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.

Civil Partnership Bill passed by 7 votes

At 11:12pm Wednesday night, the Queensland Parliament passed the Civil Partnership Bill, 47 votes to 40, in a historic move forward for relationship recognition, joining Tasmania, ACT, South Australia, Victoria and NSW.

The heated and at times volatile debate, ensured for 3 hours and 50 minutes.

The Public gallery, packed to capacity, erupted with screams when the final votes were announced by the Speaker, and Andrew Fraser's private member's bill was passed.

Local Far North Queensland MPs, Barron River MP Steve Wettenhall and Member for Cook, Jason O'Brien, spoke in favour of the bill. MP for Cairns, Desley Boyle, chose not to speak and was present only for part of the debate, however voted in support, as did Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt.

Cook MP Jason O'Brien, who has blocked CairnsBlog from all his online social media sites, spoke passionately about the legislation, and was vocal in condemning the LNP.

"[This is about] social justice, fairness, equity. It takes courage to make change," Jason O'Brien said in his speech to the Queensland Parliament. "The time has come to recognise what is undeniably true: gay, lesbian, transgender, intersex people exist. They're humans. They're here. They should enjoy the same rights as heterosexual people. I do not understand why one group of people who enjoy those rights, will not share those rights with those who do not."

O'Brien said that the Civil Partnerships Bill will cost "next to nothing" and will bring so much joy to to so many people.

"Why is it so hard for those opposite to enhance rights? How can it be so wrong for two people to stand together in public and declare their love for each other. How can that be wrong?" O'Brien said. "The Australian Labor Party is a broad church and we are proud to welcome gay people. I would have thought the LNP would have been the same. Surely they have gay members in the LNP. How can they sit there and deny their own supporters their right to celebrate publicly their love? It's shameful."

The speaker ruled it was unparliamentary to speculate on why all LNP members, except one, had decided not to express their conscience.

"I hope they [Labor] take it one step further over the course of the weekend in Sydney," Jason O'Brien said, in reference to the party's national conference.

Much was said that the Civil Partnership Bill mirrors marriage in all but name and therefore undermines the institution of marriage. However their were harrowing stories recounted when a same sex couple was refused access to be with his dying partner in hospital.

Queensland's State leader on Bob Katter's Australian Party, Aidan McLindon, refused to debate the bill, only rising to make one comment, that was widely laughed at: "A marriage is between a man and a woman."

Only Federal Parliament can amend the Marriage Act. Since 2004, under the Marriage Amendment Act 2004, which amended the Marriage Act 1961, same-sex marriages have been banned, however all levels of government under nearly all recognise same-sex couples as de facto couples as "unregistered co-habitation" or de facto status since 2009. Centrelink has recognised same-sex couples equally since 2009 for social security and unemployment benefit.

Liberal National Party's Jarrod Bleijie, whom I met within Cairns recently to discuss youth and justice issues, criticised Andrew Fraser, saying he only introduced the bill "to stitch up a Green preference deal,'' Bleijie said. "This bill is nothing more than a stunt."

The statement prompted an terse response from Nick Thompson, who is standing for Division 4 in the Cairns Regional Council's election.

"My relationship isn't a cheap stunt," Thompson responded on Twitter.

Barron River MP Steve Wettenhall who also spoke in support, says he holds a fundamental belief that all Australians should be equal before the law.

''Over the years this parliament and other Australian parliaments, mostly led by Labor reforms, have progressively removed laws that discriminate,'' Wettenhall said. ''As a result of laws that protect and promote human rights and prohibit discrimination, Australia and Queensland have become immeasurably fairer, more tolerant and better societies. Yet there is this important piece of unfinished business.''

Wettenhall said he recalled his wedding day as one of the happiest days of his life.

''This was not especially because we looked forward to the legal consequences of marriage; it was because we wanted to publicly declare our love and commitment to each other and celebrate that relationship with our friends and families,'' Steve Wettenhall told the Parliament. ''In my view, no-one should be denied that opportunity, and it is that opportunity that this bill provides.''

''Since this bill was introduced I have been sent many moving and heartfelt testimonials from same-sex couples who have longed for the day when their relationships could be recognised under Queensland law. We should give them that day today. I thank them for sharing their stories, their emotions and their hopes.''

Wettenhall's Barron River Smithfield office has received a lot of communication to support the Civil Union Bill, but ''many, many more than those have urged its defeat.''

''I did not need to search my conscience for too long. This bill can do no harm to anyone. It can do no harm to our state. It can only bring happiness and benefit to the couples who choose to use it and to the community of Queensland,'' Steve Wettenhall said.

