Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Tony Windsor says broadband internet the clincher to support Labor
Independent MP Bob Katter backs Coalition
Independent Kennedy MP Bob Katter has announced he will back the Coalition. New Government announcement at 2pm
There's a few ding bats at the Cairns Post
- Tickets are on sale at Ticketek on 132 849, at www.ticketek.com.au or at the Customer Care Desk, Stockland.
Cairns High School closed due to "serious assault"
Officers are currently guarding a crime scene at the corner of Grove Street and Sheridan Street, after a serious assault of a woman overnight.
Cairns Council CEO says no to Alan Blake
KidsHype and Cairns Video News join the local blogshere
KidsHype
Carolyn Goodchild from Edgehill, who published a popular school print magazine called Hype and Holiday Hype has morphed into an online interactive youth website called KidsHype.
"We've become an online resource as opposed to a magazine that was published every school term," Carolyn Goodchild says. "KidsHype is aimed at primary school kids and parents, however I also get a lot of high school kids that log on that have a look at the competitions."
Cairns Video News
- SEE ALL CAIRNS BLOGS...
on the BlogRoll, in the right-hand sidebar!
Monday, 6 September 2010
100 quakes since Saturday's earthquake, continue to hit Christchurch
CAPTION CONTEST: Make up ya bloody mind, okay?
What's their answer going to be? What are they thinking? What have they been saying privately to each other? Now is your chance to put words in their mouth, as only you can. As always, be funny, not dirty. Well, you can be a little naughty. I'll kick it off...
- "Bob, we're gunna support Julia. She just looks way better in speedos."
- "Tell ya what, let's all drag this out for another week. I mean, no one hardly knew of us before the election!"
- "Can I insist that all those on the front bench be compelled to wear an Akubra?"
- "You back the Sex Party, I'll go with Abbott, and for a laugh, you support The Greens!"
- "I think there's one thing we forgot to demand: Anna Bligh is sent to Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre."
Enstch is back to form: 'promise what we can deliver'
Leichhardt MP Elect Warren Entsch has weighed-in to the 'horse-trading' as promises fly left, right and centre, in the dying hours of negotiations...In an interview with The Australian, Entsch warns that empty promises could will haunt the party.
As Tony Abbott talks with the three independents before they decide what flavored ice-cream that should sink their teeth into, Warren Entsch has urged his Opposition Leader not to "make false promises in return for power."
"Of course I desperately want us to take government . . . but at the end of the day, if it means we've got to make promises we know we cannot keep, it's something we shouldn't do," he told The Australian.
"I would rather that Tony do what is achievable and what is best for the country, rather than what is best for individuals," Warren Entsch says. "If you make promises you know you're never going to achieve, then all you're doing is creating conflict."
- Entsch appeared to resent Mr Abbott's offer of a $1 billion new hospital for Hobart, in a failed bid last week to win the support of independent MP Andrew Wilkie.
"I'd love $1bn to go into the hospital up here; it would make a huge difference," he said. "We've got a bloody hospital here (in Cairns) that's an absolute disaster -- it's one of the worst in the country."
Andrew Wilkie, who won the seat of Denison from Labor, rejected Abbott's offer, opting for Labor's offer of a $350 million hospital upgrade, plus two extra personal staff.
- "What annoys me is how he is going to get two extra staff for 14,000 constituents," Mr Entsch said. "I've got four staff for 87,000 people and have got an area 150,000sq km -- three or four times the size of Tasmania and his piddling little electorate."
In remarks that could scuttle Mr Abbott's delicate negotiations with the independents for their support to form a minority government, Mr Entsch launched an attack on Bob Katter, the independent MP in the neighbouring seat of Kennedy.
Mr Entsch said he was "frustrated and disappointed" that Mr Katter was taking so long to decide which side to back.
"Bob's been playing silly buggers now for a couple of weeks, beating his chest," he said. "It should not be a decision that is taking this long."
