"Christian" Jim Wallace spouts anti-gay and Islamic rant for ANZAC day

A "poisonous old dinosaur" is how some have described the head of the Australian Christian Lobby Jim Wallace after he said Australian soldiers didn't fight for "gay marriage and Islamic."

Of course gay service men and women fought for this country so that everyone can live in freedom and in democracy.

However Wallace says that his comment was up to "misinterpretation".

Jim Wallace said "just hope that as we remember servicemen and women today we remember the Australia they fought for — wasn't gay marriage and Islamic!"

He since apologised after a torrid of attack about his comments.

"There is no way I was trying to infer that our veterans didn't fight for all Australians, of course they did," " Jim Wallace said "I spent 32 years in the army myself, I'm imbued with that. I'm the last person to demean Anzac Day or our veterans."

Wallace says that the nature of the country that veterans had fought for is changing.

"I think that the nature of our society that our soldiers fought for was based on Judeo-Christian heritage. [Gay marriage and Islam] are two things that, in the future, are certainly going to define the nature of our society," Wallace said.

Of course when people fight for a free country, a democracy, the fight for everyone, no matter what colour, religion or sexuality.

Those that served, like my father who died 14 years ago, fought for everyone. To suggest that we didn't have gays in the services back in the 1900's or the 40's is of course a joke.

As one commentator said today, using the bible as a weapon without spiritual discernment, can be a very dangerous thing. Wallace, who claims to be speaking as a Christian, should know that in the Bible, marriage is between Christ the bridegroom and 'we' His bride," Amanda Jamison says. "The 'marriage' union is therefore the co-joining of Christ to human beings and visa versa. It specifically doesn't say only 'heterosexual xyz religious group of human beings' - it is written that the 'we' that is to be 'wedded' is anyone from any culture gender ideology or nation in the human population- any who believes in Him."

That being so, the Bibles' comprehension of the word 'marriage' can hardly be used as a weapon specifically against temporal gay marriage or the banning of the same. I'm sure that loads of gay people believe in God.

However it's nice to know that we still have our religious freaks ready and willing to expose themselves.

ANZAC Eve peace vigil tonight challenges traditional digger debate

A rally for peace, is how a vigil is being promoted by Bryan Law, a veteran of of different kind at the Cairns Cenotaph on the Esplanade this evening.


"What would the ANZACS say and do about the war in Afghanistan?” Bryan Law asks.

Law is provocatively leading a candlelight vigil at the pinnacle of Australia and New Zealand most poignant weekend, a time when many reflect and remember the effort

This ANZAC Eve, on Easter Sunday 24 April, there will be a lantern-lit vigil from 6pm on the Esplanade – at the Cenotaph.

"My father John Law saw service in New Guinea during World War 2, and was part of the occupying force in Japan in 1945

and 1946," Bryan Law recounts. "My maternal grandfather Joseph Tate saw service in WW1. When I was growing up ANZAC Day was firstly a solemn commemoration of sacrifice, which then morphed into a day where surviving veterans played up - with or without permission."

Bryan Law says that ANZAC Day has changed since he was a kid.

"The world has changed. War has changed. Not always for the better," Bryan Law says. "In recent years I’m increasingly concerned about the way politicians are using ANZAC Day to support the several wars we’re fighting right now. Several more wars are likely to start tomorrow."

"The wars of my father and grandfather were exceptional. A failure of diplomacy betrayed us into a massive military industrial folly. We destroyed whole economies and chewed up two generations of fighting men. Winners and losers suffered alike. The 'war to end all wars' had been fought."

HEIL WAR: Some Cold/proxy war glorifyers at the Mareeba Cenotaph last week.

Bryan Law says we the had the so-called Cold War and scores of proxy wars fought around the third world. He cites that there were 'misadventures' by the USA in Vietnam and the Soviet Union, Afghanistan, that proved the futility of fighting guerrillas with our own troops over foreign borders.

"Now we settle for 'maintaining security' overseas, the largest contingent of armed personnel in Afghanistan today are mercenaries," Bryan Law says.

"War today inflicts few casualties on western soldiers, and is easily accommodated by our domestic economy. It is with us all the time in foreign policy. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was a prominent urger for the current bombing of Tripoli."