The LNP argue that there has not been enough time for community consultation, and say that more than 54% of the final number of submissions to the legislative committee that examined the bill, were received 17 days after the cut-off date.

"That goes to the heart of the lack of consultation. We do not believe the people of Queensland have had the appropriate opportunities to raise their concerns,'' Jarrod Bleijie said.

Jarrod Bleijie says the bill is not a priority for Queensland.

"Civil partnerships is not on a priority list in the minds of Queenslanders,'' Jarrod Bleijie said in Parliament. "The passing of this bill will not save Queenslanders money, it will not ease cost of living pressures, it will not get our triple-A credit rating back.''

Over 5,000 submissions were received by the committee reviewing the bill. Most MPs spoke of great division and conflict in their community, saying that there was as must support as opposition for the recognition of same-sex partnerships.

The opposition LNP united together and in an unprecedented show of arms, disallowing any of it's MPs to support the bill, saying Labor's action was a ''political stunt.''

It was a shameful display and bordered on contempt of Parliament, prohibiting MPs to undertake a free conscience vote, the way Leader Campbell Newman coerced his party. He said in the last few days that it was the ''members and candidates'' that made the decision.

31 LNP MPs voted against the bill, along with five Independent MPs. Four Labor MPs didn't support the Bill: Capalaba MP Michael Choi; Albert MP Margaret Keech; Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller; and Health Minister Geoff Wilson, who has previously supported civil unions. Independent MP Peter Wellington voted to support the bill and rebuked attempts to be "intimidated."

Chris Foley, Independent member for Maryborough, chose to spend most of his speech on tired worn-out stereotypes, and even read of lengthy definitions of polyamory, in an warped attempt to confuse the issue.

"The first time I met one of my best friends who comes to visit me regularly in parliament was in a former life when I was a full-time piano bar singer,'' Chris Foley recounted. ''He tried to pick me up. He would be one of the gayest people I have ever met in my life. I will never forget the first time he came in. He had the handbag, the lipstick and everything going on.''

Foley's address was one of the maddest of the late night debate.

The Civil Unions Bill is available in Hansard. Go to page 49, actual page number is 3974.

New Zealand passed Civil Unions in 2005. Same-sex and opposite sex couples, will now be able to register with the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

I spotted this on Twitter early the next day. Summed it all up really...

Paul Freebody wants to be my ''friend''

Honestly, is he for real?

What on earth does Paul take me for?

I just received a Facebook ''friend'' request from the former Cairns Councillor, Adventure Waters developer, and most recently, the dumped LNP candidate for the State seat of Cairns.

Paul was ditched after a horrible email from his computer was circulated to heaps of his ''friends'' bestowing the ill the became of assassinated US President John F Kennedy, on Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Two months later, the LNPers promoted former Cairns Post provocateur journo Gavin King, to the nomination, complete with 200 juicy and opinionated articles including the now infamous quote “if a woman drinks to excess and is raped or assaulted, is she partly to blame? As uncomfortable and difficult as this question is, the answer surely is yes," wrote Gavin.

So the question I pose to you today is... should I become Paul's ''friend'' or not?

27-year-old to appear in court over child's death overnight

Cairns Police has confirmed that a 27-year-old local woman has been charged following the death of an 8-year-old girl at a Westcourt house last night.

Around 9.30pm last evening, Police attended a Mann Street home where they discovered a deceased 8-year-old child.

The 27-year-old has been charged with two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed and one count of torture.

She will appear before the Cairns Magistrates Court this afternoon.

The drama of Cairns Community Radio... the whole sorry story.

4CCR 89.1 FM is the local community radio, a government and public-funded broadcaster, serving Cairns.

Over the last decade, the station has systematically locked out over 100 community members, "fired" volunteers, refused memberships, demanded private ID when joining, announcers and presenters have left in droves on the back of two corrupt committees since 2001 - one served for 7 years, the last one didn't account for $100,000, they put it down as "other expenses - and at least five federal ACMA investigations.

Former Senator for Queensland for nearly 11 years, Andrew Bartlett, who was with the Democrats and also a Greens candidate in the 2010 federal election, was asked in an interview at the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia conference, how community broadcasting shapes and cultivates Australian music, arts and culture.

"I was asked how important community radio is now to the Australian music scene, as opposed to when Four Triple Zed Brisbane started," Andrew Bartlett. You can listen to Andrew's podcast here.

Well, as I pointed out to Andrew, our local station has hardly served the Cairns community. It receives around $100,000 a year from the taxpayer, yet has operated as a secret society.