I have to agree. This king-maker is relishing his moment in the midday sun, and his hat will only protect his from criticism for so long...
- Mr Entsch said rural Australia would "blame Bob" if he backed a Labor government. He said Mr Katter and NSW independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott had been voted in as "maverick National Party MPs", rather than true independents.
"They've got to put aside their personal hatreds of individuals within the National Party," he said. "I know Katter has an issue with (Nationals senator) Barnaby Joyce and Trussy (Nationals leader Warren Truss) but he should be big enough and ugly enough to put that aside."
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Pendas bring out the Lorikeets
Saturday, 4 September 2010
AUDIO INTERVIEW: Chatting with Grant, from quake-ridden Christchurch
- or download MP3 (3:30 min, 6.4 mb)
Tonight's Jazz under the Stars cancelled due to rain
"I regret to advise that tonight's Jazz Under the Stars has been cancelled due to inclement weather," Judi Corcoran, secretary Friends of Botanic Gardens told CairnsBlog. "The Bureau have advised that the rain is likely to continue into the evening."
President of FOBG David Rentz, says he hopes to reschedule the event for another date.
"We apologise for any inconvenience, and know that many will be disappointed. We will do our best to reschedule the concert for another day -weather and musicians willing," David Rentz said.
The Cairns Festival event, organised by Friends of the Gardens and Cairns Tropic Jazz Club, is a festival favourite, with the cream of local musicians and vocalists. The internationally-acclaimed Jim Black and Julie McLaughlin, TAKE 5, Victoria Boxall, along with Julie Hibberd, Cool Change, Bob Howlett Sextet, Rob Williams and the Vegas Ban, were all scheduled to take part.
74 - 74
"This may be a blessing in disguise for Julia Gillard, as Bob is rather eccentric," David Farrar writes on Kiwiblog. "Katter wants the mining tax and any ETS dropped. This makes it very unlikely that he will support a Labor-Green Government."
It will all come down to Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.
If they stick together they will decide the Government. If they disagree with each other, then the House is tied 75-75 and another election will be needed.
"What still tips it Labor’s way in my view is that they are more likely to last three years, as the Greens will control the Senate from July 2011," David Farrar says. "However the Independents will be concerned that their electorates may not like the policies of a Labor/Green Government, and if they go for that option they may risk losing their seats next election."
The Greens say that they will use their clout with Labor to push for same-sex marriage and liberalising the treatment of refugees.
7.1 quake hits Christchurch
A massive 7.1 earthquake awoke the residents of Christchurch, New Zealand just over three hours ago at 4.35am this morning.For those that know this blogger, it's where I was born and lived until I was 20-ish.
There was extensive damage around the town, including power and sewer lines. Part of and that part of Avonside Drive along the River Avon, was undriveable.
It was originally reported as 7.4, but downgraded (and the Aussie in the Geo office was told to go home).
"It was terrible, was awful, dreadful," my 86-year-old mother Doreen, told me on the phone a few minutes ago from her New Brighton home, near the coast of Christchurch.
"It woke me up. I don't think I've ever felt one like this, and hope I never do again. The whole place shoke. Everyone was up around the neighbourhood around 4:30 in the morning."
"I was terrified. It was frightening. It went on for ages and the noise was awful," mother told me.
The quake was 30k West of Christchurch and had a depth of 33km. Houses around the beachside community of Kairaki Beach, Kaiapoi, has had substantial damage to houses.
There are still many aftershocks. the latest at 8:15 am with a 4.7 magnitude, 9 km depth; one at 7:56 am, 5.2; and 7:52 am, 4.0.
Christchurch last had an earthquake this big on March 9 1929, at Arthur's Pass, and on September 1 1888, in North Canterbury, however 7.1 rates as one of the biggest the country has experienced. An 8.2 was recorded in Wairarapa, north of Wellington in 1855.
Christchurch is close to the Alpine and Hope Faults. This morning's quake was felt across the South Island and as far north as Wellington and Palmerston North.