"In Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and now Libya, 'the West' enjoys such an economic and technological superiority that our fighting troops are most often not at any significant risk," Law says. "Predator drone operators are most commonly working from Creech Air Force Bases in Nevada. Civilians are regularly killed by drone attack. The operators commute back home for a hot meal."

"Unlike my father’s and grandfather’s wars, most casualties in wars today are civilian. Children. Women. Men. Civilians are dying as you read this. On 1st March this year, in Afghanistan, nine boys aged between 7 and 13 years old were killed by Apache gunship while collecting firewood."

"But the war in Afghanistan is far away. We don’t see. Most of us don’t want to see," Bryan Law says.

"How would you feel if you were this man? ANZAC Day is a great opportunity to ask ourselves What would the ANZACs say about the wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya? Those brave Australians and New Zealanders who struggled and shone and died over four years during WW1 – what would they say about the nine years spent so far in Afghanistan?"

"Didn’t most of them urge upon us the pledge to “never again” commit the folly of war! Would they like to see their names used to justify today’s war in Afghanistan? I know what my father thought. He never fully recovered from the horror of his war. Today, four times as many Australian troops will die from suicide as the result of post traumatic stress disorder than will die on the battlefield. My father wanted recognition for our Aboriginal people in the frontier wars… and he wanted peace."

Cairns Peace by Peace has joined forces with a national network of Christian, Quaker and Buddhist nonviolence groups to initiate a new event into ANZAC Eve that commemorates all the victims of War.

"We hope to contribute through ANZAC Day towards the creation of a peaceful, just world – a world without war," Law says. "The Gospel passage at the centre of our vigil is John 15:12-14: This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you”.

2011 is the inaugural event in Australia, with the central focus being on events in Canberra.

• TONIGHT IN CAIRNS: Peace by Peace extends a warm invitation to everyone to attend the inaugural ANZAC Eve Peace Vigil.
  Cenotaph, The Esplanade, 6pm Easter Sunday
  
  

God works in mysterious ways

Saturday SoapBlog: Syd Walker - Council election needs a date change

Local activist and writer Syd Walker says that Queensland's local government elections need a new date.

Walker suggests that our tropical wet season make campaigning challenging and argues for a mid-year campaign cycle.

Few things are truly certain in politics, but that doesn't mean there are no reliable patterns at all.

One thing close to inevitable is that northern Queensland candidates, campaigning in next year's Queensland's local council elections, will experience torrential rain that will make campaigning interesting at best. In the worst case, it may literally sink their ability to campaign effectively.

I've heard two plausible theories why.starting from 2008, Queensland is scheduled to hold recurring Local Government elections every four years at the same time of year: mid-March.

The first is that the people who made this decision hate the population of Far North Queensland and wish to see our local democracy swept away in cyclones and submerged in floods.

The other possibility is that the people who made this decision carelessly overlooked the fact that February and March are consistently among the North's wettest months.

Let's be charitable and assume the latter. In that case, Is there any chance of changing election dates for Queensland's fixed term Local Government authorities, so campaigns henceforth take place in winter?

It would be nice if the new cycle could start from June or July 2012. Presumably the current crop of elected Councillors wouldn't object to an extra few months in office at ratepayer expense?

Not the Royal Wedding

Inspired by JK's wedding entrance vid, with now 64 million clicks on the Tube, here's the UK T-Mobile's spoof of the upcoming Royal Wedding...

NB: You can view the real wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on YouTube on the 29th of April from 10am London Time.

Poll supports a change in Queensland State government

A poll of over 300 voters on CairnsBlog clearly favours a leadership change in the Queensland State government.

The poll, run over the last 14 days, shows a majority will not back a Labor-led State Government.

35% backed the ALP whereas 43% supported the LNP's Campbell Newman.

The silly addition of former right-wing Cairns mayor Kevin Byrne, a card-carrying Lib, also attracted a sizeable following with 20%.

This result, largely showing how Cairns region voters are feeling, mirrors a number of State polls, showing wide dissatisfaction for Premier Anna Bligh and the Labor Party. Bligh's post-flood and cyclone euphoric glow, has all but been washed down the Lockyer Valley.

Tony, Joolya, or Bob: Whose bubble will burst first?