It's such a shame because when community radio is at it's best - like in Townsville's Triple T and Darwin's Territory FM, it is a positive and valuable community asset. Good community is rare indeed.

Sadly when the local community sought intervention from local Federal MPs, then ALP's Jim Turnour and now Warren Entsch, they did nothing or were powerless to act.

There really should be a fraud investigation over the 2001 - 2009 period when the mad Arona cult from Kuranda ran the place, and the last 17 months under president Rod Coutts. Both committees have huge and serious questions to answer to the Cairns community.

Over nearly a year, I documented the whole sorry saga. Here's most of the sorry stories...

• The rise and tragic fall of Cairns Community Radio - Part 1
• The rise and tragic fall of Cairns Community Radio - Part 2
• The rise and tragic fall of Cairns community radio - Part 3
• Community radio meeting venue change to block access, is another breach
• Community radio meeting, open to the entire community - this Wednesday night
• Saturday SoapBlog - Dennis Walls
• Community radio breached broadcasting codes, president ignores
• ACMA's findings against Cairns community radio
• Cairns community presenter Col Johnson vents radio rage
• Community radio president terminates more members, threatens another
• Saturday SoapBlog: Howard Thomas - In the interests of the station, stand down
• Cairns Councillor Forsyth files Police complaint against community radio chiefs
• Federal Member to intervene in Cairns Community Radio
• Print for the Radio handicapped
• Cairns community radio website closed down
• Community radio president lies to Sunday Mail about records
• ACMA launches new investigation in Cairns community radio station
• Arona's community radio cash cow exposed in Sunday Mail
• SECRET VIDEO: Community radio rejecting members without reason
• Community radio president orders another meeting block out
  
  

Cairns Mayor Schier is a 'dupe for war' as Obama wants war from Australia, says Bryan Law

US President Barack Obama will visit Australia next week.

Obama’s visit to Canberra is being touted that his address to Parliament will be the defining speech of his first term on how he views America's role in the (Asia-Pacific) region.

America’s role will be military, according to veteran Cairns Peace by Peace activist, Bryan Law.

“The White House has not confirmed an expected announcement of expanded American access to Australian army bases, but says the 'next phase' of the alliance will be on the agenda,” Bryan Law says.

There will be a rally in Canberra next Thursday when Obama addresses the Australian Parliament.

Obama is also going to review Australian troops in Darwin, the home of Australia’s Tiger Attack Helicopter Squadron. Local activists are planning to protest Obama’s commitment to the militarisation of northern Australia.

If you live in Cairns, Bryan Law is inviting you to attend the Community Peace workshop at the Tanks Arts Centre. This will be held on Wednesday 16th November at 6pm. More info from Chris Stannard 4032 6609. The workshop will offer an opportunity to talk to the Council, through its Community Development branch, what kinds of actions we’d like Cairns to take in becoming a city of peace.

"Right now, Cairns – as part of Australia – is rapidly becoming a city of war," Bryan Law says. "We have around 1,500 troops at war in Afghanistan. Some are training Afghan Army regulars, some are special forces carrying out kill/capture night raids - targeted assassination."

Bryan Law says that three times since May this year, twice in the last 10 days, Afghan regular army soldiers have fired on Australian troops, killing four, and wounding ten.

"Australian troops are seen as part of a US occupation of Afghanistan, and are not welcome in Cairns," Bryan Law says. "The war in Afghanistan has been going on for ten years. Civilian casualties and Coalition troop casualties are higher now than ever before, and the growth in deaths/injuries is accelerating. Prime Minister Gillard, or KillHard as I prefer, is now saying that Australian troops will be fighting in Afghanistan well beyond 2014 which has, up until now, been the scheduled date of departure.''

Whilst Barack Obama is in Australia next week, the government will sign agreements to host US troops in every Australian base at home and around the world, and to host visiting US warships in every port in Australia.

"Australia will now become a deputy sherrif to US wars in both the Indian - Middle East - and Pacific - China, North Korea - Oceans,'' Bryan Law says. ''We are doomed to a condition of perpetual war and global hatred.''

''The Cairns Regional Council response to this is to lobby for an expansion of HMAS Cairns, and fore more US warship visits. Mayor Val Schier pretends to be a 'Mayor for Peace', but is in fact a 'Dupe for War,' Bryan Law says.

''If you want a better future for Cairns, if you want peace in the world, come along to the workshop and put your thinking forward.''

• Community Peace workshop
  Tanks Arts Centre
  - Wednesday 16th November, 6pm
  Info - Chris Stannard 4032 6609
  Light refreshments will be served

Purchase Tom Pyne's book and help FNQ Youth Assistance Fund

Former Cairns Mayor Tom Pyne, who passed away last week, will have touched many across the region.