The earthquake was New Zealand's most destructive since 1931, when 256 people were killed in Napier.
New Zealand is still considered geologically young and many minor earthquake are experienced regularly. There are a number of active volcanos throughout the North Island.
- Christchurch earthquake pix
Saturday SoapBlog: Cairns Council must not fund Councillor Blake’s legal action against CairnsBlog - Bryan Law
Veteran community activist and anti-war protester, Bryan Law, has launched a scathing attack on Cairns Regional Council for considering funding Councillor Alan Blake’s legal action against CairnsBlog and it's author, Michael Moore.Here's an OPEN LETTER that Law has sent to Cairns Regional Council CEO, Lyn Russell, and Mayor Val Schier.
For the issue to be “currently under legal consideration”, you must be contemplating the exercise of your delegated powers to “expend Council resources to indemnify Councillors for the cost of pursuing legal advice or proceedings”. As a ratepayer and a citizen I believe that any Council support for a defamation action against a fellow citizen is anti-democratic, and amounts to dereliction of duty and irresponsible waste. Alan Blake threatens not only one citizen, Michael Moore, but also the scores of “commenters” who’ve been critical of his political performance.
I have some personal experience of defamation. Over the past 15 years I have been subjected to one actual suit of defamation - by five journalists from The Cairns Post - that actually spent a little time in the Court. I’ve also received four solicitors’ letters threatening defamation action -including one from then Mayor Kevin Byrne’s “Unity Team” in 2004, of which Councillor Alan Blake was a member. The whole lot were nonsense that was withdrawn eventually, but not without effort and expense.
I insist you to consider the following points when you are making your decision:
- 1.0
- When conducted by a practitioner of politics, defamation is most commonly a tool used either to moderate political criticism, or to silence some critics altogether.
This is particularly true when the Plaintiff has substantial means, and the defendant has more limited means. One needs quality legal advice to defend oneself against any allegation of defamation.
The fear of costs plays a role in minimising both the incidence of defamatory publication, and the conduct of frivolous suit.
If Council were to pay the costs of this civil matter for the Plaintiff, then you would be ensuring that Blake can act without fear of costs and consequences. You will be effectively undermining the principle of equality before the law. Don’t do it! - 2.0
- Defamation is a personal matter.
Until recently there was in Queensland a criminal statute that was occasionally used against the harsher critics of politicians and bankers. “Publish Insulting Words” was a charge under the Vagrancy, Gaming and Other Offences Act. If Councillor Blake could convince a Police officer that he had been socially maligned by a pauper, they could have charged the offender with a criminal offence.
Unfortunately for Councillor Blake the High Court of Australia found in 1997 an implied right of free speech in that section of the constitution that guarantees free and fair elections (for what election could be fair unless citizens have the right to freely discuss matters of government and politics?). The Supreme Court of Queensland applied Lange v ABC to the Vag Act to render the criminal defamation section inoperable.
The other consequence of Lange v ABC is the now established principle that politicians have to be prepared to cop a bit in public discussion. More than any other citizen. ‘Cos of what they do (contest elections).
Against this cultural expectation, Councillor Blake has launched this action as the result of his own subjective judgement about his standing and reputation in the community, the damage done to that reputation by the words complained of, and the real value of any cost or suffering he has experienced as a result. I would suggest there has been no real damage to a reputation already under wide challenge.
The Cairns Regional Council cannot possibly act on such subjective decisions, made by a single Councillor, about how much puffed up vanity he is entitled to enjoy without challenge. It is not Council’s job to support or affirm a Councillor’s personal vanity.
Nor is it Council’s job to collect and examine evidence, or purport to make any objective decisions about the strength or weakness of Councillor Blake’s character, reputation, or claims.
Councillor Blake has made the decision to sue for defamation as a private person, and it is for the Court to decide, using due process, whether or not his claims have merit. Councillor Blake is not entitled to the use of public resources to pursue this private matter. Do not give any to him. - 3.0
I do not believe that Councillor Blake is entitled to “indemnity” for a decision he makes to launch a defamation action against a citizen.