Clifton Beach Luke is in Sydney for Easter and emailed this photo he snapped at a Bondi Junction shop today.

In a fancy clothing store, three mannikins are adorned with masks. There's Liberal leader Tony Abbott, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Bob Brown of The Greens, with the question posed: whose bubble will burst?

It's the question alright.

Labor selection narrows as Bailey withdraws

Mike Bailey, the deputy president of ALP's Cairns branch, has withdrawn his nomination for the Cairns pre-selection in the upcoming State election.

Numerous candidates have been approached following the LNP completing their selection process a month ago, however Bailey, an outspoken critic of Stuey Traill who was removed from the party, says his family must come first.

"After much soul searching and discussions with my wife of 37 years, I have decided to withdraw my nomination," Mike Bailey said today. "This may be the shortest political career on record – I nominated only a little over a week ago – but I am convinced it is the correct thing to do. Apart from family, there was the question of my age, however I felt this negative was something that could have been overcome."

Mike Bailey says that whilst he has withdrawn from the race, he is committed to assisting Cairns remain a Labor seat "regardless of whom the candidate may be." Bailey authored numerous party political emails to CairnsBlog from his government employer's email account.

This now leaves first-time Cairns Regional Councillor, Kirsten Lesina who would need to join the AWU to get the backing of that faction as she remains unaligned at present.

Richie Bates is the only other declared candidate for Labor's selection. Bates has a long history of community involvement in sport and in the Rail union, challenging his party about privatisation.

There is a strong lobby group within Labor that is fighting against asset sales becoming an election issue, following the expulsion of outspoken critic Stuey Traill, who believes Labor has betrayed itself over the sell off programme, saying it is clearly against the Party Platform. Outgoing Cairns MP Desley Boyle does not support and candidate from the left faction of the party, privately saying that "it wouldn't happen over my dead body."

Lesina has been unclear about her position on privatisation, and has in the past been open about her desire for a role in Federal politics. She has worked with Senator Jan McLucas prior to her election in 2008 as a Cairns councillor.

Fundraiser for Law and Moore - Thursday May 5th

Bryan Law is leaving town, but not without a party.

Everyone's welcome to a farewell Cairns bash on Thursday 5th May. This is a joint fund-raiser for Bryan and also the Alan Blake defamation case against CairnsBlog.

The event will be held at the Boathouse, what’s left of the old Cairns yacht Club, at 7pm at the James Cook University of Colonialism, Smithfield.

It is $25 a head and will be a mixed bag of nibbles, nostalgia, and revolution, with a cash bar, so the revolution won’t go far.

In one month Bryan Law leaves Cairns for a date with a US military helicopter.

Bryan Law is leaving Cairns in early May to spend three months in Rockhampton preparing for the ploughshares action against the massive Australian and US military operation Talisman Sabre, held there annually. Law has been in Cairns for 18 years.

"Looking back I’ve enjoyed a fairly good mixture of fun and difficulty," Bryan Law says. "I can’t guarantee that I’ll never be back in Cairns. What I can guarantee is that I’m gonna have a real good go at breaking in to the Rockhampton Airport and disabling - thereby disarming - a US military helicopter or fixed wing military plane. Rockhampton Airport has scores of such planes visiting during exercise Talisman Sabre."

"My promise before God is to continue as best I’m able from now on to disrupt and interfere with any military equipment in Australia that’s used for making war. Whenever I am free I will be working towards this goal," Law says. "I don’t think I’ve gone crazy. It seems to me an act that is called for, which I am qualified to do."

Citizenship ceremony this Thursday

A number of new imigrants to Australia will officially become citizens this Thursday at a ceremony in Cairns.

The event will be at the Civic reception at 10.30am.

Jayeshjumar Patel and Flor Solano Cruz, are two of those that will receive their certificates from the Mayor on Thursday.

Jayeshjumar Patel is from Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarap, near Pakistan and north of Bombay in India, with a population of 27 million. Jayeshjumar has been in Australia for four and a half years, and lived in Port Douglas and now at Smithfield. Jayeshjumar transferred to from his university where he was studying hospitality management. "I decided to stay in Australia for better work opportunities and lifestyle," Jayeshjumar said.

