Queensland electoral rolls re-opened till Saturday 25th February

Electoral rolls for Queensland voters have re-opened, ahead of the March and April State and Council elections.

Those wanting to enrol to vote or change details, you now have one more week - until Saturday 25th February.

In Cairns, the Electoral office is located at level 2, 104 Grafton Street. It will be open all day Saturday 25th February, for those who want to enrol in person, or online enrollment, including postal votes. Telephone 1300 881 665 .

• Queensland State election - Saturday 24th March
• Council election - Saturday 28th April

Katter’s Australian Party will not preference ALP or LNP

Katter’s Australian Party will not preference either the ALP or LNP at the Queensland State Election.

"[The] Party's position on preferences is very simple," Bernard Gaynor, campaign coordinator has said today. ''All those Queenslanders who want to get rid of Anna Bligh and her failed Labor government must vote 1 for Katter’s Australian Party and then number every box.''

''We will not be preferencing Labor and will not be preferencing the LNP.''

Katter's Party says Queensland has ''suffered tremendously'' under Labor, and the LNP is no better.

''Both [LNP and Labor] are committed to selling off State assets, including the electricity industry. This will only add to the cost of living for everyday Queenslanders,'' Bernard Gaynor says. ''Both parties are committed to an out of control CSG industry and both seek to deprive.''

Queensland leader Aidan McLindon says that policies undertaken by the ALP and LNP across Australia had sold Australia out and sold its assets off.

“Queenslanders have the opportunity to lead the fightback against these policies on behalf of all Australians,” said Mr McLindon. “Now is the time that we must vote for Australia and vote for our country because too much has already been lost. There is not much time left to save Australia’s manufacturing, tourism and agricultural industries.”

“Too much of farming land is owned by foreign governments and companies. Multi-national mining giants have more control over property than the Australians living on it. Too many of our factories and manufacturing jobs have been shipped overseas.”

McLindon says that even white collar jobs are at risk with the banks training up foreigners to replace Australians in what is nothing more than a blatant cash grab at the expense of Aussie families.

“Our assets are being flogged off at an alarming pace and in the most deceitful manner. It doesn’t matter whether it is an ALP or LNP government. Bligh sold Queensland’s assets and just across the border the LNP government is auctioning off the power industry, despite being elected on a promise to protect it,” Aiden McLindon says.

Perfect day for a gracious lady of the seas

TwitPic by James Orland

The Queen Mary II has just anchored off Yorkeys Knob.

A CairnsBlog fan on-board, snapped this photo and sent it a few minutes ago, showing the Yorkeys headland from around 4 kms offshore.

Weather-wise, it's a near perfect day for the grand ship's arrival in Far North Queensland.

Kevin Rudd is a f*#king angry vegemite

World's largest ocean liner, Queen Mary II, anchors off Yorkeys Knob

The Police and Cairns Regional Council have joined forces to close the popular boat ramp at Yorkeys Knob and the access road on Sunday, when the world's largest ocean liner anchors off shore.

The RMS Queen Mary II will anchor off Yorkeys Knob at 8am Sunday morning and up to 3,000 passengers and 1,200 crew will visit Cairns for the day.

The Yorkeys Knob boat ramp will be closed all day Sunday and the access road to the Yorkeys Boat Club on Buckley Street, will be restricted.

However the Queen Mary II will be visible from the Yorkeys Knob beach, and good vantage points along the Cairns Esplanade, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach and from beaches north of Trinity Beach.

You can't say ''vagina'' on Cairns radio; 'Monologues'' show this weekend

In an effort to promote The Vagina Monologues show in Cairns this weekend, almost every local commercial radio station refused to say the word 'vagina' as it might upset children - besides ABC Far North.

This weekend - both Saturday and Sunday evenings - The Vagina Monologues comes to Cairns. It will be presented by local community members with proceeds going to Ruths Women's Shelter. Renowned Brisbane-based Burlesque group Scoundrelles Sorority, will also treat the audience to a few numbers.

"When we asked local radio stations to put the word out on their community notices, we were respectfully informed that the commercial radio stations in our region could not promote our fundraiser because they couldn't say the word 'vagina' on the radio," Fiona Henderson told CairnsBlog.

''This was even in the context of a play title, because 'small children might be listening', we were told. I'm not sure if you can say nose, ear, elbow or, heaven forbid, neck?''

However, morning 'radio jocks were heard this week spouting "sucks balls" repeatedly throughout a morning show that they deemed appropriate.

''It's not a dirty word, it's a term which refers to part of the human anatomy of half the population,'' Fiona Henderson says.

''We are going to say the word over and over, loudly and proudly. We will celebrate vaginas, we will honour vaginas, laugh about vaginas and maybe even cry about vaginas. But we will not be ashamed of our welcoming, unique, adaptive, strong, and resilient vaginas."

Maybe Cairns' radio stations could have said "sheath" or "scabbard", which is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials?

Local radio bosses might want to avail themselves of the infamous Monty Python song, I bet they won't play this song on the radio.

This weekend Red Pavilion, a community theatre group that promotes women's issues, will present The Vagina Monologues at JCU's Boathouse. Monologues is being presented to coincide with global Vday activities, that seek an end to violence against woman and girls.

Yesterday Cairns Regional Councillor Diane Forsyth addressed the first-ever Cairns Slut Walk, a movement that protests against explaining or excusing rape by referring to any aspect of a woman's appearance.

For 35 years the non-profit Ruth's Women's Shelter has been supporting women and children to escape domestic and family violence in the Cairns Region.

• WHEN Saturday and Sunday, doors open at 6.30 pm, Show 7.30 pm
  WHERE The Boathouse, James Cook University, Smithfield
  COST A bank note
  
  EXTRAS Raffles and door prizes
  BAR OPEN proceeds to JCU Student Union

Saturday SoapBlog: Bryan Law - Why Gavin King must be elected

Former Green and Labor supporter and prominent national peace activist, Bryan Law says that the Queensland seat of Cairns will fall from Labor's historic grip next month, and controversial LNP candidate Gavin King must be elected.

Bryan Law says that King has been there for peace activists consistently for six years and he fully supports and endorses his election on 24 March.

Law says the ALP ''sux big-time'' and invites CairnsBlog readers to indulge his take on Gavin King, Kirsten Lesina, the ALP dirt machine, and the way ''Labor degrades us all in its bossism and contempt'', asking voters to make a little electoral history next month.

Why Gavin King must be elected on March 24

The Problem

In 2012 mainstream politics is phoney. It’s degraded and degrading. The ALP has become a travesty. While it claims to be a party for social justice and equity, its record over the past two decades has been one of bossism and slavery to big business.

Focusing on the Queensland government we’ve seen the white-anting of our health system, the privatisation of irreplaceable public assets, open disputes with working unions, gross failure in Aboriginal affairs, and a first-class effort to portray mediocre hacks as “outstanding” intellects and office-holders. As Treasurer and Deputy Premier, Andrew Fraser has overseen the bankruptcy of Queensland’s Treasury, and the subordination of policy to managerial incompetence. Yet according to his own media unit, he is “the greatest Treasurer” Queensland’s ever had.