It would be a different matter if Councillor Blake was being stalked, or unduly harassed, and this was a likely consequence of his performance as a Cairns Regional Councillor. I would be more than happy to see legal costs paid for the Councillor to seek Apprehended Violence and/or other remedies to that kind of situation.
But that is not the case here. Councillor Blake is being criticised. Councillor Blake doesn’t like it.
During each election campaign in which Councillor Blake has stood, he makes public representations about his character, record, policy, and desires for achievement. He does that to solicit votes and get elected. As an institution of government, Council cannot be involved in electioneering, or be seen to be condoning or approving any political/personal arguments. Blake’s election campaign is a political matter for Councillor Blake.
Michael Moore, through CairnsBlog, is interested in the very same questions, from a slightly different angle. CairnsBlog is part of the political landscape. Moreover the blog is a significant part of the political landscape, read by thousands, and contributed to by dozens.
If Council were to pay Alan Blake’s costs you would be improperly entering the political debate. You would be seen to be taking sides with Alan Blake’s opinion of himself, against a wide variety of citizens and ratepayers who hold a different view. Don’t do it. - 4.0
Councillor Blake’s suit goes well beyond Mr Moore. It threatens dozens of commenters (mostly residents and Ratepayers of Cairns) who use the blog as a political discussion forum.
In both his statement of claim, and in subsequent media comment, Councillor Blake makes known his intention to pursue any liability by those who comment corrosively about him on the CairnsBlog.
Because of this, the matter, if it proceeds, is likely to gain fairly wide-spread attention in media around Australia, and may create precedent around emerging legal principles of the “new” New Media. E-media, social media, parasitic media, Murdoch media. Where do the boundaries lie in social media?
I wonder where Cairns Regional Council would prefer to see such a discussion go? I doubt that it would be to “Impose a legal compulsion against criticism of establishment figures. Bolster the establishment figures with public money”. Urk! That’s what supplying Alan Blake with public resource to support a defamation suit would be saying. Don’t do it.
I most strenuously object to any proposal that Cairns Regional Council support Councillor Alan Blake’s defamation suit against Michael Moore.
I insist that you raise this idea for public discussion at a Council meeting before granting Councillor Blake access to any Council resources, and I insist that you take community values into account when you consider the matter of funding.
I understand you’re taking some kind of legal advice. While I accept that advice might be subject to legal professional privilege, I’ve got no idea why you would be constrained from discussing the actual and policy issues concerning Council support for defamation actions.
CAIRNS FESTIVAL: Carnival on Collins a 'sparkling jewel'
Sunday's Carnival on Collins is the Cairns Festival's finale event, and is often called the sparkling jewel in the festival crown.Last year the event squashed 40,000 locals and visitors along Collins Avenue, nesting along the Botanic Gardens strip.
From 9am – 3pm it will be a day of inspiring entertainment and activities. Coinciding with Father’s Day on Sunday, the carnival also touts to be 'eco-friendly' a theme that embraces 2010 as International Year of Biodiversity. In this spirit, the Carnival will have a focus on reducing our carbon footprint at the event and the community, and you can find out all about this at the 'Green Quarter'.
There'll be around 100 market stalls including plants, food, arts and crafts, buskers and roving entertainers, sheep shearing and sheep dog demonstrations (something for us Kiwis!). There will also be live entertainment including Harry Manx from Canada, playing his 'east meets west' blues guitar.
- CHECK OUT Carnival on Collins programme
Friday, 3 September 2010
Legislation to overturn Wild Rivers should become law under new government
Today, Senator Macdonald had backed plans to ensure legislation moves ahead to overturn Queensland's Wild Rivers legislation, regardless of who forms the next government.