Solano Cruz is another new citizen and is from Santo Domingo the capital of the Dominican Republic. Solano has been in Australia for six years and came here with her German husband and child for a better lifestyle and work opportunities, and weather that is very similar to that of the Dominican Republic. She was a dive instructor in Santo Domingo.

Unions must back workers on carbon

Every union in Queensland must stand up for rank and file workers frightened about job losses from the Federal Labor‘s carbon tax, the LNP says.

"With Queensland confirmed as national wooden-spooner for economic performance, thousands of workers and their families could not afford to have their jobs risked by Labor’s carbon tax," Ted Malone, Shadow Employment Minister says. "This is about surviving and hanging on to every job we’ve got."

“Canberra might be booming, but regional Queensland is not. The very last thing we need is a stupid tax on manufacturing and export-exposed jobs. Even Labor’s climate change guru Ross Garnaut says the new green jobs won’t materialise for at least ten years. In the meantime, workers and their families facing soaring cost of living increases are very worried their industries are about to cop it in the neck.”

Malone says Queensland Premier Anna Bligh was totally out of step with Queensland workers on the issue.

“We’ve already seen a mass migration of manufacturing jobs to Asia and with carbon being priced from $20 to $40 a tonne, there’s a huge risk thousands more jobs will be lost. We’re not just talking about steel jobs in Wollongong, we’re talking about thousands of aluminium, copper and nickel processing and smelting jobs in Queensland, particularly in Gladstone and Townsville and Yabulu, north of Townsville."

“I’m calling on every Queensland union leader to stand up and be counted. We need to send the message to Julia Gillard that Queensland cannot afford Labor’s carbon tax," Ted Malone says. “Our economy is faltering badly. Labor has sent us broke. We’ve lost our AAA credit-rating and we’ve been hit for six by the floods, storms and cyclones. We don’t need Julia Gillard’s carbon tax on our manufacturing, mining, minerals processing and farm industries."

Steve and Val can do with all the friends they can get

21-year-old Aboriginal Erica Liddy, dies in Cairns Base Hospital

The 21-year-old woman that was the victim of a violent assault in the early hours of Tuesday morning near Freshwater, died late this afternoon after her life support system was switched off.

Erica Liddy, originally from Coen, had her family with her for the last three days.

Erica was found unconscious around 2am at a Freshwater bus stop near the corner of Kamerunga and Old Smithfield roads. She had serious head injuries.

Cairns Police still have few leads and have now upgraded the investigation to murder.

Jetstar removes Cairns from itinerary

In keeping with the usual service bungle Jetstar have become renown for, Cairns as a destination, has now been removed from their website.

Robbie's view...

"Without electric power, life will be brutal and short."

- Dr Professor John Christy on Climate Change and Carbon Tax

Many questions that need answering on CBD Masterplan

There's still many unanswered questions following the recent public meeting about the city's Masterplan, that presently involves turning City Place into a bus thoroughfare, a concept that has enraged many.

Geoff Holland reports back on the well-attended public meeting that included CBD Councillor Alan Make and Mayor Val Schier.

The contracted designers Architectus from Brisbane assured everyone that the planning process had not been finalised and the designers were still very much open to ideas. However, Caroline Stalker of Architectus admitted that she had been handed a brief from Queensland Transport that City Place would be opened up to buses.

Caroline talked about how to make the city centre more people-friendly in order to attract more people back into the city centre. Cr Blake also talked about the donut we had created in the city centre, and need to revitalise the city centre.

Councillors who attended the forum were Mayor Val Schier, Deputy Mayor Margaret Cochrane, Cr Di Forsyth and Cr Alan Blake.

The plan is for a triangle of green pedestrian-friendly space running from the Esplanade up Shields St to Grafton St, then down Grafton St to the waterfront, and then along the waterfront back to the Esplanade at Shields St. The section of Shields St from Grafton to McLeod, Cairns Central, appears to have been left out of the plan, though there is a general plan to provide much more shade throughout the CBD.

Caroline soon led the discussion to key issues such as what type and colour of pavers would be used. This is a strategy often used by government officials and their proxies in community consultation sessions to railroad discussion away from fundamental issues.

However, during question time some members of the audience asked the question - How we can talk of city planning without also discussing transport? If we want to bring more people into the city centre, how are we going to do that given that there are more cars in the city centre than ever before? And that even if more car parks are built, the streets will be choked by cars trying to get in and out.