Tom was particularly fond of the FNQ Youth Assistance Fund that assists young people with personal, health, education and welfare problems.

A limited number of Tom's wonderful memoir, Up Front, are available through CairnsBlog for just $20. You're also encouraged to make an additional donation to support the Fund.

If you'd like a copy, you can use the PayPal button on the right hand-side of the blog, making sure your include full details. You can also drop an email.

Another violent bus attack, this time at Redlynch

Sunbus, Cairns' local commuter bus service, has sustained more attacks, in what has now become a growing spree of violent attacks across the region.

The latest attack occurred last week in Redlynch, as a group of teenagers hurled rocks at an evening bus service along Michaelangelo Drive.

The photo shows the damage to last week's Redlynch attack.

However when CairnsBlog spoke with Sunbus manager Richard Gabasa, he appeared dismissive about an ongoing problem, and did not want to discuss the serious matter on the phone. When questioned about the latest attack in Redlynch, Mr Gabasa played down the incident.

"Yeah, there was some excitement up there," Gabasa said.

I put to Gabasa that this violent and unprovoked behaviour had been going on for some time.

"Oh, no mate. Look if you want me to make a statement, I invite you to send me an email, but I don't respond to phone calls about these things, because obviously we involve the police."

Some Sunbus drivers have said that they have taken things into their own hands, reporting attacks themselves and some even installing cameras as the company isn't doing enough.

I asked Richard Gabasa if the latest attack was reported to the police, but he appeared confused.

"Arrh, I don't have the report in front of me, I would imagine it would have been," Gabasa said.

The latest stoning attack occurred around 8pm on Halloween night, when around 30 youths between 10-15 years old spread across Michaelangelo Drive, in Redlynch, hell-bent on causing fear to passing motorists. They eventually dispersed of their own accord.

Youths have been using sling shots to propel large rocks at passing buses.

Drivers has said after previous attacks that they will refuse to drive some routes. Attacks have occurred in Gordonvale when a rock came through the front doors, thrown by a 14-year-old missile. The driver received concussion and the youth was charged.

Other attacks have occurred in Kewarra Beach, Trinity Beach, Raintrees shops, White Rock, Edmonton, Bayview, Redlynch, and in the violence-tempered Murray Street in Manunda.

In 2009 a Sunbus driver was assaulted and robbed at Manunda's Raintrees Shopping Centre around 10pm. In April this year, at 9pm, a rock was thrown through the bus's left side window, whilst there were passengers on board. Drivers have also been spat on and robbed in other incidents in recent months.

Around 30 incidents have occurred since 2009, with most of the attackers in their teens.

Sunbus drivers and Transport Workers Union have been asking for shatterproof glass and protective screens to be installed all around the buses.

"We are very concerned and there doesn't seem to enough being done about this," a driver told CairnsBlog who asked not to be named for fear of retribution. "Youths are getting in packs, however there seems a culture in Sunbus to not take some serious action about this violent problem."

Janine Aitken, industrial advocate and Cairns organiser of the Transport Workers Union, says it appears the attacks are growing in violence.

"What is Sunbus doing to protect its passengers and their staff?" Aitken asks. "The seats at the front of the bus are reserved for disabled, elderly, or mothers nursing young children, and this is the area where most of the attacks have occurred."

Aitken says that the carrying of cash on buses provides a extra temptation for anti-social behaviour.

"In Brisbane a GoCard system is in place, where the driver does not have to handle cash. Money has been stolen in Murray Street attacks," Janine Aitken says. "It won't be long before there is a very serious incident."

Brisbane drivers enjoy more safety with a shatterproof glass system, that make windows safer and more effectively resist missiles thrown at them.

"This design fault can be rectified on our local Cairns' Sunbus fleet," Janine Aitken says. "It further highlights the need to review windows in buses."

The Union says that Sunbus has an obligation to provide security on the buses for both drivers and passengers. One suggestion is that there's an additional staff member on board, especially in the evening. A security officer travels on buses on the Gold Coast.

In September the ongoing attacks caused a number of local Sunbus drivers to threaten an "after-hours ban" on some routes, including Murray Street. Drivers are demanding shatterproof screens and windows and also security guards in the evening routes.

Janine Aitken told CairnsBlog that Sunbus drivers have had enough.

"It’s not safe being a bus driver in Cairns," Aitken says. "So we’re taking action before serious injury or fatalities occur. We have called for anyone throwing rocks at buses to be charged with serious assault or a charge that reflect the seriousness of the attacks."

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