"We're the first people in Queensland that say the Cape rivers need protection, but protection doesn't mean lock up," Joseph Elu told CairnsBlog. "Wild Rivers is very much a lock up situation."
Mayor Elu says they have river protection covered under conservation covenants and national parks, which is enough protection," he says.
Mayor Elu warned that any lock up will only damage the river systems, with many feral pigs and cane toads. He was scathing about the lack of negotiations by the State Labor government over the proposed Wild Rivers legislation.
"Their way of consulting, is telling us what's going to happen," Joseph Elu says. "They did not come to us when the crucial decision on Wild Rivers were declared. They did not come to us and say why they are doing this. They did this behind closed doors."
Today Opposition spokesman on Northern and Remote Australia, Senator Ian Macdonald said that if the Coalition forms the Federal Government, legislation will be introduced to override the draconian Queensland Labor Government's Wild Rivers laws.
"In the event of the Labor/Greens Coalition forming government in Australia, it would appear that the Labor/Greens Coalition agreement would also ensure Tony Abbott’s Private Member’s Bill about overturning the Queensland legislation, becomes law," Hon Ian Macdonald said today.
- Clause 4.2(e) of the Labor/Greens Coalition agreement provides:
“The House of Representatives will debate and vote during government business time Private Senators Bills as passed by the Senate within six sitting days of the message being received by the House.”
Tony Abbott’s bill overturns Queensland’s Wild Rivers Legislation, that Premier Anna Bligh called a "stunt", was introduced into the Senate as a Private Senator’s Bill by Senator Nigel Scullion, and passed by the Senate on 22 June 2010. Ian Macdonald says that under the new Labor/Green accord, it be submitted to the House of Representatives for debate and vote.
Abbott's move would prevent the Queensland government from making wild rivers declarations - which restrict development around designated rivers - without the support of local indigenous elders.
"In the House of Representatives, I cannot imagine any of the four Independents would vote against the Bill which seeks to override a Queensland Act which impacts so adversely on indigenous people in Cape York," Hon Ian Macdonald said.
"I am confident the independents in the House of Representatives will support the Private Senators Bill, thus effectively overturning the Queensland Government’s legislation. Either way Tony Abbott’s fight on behalf of indigenous people in Cape York, will succeed," Senator Macdonald says.
Leichhardt MP Elect Warren Entsch says that if Labor lock up more rivers, there will be no investment and no future in the region.
"I will stand up for the Cape and make sure these communities have a future," Entsch says.
- CairnsBlog Wild Rivers coverage
Cape York mayor slams local Labor MPs - August 20, 2010
Call-for-high-court-challenge-against Wild Rivers - June 21, 2010
Wild Rivers hearing in Cairns April 13th - Apr 08, 2010
Why they're wild about wild rivers - Apr 27, 2009
Wild Rivers heritage legislation, leads to conflict - May 31st 2009
Wild Rivers run free (for a price - Sept 28, 2009
The Wilderness Society (or Terra Nullius Wilderness geStapo) - April 12, 2010
How wild is my river? - Oct 28, 2009
Denis Walls responds to the Wild Rivers debate - Sept 29, 2009
Wild about Wild Rivers - April 10, 2009
Metcalfe hits back at Wild Rivers debate - Oct 7, 2009
CairnsBlog author, Michael Moore, recently visited the Northern Peninsula communities, and talked with Mayor Joseph Elu.
Energy Art Expo at Tanks, opens tonight
As the Cairns Festival heads towards the finish line, visual arts students from across Far North Queensland will be centre stage at the Energy Art exhibition, opening at the Tanks tonight at 6pm.
There'll be artworks in all mediums, created by 140 students from 23 schools across the region, marking the expo's 17th year, last year attracting 5,000.
Tonight, this year’s winners of Creative Generation Awards for Excellence in Visual Art and Design will be announced, and their work will tour Queensland as part of a travelling exhibition next year.
- The free exhibition will run till Friday October 1 at the Tanks Arts Centre, 46 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill.