads to these tragic attempted suicides.

"The Minister has the power to prevent these tragedies and she should act now.

"The Greens continue to insist for an end to mandatory detention of asylum seekers and the closure of desert prisons such as Baxter."

A Development Application has been lodged with the Brisbane City Council to renovate a nineteenth century worker's cottage at 80 Bradley Street, Spring Hill. The plans include raising the house, building underneath and making additions to the rear, including a deck. The chimney and fireplace will be removed as part of the renovation.

Bradley Street is one of the unique streets remaining in Spring Hill as it is still almost full of wooden cottages, and this portion of the Street is in a Demolition Control Precinct. Along with the three adjacent (and almost identical) houses, it sits upon land originally owned by Patrick Bradley. The houses were probably built in the 1890s by Henry Hugall, (a baker on Leichhardt Street) who purchased the property from the Curator of Intestate Estates in 1885.

Another development application recently lodged with Council proposes the construction of a new unit at the rear of the historic Fingleton House on Boundary Street. The house was made famous by Anthony Fingleton's book 'Swimming Upstream', which was made into a film of the same name starring Judy Davis and Geoffrey Rush.

The Uniting Church have lodged an application to build a new ten story clinical services wing and undertake building work in and around the heritage listed Emmanuel College at St Andrew's Hospital. A submission against the development raises concerns about increased traffic flow to the area and the impact a ten story building will have on the sunlight and lovely summery breezes enjoyed by those living in the smaller houses beneath.

You can search and view any Brisbane City Council Development Application (ho hum) at: www.ourbrisbane.com

Senator Kerry Nettle has condemned the government's refusal to allow a Senate Committee to inquire into The Greens David Hicks Bill which would remove recognition of now illegal US Military Commissions fromAustralian law.

Senators Nettle and Bob Brown introduced the Removal of Recognition of US Military Commissions (David Hicks) Bill 2006 into the Senate today but the government has used its Senate majority to prevent the Legal Constitutional Affairs Committee from examining the bill.

The bill would overturn the recognition of the US Military Commissions now found to be illegal in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 which was introduced by the government with the support of Labor in 2004.

"The government continues to compound its appalling treatment of David Hicks by its refusal to allow the Senate to even consider a bill removing the now illegal US Military Commissions from Australian law."

"It is the height of ridiculous arrogance that whilst the US Supreme Court has ruled the military commission's unconstitutional and therefore illegal, the Howard government wants to keep the recognition of the military commissions in Australian law."

"It is extraordinary for the government to argue that US Military Commissions ruled illegal in the US should stay on the statue books in Australia.

"Australia remains the only country on the planet that still recognises the now illegal US Military Commissions.

"It is quite common for private members bills to be referred to committee but in this case the government has used it numbers to
suppress further examination of this legal sanctioning of the kangaroo courts designed to convict David Hicks."

Senator Nettle will speak at a Rally in support of David Hicks on Saturday at Sydney Town Hall as part of a National Day of Action to protest his continued detention in Guantanamo Bay for over five years.

Yesterday [6/12/06] Senator Kerry Nettle gave notice of the introduction of a Greens private members bill to be introduced to remove recognition of the US Military Commissions intended to try Australian citizen DavidHicks, from the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

"In 2004 the Government and Labor combined to have the now illegal military commissions recognised in Australian law.

"They combined to ensure that David Hicks would not be able to receive funds from telling the story of his incarceration at Guantanamo Bay.

"These military commissions have been ruled illegal by the US courts yet the major parties in Australia have enshrined them in Australian law.

"The Greens' Removal of Recognition of US Military Commissions (David Hicks) Bill 2006 will remove the recognition of the US Military Commissions from the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which was amended by the Anti-Terrorism Act 2004.

"It is a travesty that these commissions are recognised by Australian law and that the government and Labor combined in 2004 to hinder Hicks telling his story.

"Passage of the bill through the Australian Parliament would be a strong statement that Australia wants to see David Hicks given a fair trial not tried in a kangaroo court.

"The Greens want David Hicks brought home to Australia. We will do whatever we can to achieve this.

"This bill is only the latest action by The Greens in support of a fair go for David Hicks.

"Senator Bob Brown was the first Australian MP to raise David Hicks situation in Parliament, back in June 2002 and has been barred from visiting Guantanamo Bay.

"The Greens will move motions in Parliament every sitting day until David Hicks is returned to Australia."

Carmen Slatter's innovative design for the Harry Oakman Pavilion, which was inspired by walks through the Roma Street Parklands, won an award as part of 2004's Year of the Built Environment.

“I wanted to capture the grace and beauty of the surrounding fig trees,” She said.

“I believe Architects can draw a lot from older style architecture,“ she said.

Although a pre-existing building was demolished in the mid-1990s, the stairs will remain and have been incorporated in the design.

Harry Oakman (1906-2002) was a pioneering landscape architect and one time Superintendent of Parks in Brisbane.

According to Judy Rechner in the 'Spring Hill Heritage Tour', during World War Two, The Lady Bowen Cabaret stood on the terraced slope - exactly where the Harry Oakman Pavilion stands today. This building had a dance floor, billiard and ping-pong tables and milk bar. After the war, it became the control centre for Brisbane's electricity and then it was used by the Brisbane City Council.