A key dynamic in Labor’s failure has been the pre-selection of MPs who are notable only for their obedience to factional bosses. For example: MP for Barron River Steve Wettenhall in 2011 was completely spineless around the ALP policy commitment to decriminalise abortion, which is clearly part of the Party platform. The Minister for Women, Karen Struthers, made a good deal of political capital in 2009 by promising women’s groups this policy would be enacted. They both chickened out when so instructed by Party bosses.

In October 2010 a young couple stood trial in the Cairns Supreme Court charged with procuring an abortion. A coalition of community groups supported the couple, and used the trial to agitate for the Labor government to keep its promise. Every Labor MP in far north Queensland ran away and hid. Steve Wettenhall sent the organising group a (confidential) letter saying he was strongly in favour of their objectives, but had to hide because Party bosses said no.

So instead of being honest, implementing their promise, and keeping faith with the citizens whose votes they rely on for government, the ALP decided instead to shaft its supporters in the hope of avoiding controversy. The problem is that this is the only kind of behaviour we see from the ALP, which sets the standard of politics firmly in the gutter.

Gavin King

I first met Gavin King in December 2005, in Alice Springs, where he was working as a journalist for the News Ltd title The Centralian Advocate. I was with a group called Christians Against ALL Terrorism. We intended to enter the Pine Gap spy base and conduct a citizens inspection.

Gavin King joined us for the event. He spent an evening with us as we prepared and walked into the base. He kept all his agreements with us, and took photos and notes of our actions. For doing that he was threatened with arrest by the Australian Federal Police and had his camera and photos confiscated. While the action clearly had news value, and Gavin was a working journalist rather than a peace activist, he was honest, reliable and a pleasure to deal with.

Gavin moved to Cairns in 2007 to work for the Cairns Post. He was a great help in early 2008 in publicising a problem the Pine Gap crew were having with ASIO and the AFP around our trial.

Secret court orders had been made against us in a closed court. Gavin had to take legal advice before publishing, and was at some risk. He publicly revealed what was going on. Between the front page story Gavin gave us, and shorter pieces by AAP and the Sydney Morning Herald, the secret orders were withdrawn – and we proceeded to a much fairer trial.

Twice in two years that I know of, Gavin took a personal risk to practice the principles of his profession. He stood up for free speech and the public’s right to know. I can live with disagreement. No-one is perfect. We all make mistakes. What I need to know about any man or woman is the integrity, authenticity, and credibility that lies behind what they say. I know Gavin is highly principled, and he puts those principles into practice.

More importantly, Gavin can be relied upon to stick by his principles when the going gets tough.

Since 2007 Gavin has kept in touch with our little peace group, met with visiting peace activists, and engaged with the issues of peace and war. In October 2011 he facilitated a workshop with US activist Kathy Kelly. I can look forward to Gavin taking a seat in Parliament.

Kirsten Lesina

I don’t know Kirsten well at all. She has never attended a peace meeting or event. As a Cairns Regional Councillor she’s out of my division, and has never engaged with anything important to my interests. I have no knowledge of how she deals with the difficult parts of life.

What I do know is that, during the pre-selection process for Cairns, Kirsten Lesina allowed herself to be used in a dirty factional dispute where Labor Unity arseholed Richie Bates (union organiser of decades standing) because of his position in the privatisation dispute. Kirsten agreed to undermine Richie at the invitation of a spiteful Desley Boyle.

During that process, Kirsten sent an e-mail to a colleague saying she’d join whatever faction could give her a seat in Parliament. She said “I am unaligned at present. I will join the faction that supports me in getting pre-selected.”

It’s unacceptable to me that wannabe politicians subordinate principle to personal preferment. How can Lesina even pretend to principle when she’s effectively for sale to the highest bidder? Or does “maximise personal profit” count as a principle in today’s ALP?

The disgusting, horrible ALP dirt machine

On 14 June 2008, Gavin King wrote an opinion column about the dangers of alcohol bingeing and sexual assault for women in Cairns. In the column, Gavin wrote “That doesn’t excuse the mongrels who commit such crimes.”

The opinion piece was sparked by a comment from Snr Constable Cary Coolican of Cairns Police, who said of sexual assault allegations “During investigations, it has become apparent that many of the victims have been under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance at the time of the offence and do not recall the act itself or the circumstances surrounding their complaint,” Sen-Constable Coolican. This was reported in the Cairns Post on 12 June.

For those who think language is important, Gavin referred to “women” or “young women” throughout his column. The sub-editor gave the news story a headline about “girls”. The article and opinion column caused a minor flurry in Cairns and then disappeared.

It was brought back on 19 September 2011 by an anonymous blogger in Cairns who runs a spoof site called Hillbilly Watch. If you want to catch up with Labor hack humour, bias and vitriol, this is the site to visit. If you know who the unaccountable voice is, please let me in on the secret.

Gavin wasn’t pre-selected until 2 October 2011. The Hillbilly blog was simply an acknowledgement by the Labor dirt machine that Mr King’s preselection posed a real threat to their own poor candidate. The dirt machine was gearing up. Note the language by Hillbilly hack; “Gavin King Excuses Rape”.

On 4 February 2012 the story emerged in the mainstream media under the headline “Drunk girls to blame for rape”.

The story was by-lined by Evan Schwarten, a scion of the Rockhampton Schwartens, heavyweights in the Queensland ALP. Schwarten took his material direct from the Hillbilly hack. Notice how the language of dirt grows ever more extreme and detached from reality as the machine grows ever more desperate. ’Women ought take some responsibility for their safety’, becomes “Gavin King encourages rape” (unattributed) or “girls blamed for rape” (attributed). The exaggeration part of a calculated effort to inflame emotion and create division. This kind of behaviour degrades our polity.

The Premier, the Treasurer, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, and a sad parade of Labor leaders, have got down into the dirt and perpetuated the attacks of an anonymous, unaccountable Labor blogger.

Last week the Premier, Anna Bligh, caused a pamphlet to be circulated around the electorate of Ashgrove and Brisbane which portrayed the Schwarten distortion as a quote from Gavin, and tried to claim that Campbell Newman condoned rape. “Drunk girls to blame for rape”. Our Premier is just triffic at lies and dirt. I expect to see a lot more of it between now and 24th March. How sad.

Recap

• The ALP has lied to women in Queensland by refusing to implement its party platform on abortion.
• The ALP has lied to the people of Queensland about privatisation and the condition of our economy.
• The ALP preselects candidates on the basis of their obedience to factional bosses.
• The ALP believes in character assassination and the politics of dirt.
• The ALP is so good at the politics of dirt it’s the very first (and only?) tool they reach for.
• We’d be criminally stupid to vote ALP in Cairns

I have both positive and negative reasons for endorsing Gavin King. He is a talented and principled young man willing to take a personal risk for what he believes in. He will at least listen to my friends in the peace movement as he makes decisions and advocates for Cairns in the state parliament. Gavin King is committed to social justice and community engagement.

The Queensland ALP is rotten to the core, and will only grow worse if rewarded by a return to office.

In closing, here’s a King column in the Cairns Post that Hillbilly hack didn’t want to re-print. Among other things it recounts the Union activism of Gavin’s father, and his bitter disappointment with the ALP’s betrayal of the working class.