Caroline herself had talked about a people-centred focus rather than a car-centred focus.

The question was asked "Why are there no representatives from Queensland Transport here at this meeting?"

People sat in groups around various tables. Was there an attempt to group those who might been seen as difficult around the one table? It seemed so but that strategy was largely unsuccessful.

Caroline came to help out at the table which had the largest number of potentially difficult people on it and asked the question "do you want to talk about the built environment or transport?" Again it was reiterated that the two issues are interlinked and must be considered in an integrated way: Where do we want to attract people to, and how do we facilitate them arriving and leaving?

Architectus are currently working on the idea of "shifting City Place" to the space on Shields St between Lake St and Grafton St, but would still include a road for service vehicle access (deviating from the Queensland Transport plan which also allows cars to enter from Lake St).

Some members of the audience pointed out that this would mean the space was not a pedestrian precinct as such but would be a 'shared space'. Also, this canyon space was not appropriate for a sound stage and was much more restricted than City Place. The need to work with existing cultural heritage was raised, for example in the context of City Place, defined by the historic Hides Hotel on one side and School of the Arts building on the other.

“If anyone has more to say, that’s what Divisional Councillors are for, and we’ll all be happy to hear from you," Councillor Alan Blake said in his opening address. However later on one member of the public pointed out to Mr Blake as part of the earlier workshop that he'd telephoned him three weeks ago to ask for an appointment to talk about City Place. He promised he’d ring back with a time, but he never did.

Mayor Val Schier recognised that the idea of having a frequent free shuttle bus from parking areas around the city. For example, around Munro Martin park and the Showgrounds, a suggestion that came came up a number of times and that the idea could be explored further. However this idea has already been rejected by Queensland Transport.

Mayor Val Schier agreed to hold another similar meeting in the near future but this time with representatives of Queensland Transport present.

One would also think that since so much policy and planning seems to be coming from Brisbane, that State MPs Desley Boyle and Steve Wettenhall, who appears to be active in fast-tracking the agenda to bulldoze City Place, would also be present.

At the request of some members of the forum, Architectus agreed that the results of this meeting should be made available on the Council's website at so the rest of the community can observe the planning process and contribute their comments and ideas, and also to ensure some degree of accountability and transparency.

There is still some way to go and many questions that need answering.

Lilley is back with third mocumentary

A 12-part comedy series Angry Boys, airing soon on ABC, will be the third comedy mocumentary show from Chris Lilley, who won accolades and awards after We Can Be Heros, and the stunning Summer Heights High.

This time with Angry Boys Lilley introduces new characters, including identical twins Daniel and Nathan Sims from Heroes.

They include a former surfing world champion Blake Oakfield, a family man and founding member of a surfie gang - the Mucca Mad Boys; S.mouse a U.S. rapper famous for having produced the biggest selling hip-hop single of all time; Japanese mother Jen Okazaki, a shrewd businesswoman, she also manages her son’s skateboarding career; and Juvenile Justice Centre for Boys officer Ruth Sims, aka Gran.

Angry Boys is destined to be a hit of Lilley's followers. Here's the teaser from ABC...

Saturday SoapBlog: Val Schier - Significant Achievements

Val Schier made history when she was elected as the first female mayor of Cairns in March 2008.

With just 12 months till the next Council election, Val looks back on the last three years, on what she counts as the significant achievements.

Schier says she's taken this Council back to the people.

Today will mark the third anniversary of my election to the Cairns Regional Council.

This time next year we will go to the polls and I will be putting my hand up for a second term as Mayor. I have led this Council with determination and a commitment to doing the right thing by the people of this region. However, it has been a challenging time both politically and economically.

My team does not hold a majority on Council and this has made it difficult to deliver some of the key projects that I believe this region deserves. Despite this, I have fought hard to deliver the projects, initiatives and levels of service that we need to grow our city in a sustainable way.

I've also faced significant external challenges, particularly from the difficult economic circumstances the region has faced over the past two years. In spite of the GFC, economic downturn, high Aussie $, swine flu, high profile business collapses, cyclone Yasi, dengue fever outbreak - my Council can demonstrate significant achievements.

