A Question for 'Q&A'

A question for Germaine Greer:

What kind of role model for Australian women do you think Belinda Neal and Janet Albrechtsen are?

Where's Willy?

Who's that on sax? Wasn't Wilbur Wilde the resident saxophonist?

It will only work if you want it to work

Wind Turbines At The Runaway Bay Sports Centre

According to the Gold Coast monomedia [7/10/09], the Gold Coast City Council has received a report (written by ARUP) which concludes that "council would need to spend $650 million on turbines to power its operations from Coolangatta to Yatala."

How much does the Federal Government tip into the coffers of the fossil fuel industry again?
$4 billion?

$650 million sounds quite reasonable.

Justice Must Not Kill

From Australians Against Capital Punishment:

In support of the World Day Against the Death Penalty


Australians Against Capital Punishment invite your participation


SUNDAY 5pm 11 October ‘09

at the Lizard Corner,

(junction of Russell & Boundary Sts West End)
for
Speakers & Solidarity

followed at 6pm by a shared Banquet at Huong’s restaurant nearby

(upstairs 83a Vulture St West End www.huongs.com.au )
dinner cost $25


RSVP to 0423 709 445
or justine.hampson@gmail.com
by Thursday evening 8 October
please advise of special dietary needs


Justice Must Not Kill

Currumbin Wild Life Sanctuary Hospital

From Queensland Parliament Hansard [7/10/09]:

Mrs STUCKEY
(Currumbin--LNP)

(9.30 pm): On Friday, 11 September the long-awaited and desperately needed state-of-the-art Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary hospital was officially opened much to the delight of animals and humans alike and to warm applause from a devoted local community. In the past 12 months the rackety old facility treated a record 4,500 injured wildlife and was literally falling apart at the seams. I know full well the struggles, the dedication and the considerable skills of staff and volunteers. I am also aware of the obstacles, especially financial ones, that had to be overcome.


This was a dream many years in the making. No-one carried the dream more uppermost in their mind than resident veterinary surgeon, Michael Pyne. To Michael’s credit and that of the entire Currumbin Sanctuary team, led by the sanctuary CEO and the President of the National Trust, their determination was absolute. The hospital was made possible by generous donors, but I am very angry to say that the state government has not contributed one single cent towards the running of our sanctuary nor to this important facility to treat ill and injured wildlife. Shamelessly, the Premier used our sanctuary for a publicity stunt two days before the last election. I shall remain steadfast in my quest to lobby for state government funding for our beloved sanctuary.


There is no doubt our koala population is under threat as a result of rapid urbanisation and development in South-East Queensland. I am keen to do what I can to raise awareness to protect this unique Australian marsupial. The recent opening of the much-needed wildlife hospital has placed the spotlight on the plight of our native animals and creatures who are subjected to increasing danger from human encroachment into their shrinking habitats. These vulnerable mammals are fighting to survive and I urge all honourable members to get behind the campaign by koala advocacy groups to make sure our councils and the state government take urgent steps to safeguard their habitats.


I have noticed a reduction in the number of koalas in my own acreage neighbourhood where it was once not uncommon to see them. Most nights I hear a lonely male koala grunting out his mating call to no avail. This is not surprising when figures reveal a 20-fold increase of wild koalas requiring medical attention in the past eight years.


On National Koala Day at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on Friday, 25 September I had the exquisite pleasure of officially naming a female koala joey after placing a successful and high bid at a corporate fundraising event earlier in the year. I named her Yani-Colleen and she is a real cutie at eight and a half months of age. I chose Yani because it means peaceful and Colleen after my mother who passed away during my teens and means young female.


As honourable members have heard, it has been a busy time for Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. The Queensland Heritage Council has entered it in the Queensland heritage register after a nomination from the National Trust of Queensland. I urge honourable members to come and visit us soon. Members can come and feed the lorikeets for free and show their support for our Green Guardian program.

Bendable Learnings

Don Watson being interviewed by Kerry O'Brien on this evening's '7.30 Report'

It will be interesting to see if any politicians are game to utter the phrase "going forward" after this interview!

Who's The Bunny? Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Bid

'Spring Hill Voice' can today exclusively reveal that the Gold Coast is set to become the venue for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

This of course has nothing to do with the predicted decline of the U.S. dollar in the same year.

The Chief Blighty is flying to Delhi to pledge her allegiance to the crown.

"The Gold Coast is definitely up to the task," she said.

The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will feature events such as coal lump throwing, competing with private health companies and insurers in niche cancer markets, the tilting at wind turbines scavenger hunt, and the yummy mummy 4wd drop off the kids at the exclusive private school classic.

The "Coal-Put" is tipped to be hotly contested between Australia and the US.

This event rewards the shortestsighted for inabilty to predict prices for coal. Queensland is the favourite. One contestant, Blighty, is reported to have the power to hurl dark matter at anyone who looks like they could possibly offer the citizens any hope of an alternative to her ubiquitous reign.

"Follow the money," said an uninformed source close to the source of this report.

Endurance events such as the "sit-on-the-kerb-waiting-at-the-bus-stop-because-there-is-no seat- or-shelter", will showcase the best world class public transport the Gold Coast has to offer.

Getting shot at short range whilst working for minimum wages at a "Mc" or "Subway" outlet at Labrador by some hopeless desperado, will be the highlight event. Just getting shot during the course of some petty crime gone wrong will probably not qualify contestants for competion.

The free-style Taze, which involves getting "Tazed" by Queensland Police, while answering questions is proposed as an exhibition event at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.