And that's why I support Gavin.

Newman provides weak responses about his team in ACA interview

Here's A Current Affair's review of Anna Bligh and Campbell Newman, the would-be-Queensland premier.

The ACA's 9 journo did a job but Newman's answers at the very end are weak and poor, and displayed a lack strong leadership, when he should be standing up for his team and spouting their strengths instead of succumbing to a trick questions - that's rule number one in politics.

"Look I accept that they [LNP's team] haven't had experience in government, only a few of them have," Campbell Newman said. "If they get into government, of course they'll get to make mistakes.''

When will he learn how to say the right thing with confidence and a sense of authority? Where's his media and speech adviser?

It will be a tough campaign with Bligh's amazing revelations against Newman this week, saying he could go to jail over family business dealings.

Here's the ACA interview...

Cairns mayoral poll shows a return for Val Schier

Only a day old, the CairnsBlog mayoral election poll is reflecting what most observers are predicting.

The race will definitively be between Schier and Manning, with the Deputy Mayor Margaret Cochrane a distant third, followed by former developer and toy dog owner, Ian Thomas.

With just 50 votes in...

• COCHRANE Margaret 9 (19%)
• MANNING Bob 16 (34%)
• SCHIER Val 21 (44%)
• THOMAS Ian 1 (2%)

Jump on the right-hand sidebar and record your vote.

Princess Mary of Denmark and the boobie Finnish president's husband

Aussie Princess Mary, of Denmark, had to block and adjust herself after a state dinner in January when the Finnish president's husband, Pentti Arajärvi. was caught staring at her boobs.

Here's the moment captured on video. I wonder how Pentti broke the explanation to madam president. A right royal moment.

Cairns Councillor Sno Bonneau files $300,000 defamation case against colleague

Cairns Regional Councillor Sno Bonneau has filed a statement of claim in the Queensland Supreme Court against fellow Councillor Rob Pyne, for defamation.

• Outstanding Crime and Misconduct investigations against Councillors Bonneau and Blake need to be concluded before Council candidate nominations close in March.
  
  
• Likely to not withstand trial, Councillor Pyne should be protected by the Whistleblowers Act.

The case is in relation to Councillor Pyne's complaint against Bonneau one year ago when the Council's CEO was asked to act on alleged numerous non-disclosure matters of conflict of interest that Cr Bonneau failed to declare in the last four years whilst voting.

Rob Pyne said the $300,000 lawsuit by Councillor Sno Bonneau, filed in the Supreme Court on 13th February, will not stop him playing a watch dog role on Cairns Regional Council.

“When I stood for Council in 2008 I promised to act as a watch dog and stand up for transparency and accountability,'' Councillor Pyne said. ''This will not change that one bit.”

Cr Pyne filed the complaint on February 15th 2011, and it is believed that Sno Bonneau is taking the action within the 12 month deadline under the statute of limitations.

''When concerns regarding Cr Bonneau came to me from a number of residents over 12 months ago, I reported the allegations to the CEO of Cairns Regional Council. These allegations currently await determination by a Regional Conduct Review Panel,'' Rob Pyne said. ''I believe the list of allegations are serious and required investigation. When this information came to my attention, I felt I had no option of not acting."

This is the first time that a Regional Conduct Review Panel has been convened to resolve a misconduct matter in the history of local government in Far North Queensland.

“This will only sharpen my focus of those in senior positions, whether appointed or elected," Pyne says. ''They have a responsibility to the rest of us, and when there is any suggestion that the trust the public have placed in them has been breached, I will make sure that is investigated.''

''I will remain a committed watch dog, on Council, whoever is elected to Council on April 28th. Attempts at intimidation via legal threats or other means are sure to fail. For me, keeping the bastards honest is as important part of what I am about,” Rob Pyne said.

''Yoy gotta love Council life. He [Bonneau] has buckleys! It won’t stop me asking the hard questions and standing up for my division.''

Although Bonneau's legal action is a civil matter, there are doubts if such a matter will be heard. It is likely that Councillor Pyne will be protected under the Whistleblowers Act that protects a Queensland public servant or public sector employee who makes known for the benefit of the public wrongdoings, which occur in their workplace.

The types of wrongdoings that can be made known are substantial waste of public funds; official misconduct; and maladministration (illegal or oppressive or improper administrative action). The Act protects the whistleblower from anybody retaliating.

Councillor Sno Bonneau, who was first elected as a Councillor in 1995, is being investigated about numerous conflicts of interest that were not declared prior to voting on Council matters, many involved Development Approvals from proponents who donated money to the councillor. Robert Pyne cited a lack of transparency and non disclosure as fundamental conflicts as a councillor.

Pyne told the CEO in February last year that under the Local Government Act, the CEO must act if she "merely suspects" that Councillor Bonneau "may be involved" in any official misconduct."

A respected arts and community administrator, Eve Stafford, said the year-long investigation into Councillor Bonneau is not good enough.

''We need the Regional Conduct Review Panel to bring the investigations into both Cairns Councillors to a conclusion,'' Eve Stafford said. ''When this is likely to be, otherwise it will be very unfair, a gross understatement, to the electorate if both these matters are not resolved one way or the other before Council candidate nominations close.''

In early 2009, there were revelations that Councillor Bonneau was passing on private concerns from residents direct to a developer, in advance of a Council development approval.

The Crime and Misconduct investigation process seems to be the slowest moving regulatory body in Australia. A September 2009 investigation into a Caboolture councillor about no declaration, was only concluded in January 2012, two and a half years after the original complaint.

Cairns Division 5 Councillor Alan Blake, is also under investigation by the Crime and Misconduct Commission for not declaring at least 14 conflicts in the last four years.

• MORE TO FOLLOW...

The anti-Gavin King rape leaflet

It's the story that won't go away.

Cairns LNP candidate, former Cairns Post journalist Gavin King can't seem to put put his now inflammatory opinion column he wrote in 2008 "if a woman drinks to excess during a night out on the town, is she partly to blame for being raped or assaulted? As uncomfortable and difficult as this question is, the answer surely is yes."

Here's the leaflet being circulated in South East Queensland by the Australian Labor Party.

The leaflet, that has been angrily denounced by LNP leader Campbell Newman, is targeting voters in the marginal seat of Ashgrove, held by ALP's Kate Jones.

"Quite clearly the comments made by the candidate for Cairns are offensive and Campbell Newman has failed in his leadership by not sacking him," Kate Jones said. "I think that it is very appropriate to draw to everyone's attention Campbell Newman's decision to stand by a man who clearly is not suitable to be a member of parliament."

Gavin King told The Australian that the Labor campaign was "absolutely disgusting."

"It was telling that the ALP was not distributing the flyer or the billboard in Cairns," King said. "They haven't rolled this kind of trash out because they know it just won't fly in Cairns. They know it has absolutely no traction."

'Gay marriage is the path to polygamy' - Katter Party

Katter's Australian Party that has three candidates standing in the Cairns region, today announced that civil unions were a "back door way to legalising gay marriage," and will "expand gay marriage definitions so that polygamy is accepted."

The statement is at odds with Katter's Cairns and Barron River candidates, Darren Hunt and Brendan Fitzgerald.

Just when you were waiting for today's crazy and dumb media release, out comes a statement from Katter's Australian Party, that looks like it was written in the 1920's.

They have vowed to repeal the Civil unions law, Queensland Leader of the party Aidan McLindon said today.

"Civil unions were a back door way to legalising gay marriage," McLindon says. “Katter’s Australian Party believes marriage is between a man and a woman."

Indeed it is. However a Civil Union, or Civil Partnership, as the new Queensland Law is called, it an entirely different matter.

“We will proudly stand by our core values and principles. LNP voters are overwhelmingly opposed to gay marriage and they need to understand that the LNP Leader supports gay marriage," Aidan McLindon said.

LNP have said that they will not repeal civil unions which highlights, once again, they are no longer a socially conservative party, McLindon says.

“Lobby groups are already pushing to expand gay marriage definitions so that polygamy is accepted. Civil unions are the first step on this path."

Carl Katter, Bob Katter's brother, mocks the cry.

"Here come the crazies," Carl Katter said today. "They will try anything to scare people, a sign they are truly desperate."

It really shows you how warped McLindon and Katter's mind is.

However Katter's Cairns candidate, former policeman Darren Hunt, appears at odds with the Party's barbaric attitudes, and says such attitudes can be changed from within.

"The party I'm with has a policy that we do not support gay marriage, which I know some consider discrimination, but for me it is based on what has traditionally constituted a marriage as opposed to any anti-gay sentiment or religious fervour," Darren Hunt told CairnsBlog.

"I do not support anti-gay comments, actions or discrimination and have continued to say so publicly."

Hunt, who was a LGBTI Police liaison officer, says he was regularly ridiculed, and "given heaps and had sexuality questioned" in the role of sticking up for the gay community.

"In a macho, homophobic environment I can assure you it was regularly," Hunt says. "I found victims were often fearful of going to police for fear of being ridiculed or blamed when they were the victim. It took a long time for them to trust me and know I would follow through."

"I regularly attended local LGBTI clubs on and off duty to maintain contacts and build the trust," Darren Hunt says.

"I was even called up to help out with issues at the Kuranda [gay] resort, which wasn't even in my police area, because the owners/managers as well as guests were being unfairly treated."

"As with the police example, on these type of issues the best way to bring about change is from enlightened people from within to influence a change in ways of thinking," Darren Hunt says.

Katter Party's Barron River candidate, Brendan Fitzgerald, is equally bemused by his leader's statement today.

"I was of the understanding that the Civil Partnership Bill 2011 meant Civil Union was available to anyone, not just LGBT people," Brendan Fitzgerald said. "It couldn't possibly be expected to repeal a law that would disadvantage heterosexual people wishing a civil union over a marriage."

"If they try and change that, it becomes discrimination. [It's] not one of our finest moments, but Darren and I believe these things can change from within," Brendan Fitzgerald says.

Cairns Regional Council candidate Leigh Dall'Osto was also dismissive of the announcement.

"Obviously Aidan's brain to mouth filter is broken," Dall'Osto said. "Apparently the Katter members have a stipulation in their membership agreement which states they are not bound by any party policy if their electorate disagrees with it and can vote according to local views whenever they choose."

This Thursday evening, a "Pink Vote" forum will be held at the De Jarlais hall, at the Cairns Showgrounds, with a large number of Mayoral, Council and State candidates participating.

Kevin Scott, a health promotion officer with Healthy Communities, says that LGBT people in Cairns are making a visible and vital contribution to the life and economy of the region, and deserve their voices to be heard.

"We have asked all speakers to address issues raised in the Equality in Health paper, which asks candidates to address areas of concern to us," Kevin Scott says.

• Pink Vote forum, De Jarlais hall
  Cairns Showground, corner Severin Street and Mulgrave Road
  Thursday 9th February, 5:30pm.
  
  

LNP's King and Trout look like a no show at Sunday's election debate

With only 3 days to go to the Cairns City Forum in City Place this Sunday, two LNP candidates have no confirmed their participation.

Of the 15 State Candidates, nine have confirmed, two have been unable to attend, and four have yet to decide.

The debate that will be chaired by Cairns Toastmasters from 2.30pm, will see a line up of candidates contesting the 24th March State election.

One Nation candidate Jim Evans has also confirmed he will make the trip down from Chillagoe to participate in the forum, bringing a total of nine candidates speaking at the first in a series of three debate events.

The only major political party who has not yet confirmed any candidates to participate is the Liberal National Party. However, organiser Angus Gasson remains hopeful.

“The invitation is still open to Gavin King, Michael Trout and David Kempton, if they would like to be a part of this important event," Angus Gasson says.

King says he can't make it to the forum as he will be having family time.

"Sunday, like every Sunday from now on, starts at 9am with a supermarket stall, followed by door-knocking from 11 to 1pm," Gavin King said. "From 4pm, I am hosting an LNP function. In between, I block out a couple of hours to spend time with my family. I have an 18-month old baby and Leah, my wife, is due to have our second child in early April."

"Election campaigns are rather hectic, so any small windows of time I can spend with my family is paramount. Sunday afternoons provide a rare moment in my week to spend time at home," Gavin King said.

Beside the North Queensland Party and One Nation, Katter’s Australia Party and the Australian Labor Party, will also be well represented.

“We especially would like to encourage young people to come along and ask questions to the candidates," Angus Gasson said. "It doesn’t matter if they are not old enough to vote, the decisions made by politicians today will affect their future tomorrow."

• CAIRNS CITY FORUM
  Sunday 5th February 2012 - 2.30pm - City Place

CONFIRMED

Brendan Fitzgerald (Katter’s Australia Party) (Barron River)

Curtis Warren Pitt (ALP) (Mulgrave)

Damian Byrnes (Katter’s Australia Party) (Mulgrave)

Darren Hunt DJ (Katter’s Australia Party) (Cairns)

Jim Evans (One Nation) (Cook)

John Piva (North Qld Party) (Cairns)

Kirsten Lesina (ALP) (Cairns)

Lachlan Bensted (Katter’s Australia Party) (Cook)

Steve Wettenhall (ALP) (Barron River)

HAVEN'T CONFIRMED

David Kempton (LNP) (Cook)

Gavin King (LNP) (Cairns)

Michael Trout (LNP) (Barron River)

Mike Squire (North Qld Party)

UNAVAILABLE

Jason O’Brien (ALP) (Cook)

Robyn Quick (LNP) (Mulgrave)

Enrolment closes tomorrow

If you are yet to enrol as a first-time voter, or you details need to be updated, you have until tomorrow to do so.

Take a moment to check your enrolment.

Wendy Richardson withdraws from Barron River race

Four-time political candidate, Wendy Richardson, has said she will not contest the Baron River seat at the upcoming State election, due to family matters.

Richardson, who won on the primary vote in the last State election, but preferences from the Greens favoured Labor's Steve Wettenhall, said it was a "very difficult decision."

“I have been very committed to providing honest, decent and hard-working representation in government, and I still have great faith that this can be achieved by the right individuals,” Wendy Richardson said. “However, my partner has new work opportunities away from Cairns for a while, and family rightly comes first in these considerations."