I want to highlight some of the important work Council has done under my leadership in the face of these significant challenges.

Environment

My vision for our region to be the greenest in the nation has been adopted by Council. Some of our green achievements are:
- closed the Portsmith dump which had the constant threat of chemicals leaching into Trinity inlet;
- propagated and planted 79,000 native plants across the region in the last 18 months alone;
- backzoned 26 hillslope areas for conservation meaning the green face of Cairns will be protected;
- created the Cattana Wetlands and other public spaces which will develop into outstanding wildlife habitats to protect native species.

Economic development

Previous Councils in this region have failed to play an active role in the economic development of the region. My Council has initiated a dynamic new economic development team and is playing an active role in creating jobs, supporting businesses and advocacy and has:
- created the economic development fund to support businesses that are diversifying the economy;
- worked with Advance Cairns, TTNQ and the Cairns Chamber to respond to the GFC and develop the "New Deal" initiatives which delivered tens of millions of $$$s for infrastructure and to create jobs;
- spearheaded the development of our first ever Regional Economic Development Plan to guide our regional economic growth;
- initiated the inaugural Tropical Innovation Awards to uncover and support local business ideas to be export ready;
- used the website to provide up to date information and data for potential investors to the region;
- given support and certainty to the tourism industry through our funding agreements with Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Tourism Port Douglas Daintree

Infrastructure

My Council has delivered the largest infrastructure program this region has ever seen with a focus on maintaining and upgrading our most important and well utilised assets including:
- completed flood mitigation across the region: Hutching St, Lake St, Caravonica, Gordonvale;
- upgraded community halls from Diwan to Babinda;
- built new bridges all over the region from the Alice River near Bramston Beach to Mason and Coopers Creeks north of the Daintree;
- allocated tens of millions of $$$s on road re-sealing and footpaths

Recreation and sport

I have worked hard to deliver projects that enhance our region's outdoor lifestyle. My Council has put significant funding into competitive and social sport as well as active recreation including:
- built 23kms of new and better connected cycleways;
- increased "Fun Free Fitness" activities like zumba and aqua aerobics;

- initiated the long overdue purchase of land in Edmonton for sporting facilities;

- allocated $4.2M for new Sugarworld slides before the end of this year;
- upgraded Barlow Park and the Manunda sporting precinct;

- opened the new regional tennis centre which has already hosted an international tournament and a Davis Cup tie;

- built all abilities playgrounds at Mossman and Edmonton;

- brought the Challenge Cairns ultrathon and the inaugural Cairns Adventure Festival to the region

Planning

I ran for election on a platform of sustainable development and good planning for this region and in office have focused my energy on making sure we are planning in a way that allows growth but maintains the character of our region. Some of the key planning projects include:
- Daintree Gateway and Port Douglas Waterfront plans which are out for public consultation after extensive stakeholder input;
- Mt Peter planning which has won a national award
- a parking strategy for Cairns which includes plans for the first public car park to be built since 1979 (!).

Arts and culture

I want Cairns to be the Cultural Capital of regional Australia. We have unparalleled talent and creativity in our region and I have worked hard to make sure we have venues and events worthy of showcasing our talented people and their work by:
- supporting and revitalising festivals including the Cairns Festival, Gordonvale Pyramid Race and Country Fair, Ukelele, Chinese New Year and Blues Festivals;
- gaining significant federal and state government funding for a new performing arts centre on the Cairns waterfront;
- making improvements to the Tanks Arts Centre;
- initiating public art in laneways (opening 7 May 2011)

Disaster planning and mitigation

I have overseen the upgrading of our disaster co-ordination infrastructure and procedures to be recognised as amongst the best in the nation. Some of the new initiatives include the opening the new Disaster Coordination Centre at Woree; improving communications during cyclone Yasi; and reviewing our evacuation processes.

In summary, I have taken this Council back to the people.

We now hold meetings in Babinda, Gordonvale and Mossman and have introduced deputations to the full Council; something about which I am very proud. And there's still one year of my term to achieve even more for the people of this region.

Oh Anna!

Newman or Bligh

Just added a poll, on the right hand sidebar.

Newman or Bligh as the next Queensland Premier. It's a no-brainer (unless you live on the Southside).

Remember: vote early, vote often.