Richardson, who still has a working farm on the Atherton Tablelands, will continue to undertake her speech pathology services in the Far North.

“The well-being of the people of my home town of Cairns and its beautiful surrounding region will always be very important to me, and I will stay involved politically, though from the sidelines for the time being,” Richardson says. “I am very happy to see other worthy candidates running in the region and wish them well in maintaining their resolve to fight for the best for the electorate and the region.”

“Standing for election is far harder than most people imagine; it requires massive personal input of time, energy, resilience, and financial resources in order to even have a chance. But most of all, I believe it requires strength of character to withstand the public’s understandable skepticism about anyone putting their hand up for election.”

“I would like to see the public rally behind good candidates, helping them to maintain their integrity, not demeaning them before they even start," she said today. "However, I’m sure others feel too that it is high time for politicians and parties everywhere to lift their game; to do what they were elected to do – simply, properly and effectively.”

“Politics should be about a contest of ideas, not the contest of personalities we currently see.”

Premier Bligh explains election date choice

Here's in Premier Anna Bligh's statement on the State election announcement, and how this will affect the Local Government elections.

The current Parliament will enter ''caretaker mode'' on February 19th and will seek to move the upcoming local government elections to late April or early May. The deferral of the State election was made after Bligh received a request from the Floods Commission of Inquiry for an extension of time until the 16th of March to complete the report.

• "The Commission and the Commissioners have my full support in their decision to hold further hearings and in their request for an extension of time," Premier Anna Bligh said. "I established this inquiry because I wanted answers about the circumstances of the floods. I said I would leave no stone unturned and I meant it."
  
  "My family and the people I love, live in this city and, like every other Queenslander I want the truth about what happened last year. It had been my intention to call the state election for a March 3rd or 10th - after the COI report had been due for release, giving the public the opportunity to consider the report and the responses of the major parties to the recommendations."
  
  "It is not now possible to do that without denying Queenslanders the opportunity to consider the Commission of Inquiry Report," she said.
  
  "So, I intend to call the 2012 State election for Saturday the 24th of March – giving the public time to consider the findings of the inquiry. I intend to visit the Governor on Sunday the 19th of February to ask her to dissolve the Parliament and issue the writs for a 24th March election.
  
  "This would make the State election date just one week prior to the scheduled Local Government elections on March 31," she said.
  
  "I don’t believe that would be fair to local candidates or to the public and the LGAQ themselves have described the prospect of simultaneous state and local government campaigns as disastrous."
  
  "Local government is entitled to be consulted on this proposed change and I have instructed the Attorney General and Minister for Local Government to do so today.
  
  "But I will make it clear that the deferral of local government elections will be for the shortest reasonable period - most likely to be late April or early May and a final date will be agreed before the end of this month."
  
  "For local government, I understand that this will cause some political inconvenience and I regret that these unusual and unpredictable circumstances have given rise to this decision. However, for those who suffered in the floods and are still living with the consequences, there is much more at stake here than mere inconvenience.
  
  "What is at stake here is the truth about the cause of our floods and that matters to its victims. It also goes to the heart of the future safety of our State and its people."
  
  

Queensland election March 24, Council election late April

The Queensland State election has been called for Saturday March 24, with local Council election expected late April or even early May.

This will provide a long two-month election campaign.

Premier Bligh's announcement also suggested she wanted to go to the polls on March 3rd, however wanted to grant an extension to the 2011 flood inquiry to examine new claims that the Wivenhoe dam was mismanaged.

The decision to delay the flood report will anger many as it is very likely Anna Bligh and Labor will be dumped at the State election, well before the investigation reveals the State Government's serious management that exacerbated the death toll.

Former Val Schier candidate, Richie Bates, joins Bob Manning's Unity team

Trade Union and Labor activist Richie Bates, has joined the Unity team to contest the central city division 5 seat for Cairns Regional Council.

Bates will join a team headed by former Cairns Ports chief Bob Manning, who will contest the mayoralty.

"Cairns needs a collaborative and disciplined Council, one that will work together for the benefit of the region," said Richie Bates, who has been outspoken in recent weeks about the current Council's inability to work together over issues like the Cairns Entertainment Precinct.

Richie Bates says the Unity team represents a diverse group.

''It is a team that is broadly representative of the community and ready to govern for all," Bates says. "Bob Manning has shown courage and passion by bringing together a cohesive team of people from a range of backgrounds and expertise."

"Unfortunately, independent candidates have not delivered the cooperative approach needed to restore confidence and prosperity to this city," Richie Bates says. "The Cairns region deserves much better and now is the time to return to a united team for the community, Unity 2012 is that team."

Jetstar forgets Cairns again

Budget airline Jetstar has again left Cairns off their website.

Bree Haigh from Hot FM was trying to book flights today when Cairns as a departure origin point was not recognised on Jetstar's online booking website.

''The website is proving very frustrating today. Cairns doesn't seem to be a valid departure destination,'' Bree Haigh said. ''Whatever. You know what I mean. I have tried with [other browsers) and other departure points seem to be working."

Jetstar have responded and appologised.

"Thanks for letting us know. Sorry about that," a representative from Jetstar Australia said. "We've got our IT team currently working on this now.''

Another local has reported a similar error on Virgin's website with their happy hour discounts.

Jetstar have offered traveller a 'simplified version' of their booking site. Over the last three years, thousands of travellers have vented their airline goofs and mishaps on Don't Fly Jetsar.

Another embrassing error was exposed from the Jetstar website, in a write-up about Cairns, that has since been completely re-written...

• Introducing Cairns
  
  Mangrove boardwalks and croc-infested rivers by the airport, busy retail areas bursting with Ken Done clothes and stuffed koalas, and a unique tropical air make Cairns a spread-out city of surprises.
  
  The beautifully designed and perfectly located lagoon on the Esplanade is an attempt to make up for the fact that waterfront Cairns doesn’t actually have a beach, and when the sun comes out so do locals and backpackers, creating a bikini-clad mirage in the city centre.
  
  Cairns can be a boom or bust town, depending on who’s flying whom in; Japanese and Korean tourists are well catered for, and everyone’s offered a good ol’ Aussie time in the nightclubs and hostels. It’s a city where the casino doubles as a rainforest, and you can walk straight from the nightclub to the pier and catch one of the many morning boats that make the daily island or reef, diving or snorkelling pilgrimage.

The same error occurred in April last year when Jetstar left Cairns off for a long period over a weekend from the booking system. They explained that the ''temporary issue'' was associated with the cutover to an improved website.

"We’re confident that all our customers will appreciate the improvements we've delivered to make the website even more user friendly while also giving it a fresh new look," Jetstar said at the time.

''It has now been fully repaired,'' Jetstar Australia said. Apparently not.

February Queensland State election likely

Party insiders on both sides of Queensland politics are predicting a late February poll for the State election, with bets on the 18th or 25th.

The early date is the most likely to avoid a clash with the State-wide local body Council elections that is expected to be held on March 31st.

Although the State election can be held as late as May or June, it is thought that Labor is now preparing for an early election ahead of the Council polls which could have a negative vote against Labor candidates, that would then reflect in the State election.

This will allow the minimum period to adjourn Parliament with a 26 day campaign, so an announcement next Tuesday is probable. Brisbane media have been tagging Premier Bligh in recent days as she prepares for her last visit to 168 Fernberg Road, Paddington.

Get ready for nearly three months of political election spin from what is brewing up to be a massive change of government at all levels with already a huge lineup of declared wannabee pollies.

Cr Lanskey will not contest Cairns Council election

First-term councillor for the south-side communities of Bentley Park, Edmonton and Mount Sheridan, Nancy Lanskey, has said she will not contest the March local body election, and that she wished to spend more time with her family.

The Division recorded one of the narrowest in the 2008 Council election race with just 12 votes between the Hambledon and Edmonton polling booths. Local hardware store businessman Jeff Martinuzzi, who ran under Val Schier's Cairns 1st banner, after preferences recorded 2,500 or 49.45% against Lanskey's 2,556 or 50.55%, a 56 votes margin.

Kaye Kingham was the only other candidate to contest the last election with 26.98% of the vote.

This year's election has already attracted a strong line-up for the division 2 seat.

Jeff Martinuzzi will again throw his hat in the ring along with Piccones IGA assistant manager Paul Drabble, who is seeking more accountability from councillors, CEO and Council staff. Drabble is a former chef and has a diploma in retail management.

Mother of three who has worked in retail for 15 years, with strong Labor party links, Leigh Dall’Osto, will also contest the seat. She has also worked as Victorian State Manager of Street One and for Gold Coast Gas and the Marine Park Authority.

Recently Nancy Lanskey bequeathed all her election sign corflutes to Leigh Dall’Osto, a signal that she intended not to run again.

''Nancy would have been difficult to beat as she had done many things right in her term on Council," Leigh Dall’Osto said. “She was involved in getting many of the existing parks in this area re-furbished and she attended meetings of all sectors in the community so that she could stay abreast of any potential concerns. She also worked very hard on plans for the Edmonton town centre.''

Division 2 is one of the fastest-growing areas in North Queensland and will require a representative who will give the community the attention and time it needs. Dall’Osto says that person also has to have the ability to work with the rest of Council to get better outcomes for the entire region.

“Consultation and collaboration are extremely important facets of the job. The ability to work well with other tiers of Government is also important as there are many areas within the region where sectors of Government overlap,” Ms Dall’Osto says.

Dall’Osto said that both "Paul and Jeff are good candidates, so it's going to be difficult to win, even without Nancy."

"I just need to concentrate on doing what I do best, meeting people and listening to them, working on solutions and getting my messages across."

She said that the campaign was in danger of turning ugly, but ''that's not me.''

''I have a great deal of respect for anyone who decides to run for election. It's not an easy thing to do and the commitment required is quite extraordinary,'' Leigh Dall’Osto said. ''Nancy went into this for the right reasons initially and community minded people are our biggest assets.

Local Labor Party member Chris Rollason, says Dall’Osto is ready to be a councillor.

"Nancy knew she wouldn't get in, she didn't want to look like a sore loser," Rollason said today. ''Leigh [is] going to win this election, and I encourage all residents of Division 2 to get behind her."

Paul Drabble has been an outspoken critic of the Cairns Entertainment Precinct.

''We need a council of strong, results driven people who are willing to listen to our constituents, who thrive on feedback and are willing to take a stand for those they represent,'' Paul Drabble says. ''It is about being able to work with our CEO and Council officers to break through the red tape and constrictions. It is about putting in place the future policies and budgets that are sustainable for our growing region.''

''I want to work with all areas of Council and look at simplifying our practices and removing or replacing those that are cumbersome or inadequate for the future of this great city.''

Drabble also questioned Richie Bates, who is running again in the city-based Division 5 seat, who says that independents are to blame for the present dysfunction of Council.

Bates says that the approach most needed from our elected representatives is a collaborative and collegiate approach to governance.

'' I'm still hearing very little from the independents as to how they will work together and

build a collaborative and collegiate approach to running this city. 'The current councillors have failed dismally at this, and it is this issue above all that has laid the foundation for an under-performing and dysfunctional council," Richie Bates said. ''The recent misconduct allegations against councillors Blake and Bonneau are testimony to this. Unfortunately, we risk more of the same when we re-elect independents who have no strategy, enthusiasm or understanding of working in a diverse team.''

Paul Drabble says the truth is pseudo-ALP and LNP independents are at the core of the problem

''True independents like myself who have never had politic party affiliations and are self funding, with polices to remove party politics from local council, decrease red tape and the bureaucracy, listen to the majority and have the skills to succeed.''

Paul Drabble says he will not be taking any donations from any individual, business, developer or party toward his campaign.

''All candidates donation lists should be completed three days before an election and publicly posted,'' Drabble says. ''Then maybe people would really see who is pulling the strings. Many Council candidates say they are independent but really when you look back past the frontage you find many are now unwilling to present as candidates for parties who now have the ire of the voting public, often wonder why do those who purport to be so morally right yet are unwilling to present with the logo of their party allegiances in their media.''

''The deceptive nature of modern politics is itself a failure of the system to regulate properly. One must always remember there is a fine line between the truth and a good story in politics in North Queensland," Paul Drabble said.

Talk to the community about City Place Queensland Transport

The opening of City Place to buses is a lethal danger to tourists and other pedestrians, the coordinator campaign to save City Place says.

Last Friday two Japanese women aged in their 20s were knocked to the ground on Lake Street by a Sunbus, with one woman suffering severe leg injuries and the other spinal injuries. One was trapped under the bus for some time. The windscreen of the bus had a significant dent presumably from the impact of the head of one of the women.

Machans Beach resident Geoff Holland is campaigning to retain pedestrian control over City Place says this is a timely and serious warning.

"Do not open City Place up to buses in what is claimed will be a 'shared space' between pedestrians and 'slow-moving' buses," he says.

The Woolshed and P J O'Brien's pubs successfully lobbied Queensland Transport to get rid of the plan to have cars turning left into Shields St in front of their respective premises because of the danger to their merry clientele.

"Why is the same criterion not being applied to City Place?" Geoff Holland asks. "Where the merry clientele wander across City Place between The Woolshed and P J O'Briens - two of three most popular venues for young backpackers in Cairns. These backpackers and other tourists are not familiar with traffic conditions here, and this proposal would create a very ambiguous and dangerous zone."

Geoff Holland says public comments suggest that Japanese tourists do not respect traffic lights.

"So are we going to run a crash course on crossing the road for each tourist landing at Cairns Airport, or are we going to minimise risks and make sensible planning decisions?" Holland says. "In this abominable plan to open City Place to buses by Queensland Transport, there will not even be a pedestrian crossing or traffic lights."

"The plan to open City Place to buses is unnecessary and has nothing to do with building a more efficient and user-friendly bus network in Cairns. It is about time decision-makers in Queensland Transport in Brisbane came to Cairns and talked with the community," Geoff Holland says.

"It is about time Councillors in Cairns stood up to pressure from State Government and admit that opening City Place to buses is a stupid idea."

• Save City Place campaign
  Online petition
  
• Web,
• Facebook,
• Twitter

Bus seriously injures two pedestrians in Lake Street, Cairns

Two young female pedestrians were seriously injured in what Cairns Police have called a "serious traffic crash" this afternoon in the central city.

The incident occurred around 4pm when the two women in their 20's, were crossing Lake Street when they were struck by a bus.

They were transported to Cairns Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition. No one else was injured.

Today was a day for some inspiration

Today I spent some time with a really special person, who genuinely knows the meaning of friendship, support and giving inspiration.

We spent a couple of hours talking about life's difficulties, looking at pathways ahead. This time of year is a great opportunity for reflection and some positive forecasting, when a lot of other maddening pressures are off to the sidelines.

After our coffee session concluded, I came across this story of 18-year-old Ben Breedlove. This young lad from Texas posted a couple of videos online around a week ago. Ben was well aware of his serious heart condition he'd had from birth, that was eventually going to take his life. Ben died on Christmas night from a heart attack.

His amazing video message was created silently with handwritten notes to tell his story, just a few days before he passed away.

"Kieran Miles inspired me to do this," Ben posted. "Just thought I should share my story to the rest of the world."

He had a unique condition: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, where one part of the heart is thicker than the others, making it difficult for blood to circulate.

There's a moving part in his video story where he explains when he was just four years old. Breedlove described the moment...

• "There was this big bright light above me ... I couldn't make out what is was because it was so bright. I told my mom, 'Look at the bright light' and pointed up. She said she didn't see anything. There were no lights on in this hall. I couldn't take my eyes off it.
  
  And I couldn't help but smile. I had no worries at all, like nothing else in the world mattered.
  
  I cannot even begin to describe the peace, how peaceful it was," he wrote. "I will NEVER forget that feeling or that day."

It's a truly beautiful and moving tale, told as only a young person encapsulated in online social media could.

Stories like Ben's put life's dramas into great clarity and utter perspective. Love and nurture the moment and those important to you.

Council candidates slam Cairns councillors under investigations

Tanya Brooks-Cooper who is running for division 8 in the March Cairns Regional Council elections has called for a speedy conclusion to the conduct investigation of sitting Councillors Sno Bonneau and Alan Blake.

"I hope the investigation gets wound up soon so we can all move smoothly into the elections," Tanya Brooks-Cooper said in light of a local panel being announced to determine the penalty against division 9 Councillor Sno Bonneau.

Councillor Blake is also being investigated for non-declaration of interests and not abstaining from voting.

"I would like to point out I won't be taking any donations from developers," Tanya Brooks-Cooper says. "That way you can be sure I'm making decisions, once elected, that are best for you and our community."

Both councillors Bonneau and Blake have received donations to their election campaigns from numerous property developers and have then voted to support their applications before Council without following the Local Government Act which requires declaring a conflict and removing themselves from the council chamber.

Brooks-Cooper says that well-planned, sustainable development is where we need to head.

"We have some great examples happening around the place we can use to model other new developments."

Former Mulgrave Shire councillor and local Barron River farmer Ross Parisi, who is also considering running for a Council seat, says Bonneau and Blake should stand down.

"[They] should stand down from any official position and not participate in any Cairns Regional Council duty while they are under investigation for possible breach of conduct," Ross Parisi told CairnsBlog. "Any elected position is one of trust and for that trust to be compromised is not acceptable under our Westminster system of democracy and public accountability."

Parisi says the allegations that the councillor may have accepted undeclared donations from developers and may have voted in development applications are serious matters and go to the core in public probity.

"One of the major tenet in our parliamentary government democracy is that all citizens are subject to the law and that justice needs to be done but also is seen to be done," Ross Parisi said.

"The above mentioned Councillors should be given the opportunity to stand aside with dignity and falling that the Cairns Regional Council's CEO should demand that they stand down without pay and refrain from any Council engagement while the allegations are investigated by the Regional Conduct Review Panel."

Paul Freebody to run for Cairns State seat

After two years and no start of his Adventure Waters theme park situated in the Barron River flood delta, Paul Freebody is set to announce that he will be running for the State seat of Cairns in the upcoming election.

Freebody was dumped after months of internal discussions within the LNP about his business dealings after former employees and managers of his car wash business alerted the party to goings on.

Paul Freebody blames Federal MP Warren Entsch and LNP boss Barry O'Sullivan for his demise, accusing them of ''assassinated" him (Paul called it "assignation").

The Party finally removed Freebody as the Cairns candidate and terminated his party membership when it was discovered he was behind an email that compared the Prime Minister to assassinated US President JFK. Paul Freebody says it was a ''family member'' that was behind the rogue email.

Freebody has since released a recording of a meeting held with LNP Party bosses including Barry O'Sullivan, who was swearing and rude, demanding Paul provide answers about the letters of concern they were receiving from Cairns. He recorded the meeting covertly, not an offense in Queensland, in order to expose and shame the LNP.

On Freebody's website he indicates running in the State election race.

"My understanding and recognition of the large scale change that needs to take place to meet the community needs is the driving force behind my entry into state politics," Freebody says. "I believe the only way change can come about is to have a person who is committed firstly to getting the basics right, and then unleashing the sleeping giant of potential that I know exists in our city."

However on Facebook Freebody says things are improving.

''Things are good and life is getting back to normal since my assignation [sic] in the LNP by Warren and his mate in Brisbane Barry O, Sullivan,'' Paul Freebody writes.

''We are now getting ready and in full planning mode for our next adventure and will have an announcement soon.''

Every action creates a reaction

Christopher Hitchens 1949 - 2011

Molly Meldrum with Prince Charles - 1977

Lock up your children (and women): Gavin King is in the neighbourhood

Julia Gillard's 1984 student election promise to support "homosexual rights"

Desley Boyle says she's "so proud" of Civil Partnerships Bill

"Sometimes I'm so proud," Cairns MP Desley Boyle said in the aftermath of the Civil Partnerships Bill that was passed in Queensland State Parliament last night, 47 to 40.


The Public Gallery was so packed for the four-hour debate that they had to open a second room with a big screen that others could watch on.

Desley Boyle says it was a rare Parliamentary debate - a conscience vote.

"The Independents including Katter Party people, all spoke - very different views to mine - but at least they put their views on the line - they voted according to conscience," Desley Boyle said today.

"One person only spoke for the LNP saying they were united that this was just a political stunt and therefore they would oppose the Bill. They sat in an angry silence, some of them looking very uncomfortable," Boyle says.

"Many Labor members spoke with eloquence about the importance of validating and legalizing loving relationships and about the legalisation of human rights too long denied. It was truly, from my point of view, a validation of why it's worth standing for election, of why it's worth the daily struggle that is the lot of a politician and why Labor is, all the ways in which we fall short notwithstanding, still the right party to vote for."

"And it was for me, a re-affirmation at the end of my political career that a fair society for all Queenslanders is worth fighting for," Desley Boyle said.

Advance Cairns used endorsement without permission for Entertainment Precinct lobby

Advance Cairns, a peak umbrella business quango, that Mayor Val Schier decreed would lose funding prior to her successful mayoral bid in 2008, yet went on and supported increased cash injections, represented a number of organisations without permission, endorsing the Cairns Entertainment Precinct.

On November 16th, Advance Cairns, which celebrates its 10th birthday, placed a full-page advertisement in the Cairns Post. Today the CEO, Stewart Christie, admitted the error and appologised.

"Due to the urgency of placing the advert, logos of organisations endorsing the Tropical North Queensland Regional Economic Plan were erroneously included," Stewart Christie said. "Advance Cairns would like to applogise."

The organisations that were used without permission or knowledge were Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils, Tablelands Regional Council, Cassowary Coast Regional Council, and Cook Shire Council, and Regional Development Australia.

Independent Council candidate for Division 2, Paul Drabble, has called the incident and "attempted deception by Advance Cairns."

Drabble has written to the Cairns mayor asking her to resign her position on the Advance Cairns board.

"It seems professionalism in this organistaion is now at an all-time low in favor of blind sensationalism of the truth," Paul Drabble told CairnsBlog. "All Council funding should be withheld and a full explanation of the attempt to deceive the people of Cairns explained."

He says that a full page apology to the people of Cairns should be a priority.

"I found it very disturbing to find that Advance Cairns of which you are a member of the board, has had to issue an apology for the erroneous use without consultation and without approval of logos in its advertising of support for the Cairns Entertainment Precinct," Paul Drabble wrote to Mayor Schier.

"[This is an] attempted deception by Advance Cairns over the Entertainment Precinct and apology for the erroneous use of logos. I think in the face of this disclosure of facts, you as our Mayor, should resign your position on the Advance Cairns board immediately."

"Also upon your resignation you should inform Advance Cairns that all Council funding will be withheld and until a full explanation of the attempt to deceive the people of Cairns is explained to both Council and the people of Cairns."

In June Cairns Regional Council agreed to $250,000 a year funding for Advance Cairns until 2014. Under "Spirit and Intention", Council states...

• 1.1 This Agreement establishes and articulates an integrated way of working together to deliver the vision and priorities of the Tropical North Queensland Regional Economic Plan (TNQREP) and to support the sustainable economic development of the Cairns region.
  
  1.2 The Parties will work to the following principles:
  i. Open, transparent and honest communications and discussions;
  ii. Respecting each others roles and accountabilities and acting in good faith; and
  iii. Commitment to the common goal of developing and delivering the vision as agreed in the TNQREP and of sustainable economic development of the Cairns region.
  
  1.3 This is an outcome-based agreement, with clear performance indicators providing the basis from which to regularly monitor progress.
  
  1.4 Cairns Regional Council encourages Advance Cairns to source additional funding to support economic development outcomes for the Cairns regional economy. This may include grants from the Queensland State Government, the Federal Government, industry partnerships and other sources, as the Advance Cairns Board determines, in alignment with the TNQREP.
  
  

300 people living with HIV, as Cairns marks World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day, observed around the world on December 1st.

Government and health officials throughout the world observe the event, often with speeches or forums on AIDS topics, since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day.

World AIDS Day was first observed on December 1, 1988. It has been common to hold memorials to honour persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. This evening from 6pm, on the Esplanade (will be at the Budda Bar, above McDonalds, if raining.

Seth Fourmile will give a Welcome to Country followed by a performance from One Blood Dance group. Cairns Regional Council Mayor, Val Schier will speak, along with Dr Arden Dearden, and Bill Chappell. The Out Loud Choir will also entertain.

AIDS has killed more than 30 million since it was first recognised in 1981, and an estimated 33 million people worldwide live with HIV today, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children. And over 7,000 new HIV infections continue to occur every single day in the world, predominantly in low and middle income countries.

Director of Sexual Health at Cairns Sexual Health Service, Dr Darren Russell, an Adjunct Associate Professor at James Cook University and the Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, says in Cairns we have more than 300 people living with HIV, which is quite a large number for a smallish city. Of course we have a bigger epidemic on our doorstep in Papua New Guinea, where an estimated 34,000 people are living with HIV. PNG is only 800km to our north, whereas Brisbane is 1700km south. PNG is therefore of great importance to us in Cairns as we continue to deal with the issue of HIV.

Here's Dr Russell's speech on the launch of World AIDS Day in Cairns...

• The United Nations General Assembly in June of this year made a Political Declaration on AIDS with 105 points aimed at finally eliminating HIV, including efforts to improve access to prevention, care, and treatment around the world.
  
  In addition, the UN remains deeply concerned that globally women and girls are still the most affected by the epidemic and that they bear a disproportionate share of the care-giving burden. Furthermore, the ability of women and girls to protect themselves from HIV continues to be compromised by physiological factors, gender inequalities, including unequal legal, economic and social status, insufficient access to health care and services, including for sexual and reproductive health, and all forms of discrimination and violence, including sexual violence and exploitation.
  
  The United Nations has also set the ambitious aim of halting and starting to reverse the rise in HIV infections by 2015, less than 4 years away. Even more than this, they plan to work towards reducing sexual transmission of HIV by 50 per cent by 2015; work towards reducing transmission of HIV among people who inject drugs by 50 per cent by 2015; and work towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015 and substantially reducing AIDS-related maternal deaths.
  
  These are amazing goals, unthinkable even a couple of years ago. They will require each of us to work towards achieving them, and to keep pressuring governments to continue funding prevention programs that have been proven to work – programs that involve education, the provision of condoms and clean injecting equipment for those who use drugs, and more recently the use of antiviral HIV drugs to reduce a person’s infectiousness. These drugs are available to all those who require them in Australia, but that is not yet the case in PNG, where only 50% of those requiring HIV drugs to treat their infections are receiving these life-saving medicines.
  
  In my 21 years of working in the HIV field I have seen many changes. When I started work in 1990 we had only one HIV medicine – AZT – and it didn’t work well at all by itself. We know have over 25 drugs, and they are used in combinations of 3-4 drugs that suppress the virus that leads on to AIDS. In my early days of working in HIV/AIDS, the outlook for people with HIV was very poor indeed. It is now, of course, much better, such that people who have HIV can look forward to long, mainly healthy lives. People can have long-term, loving relationships, can have children who are free of HIV, and can lead long, productive lives.
  
  The word ‘cure’ is even being bandied about, although eradicating HIV totally from a person’s body may still be many years away. However, it is a wonderful thing to work towards.
  
  The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is ‘HIV is still here’. The aim is to encourage all Australians to be aware of how common HIV is; to take action to reduce the transmission of HIV by promoting safe sex practices; and to accept individuals living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
  
  HIV positive people need to be empowered in our society to feel included and to actually educate others about living with HIV/AIDS. People living with HIV have the right to participate in the community free from stigma and discrimination.
  
  With this in mind I would ask all of you – especially over the coming week - to think about HIV, to talk about HIV, and, if possible, to do something practical about the themes of World AIDS Day. HIV has not left us – ‘HIV is still here’.
  
  

• WORLD AIDS DAY SERVICE: - 6pm tonight, Cairns Esplanade.
  
  (If raining, will be moved to Budda Bar, above McDonalds on the Esplanade, entry is on Shields Street).
  
  A Welcome to Country by Seth Fourmile. One Blood Dance group will perform followed by words from Mayor Val Schier and Dr Arden Dearden. Bill Chappelle will also speak on behalf of HIV positive community. Cairns' Out Loud Choir will entertain.