Category: General news

Dredging of more than 13 million cubic metres of seabed due to commence in the Moreton Bay Marine Park for the next stage of Brisbane’s second runway highlights the need for strong protection in our marine park said the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) today.

AMCS Marine Campaigner Fiona Maxwell said ‘This is one of the biggest sand-dredging exercises in Brisbane’s history. The dredging planned for Moreton Bay Marine Park only increases the vulnerability of the Bay and its incredible marine life, highlighting the need for strong protection.’

‘This massive dredging program adds pressure to the Bay at a time when the Government is also considering winding back our marine park protection’ said Maxwell.

‘We were alarmed at the Newman Government’s announcement that they are considering allowing fishing back into some of Moreton Bay’s fully protected marine national parks.’

‘Instead, the Queensland Government needs to limit the impacts of this dredging and ensure that those areas in the marine park that are fully protected remain that way so that our Bay is as healthy and resilient as possible.’

‘Research from Australia and overseas consistently shows that fully protected areas, work at building resilience to threats and protecting and recovering marine species and habitats’ said Maxwell.

‘Government studies also show that the great majority of recreational fishers, both in Brisbane and throughout Queensland, believe that our highly protected marine national parks are a good and reasonable thing’

‘If the government wants to do something that genuinely earns the support of recreational fishers and the broader community of Moreton Bay, they would do well to address real issues like pollution and habitat loss.’

‘Taking action on these issues, and maintaining existing protections, would mean a healthier, more resilient Bay for the benefit of everyone,’ concluded Maxwell.

The RSPCA has released a compilation of its quirkiest animal cruelty call-outs. Responding to everything from highly distressed individuals reporting cruelty towards statues, having mistaken them for a dog, or reports of crocodiles appearing in suburban backyards, RSPCA Inspectors take every job very seriously, but sometimes all is not as it seems.

The RSPCA’s TOP TEN quirky animal cruelty call outs that weren’t what they seemed.

A person called about an abandoned goat that had been left unfed for days, which was actually an abandoned mattress in a paddock.

A man rang about his dog which had been ‘hexed’ by his neighbour to attack him when he said a certain word. He wanted the RSPCA to “find out the word from his dog”.

A woman rang in anger to complain that her neighbours had left their white Bulldog in a yard without shade and when she left a note in their mailbox telling them to provide their dog shelter, they had put up a beach umbrella for the dog. The dog was a statue.

A highly distressed woman called about a mini crocodile in her backyard which was threatening the lives of her children. After receiving a photograph from the caller the animal was identified as a blue-tongue lizard.

An inspector went to rescue a bird that was heard trapped in the roof for a number of days. It was in fact the smoke alarm battery signal to change the battery.

A caller rang about a cockatoo that was so stressed in its small cage that it would not move. An inspector found an ornamental bird in a cage.

A gentleman called from a supermarket and said he was in the presence of an animal killer. Someone was buying head lice treatment.

Two security dogs had managed to get themselves ‘tangled’ on a tether. When the Inspector arrived at the property both dogs came running out without any problems. The Inspector had to explain to the informant the process of dog mating.

A woman rang at 10 pm worried that a possum up a tree may not be able to get down.

Several complaints of two cows in a paddock with no shelter. These are two steel cows in a field just outside of the town of Nowra on the NSW South Coast.

WALK TO FIGHT ANIMAL CRUELTY!

MILLION PAWS WALK Sunday 18 May – Australia’s biggest & best dog event!

On Sunday 18 May 2014, more than 20,000 people and their dogs will walk in Queensland to show their support for animals in need. Will you join them on the walk to help stop animal cruelty? Register for the Million Paws Walk today!

Funds raised from registrations, merchandise sales and fundraising pages, will help to provide essential care, veterinary treatment, food and shelter for more than 18,000 dogs that RSPCA Qld cares for each year. Sign up today to help give another dog a second chance at a happy life.

Regardless of the breed, size or age of your dog – everyone is welcome – as long as they are fully vaccinated, friendly and registered with your local council. No four legged friend? No problem! Even those without pooches are welcome to join in the fun.

Register online before 16 May to take advantage of ticket price savings…and then start fundraising to help fight animal cruelty!

To register: http://www.millionpawswalk.com.au/Queensland/Walk_locations/REGISTER_NOW_.htm

The Queensland Law Society has congratulated the Queensland government on the passing of long-needed reforms aimed at making purchasing property easier.

President Ian Brown said the passing of new legislation will simplify the residential sales process and is a big step forward for the property industry.

“We thank the the Queensland Government for the opportunity to be involved in the consultation on this newly enacted legislation,” Mr Brown said.

“We have long believed that good stakeholder consultation is the key to good law.

“However, despite positive steps being taken to make purchasing property easier, we caution potential homeowners to take care when finalising their contracts, with changes to cooling off periods soon coming into effect.

“Previously, waiving or shortening the cooling off period required a certificate from an independent lawyer which demonstrated that the lawyer has explained to the buyer the effect of the contract, the certificate and the effect of waiving your cooling off rights.

“The Property Occupations Bill 2013, which replaces aspects of the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000, allows for shortening or waiving buyers rights to a cooling off period when purchasing property.

“Under the new laws, a buyer personally can waive their cooling off rights simply through written notice to the seller.

“However, it is important for buyers to be aware of this change and be cautious when purchasing property, especially if you are unfamiliar with Queensland’s property laws.

“It is always important to obtain independent legal advice when purchasing residential property.

“We hope that buyers will always contact their solicitor before signing.”

Photon Energy Australia, a subsidiary of global solar power solutions and services company Photon Energy, has recently completed the construction of a large solar power system for a major office building in Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD). The 283 kWp power plant has been commissioned and is up and running. The solar power plant supplements the building’s main daytime energy source.

The power plant will produce 371,000 kWh annually, saving 352 tons of CO2 each year and will assist in achieving a 5 Star Greenstar and 5 Star NABERS rating. The power plant will be used to cover daytime loads with the possibility to export surpluses to the grid, thus generating additional revenue. The system is designed to cover a certain amount of electricity to the building per annum in order to meet the NABERS rating and utilises the available roof surfaces and exposed facades to maximise the output per square meter at the lowest cost per kWh.

“Solar energy is rapidly changing the way Australians look at energy consumption”, says Michael Gartner Managing Director of Photon Energy Australia. “With new financing models available, such as solar leasing or power purchase agreements, customers can now have their own eco-building with a rooftop power plant with no upfront investment. Just costs savings”, Gartner continues.

“PV-systems for self-consumption on commercial property raise a company’s profile, which can be a vital factor in a market where customers increasingly demand that corporates walk the talk on resource efficiency”, says Georg Hotar, CEO of Photon Energy Group.

Solar energy as a power source protects companies against volatile and growing energy prices, thereby raising shareholder value and providing a competitive advantage.

“We are proud to be associated with this flagship project, which highlights that solar PV has reached the tipping point of becoming the most cost effective way of achieving energy efficiency and is a viable choice even given the constraints of inner city locations”, Gartner concludes.

On the eve of the first Abbott Government Federal Budget, business confidence has taken an unexpected downturn. The latest Westpac Group CCIQ Pulse Survey for the March Quarter reveals significant falls in business confidence in both the state and national economies. Weeks of government deficit and debt discussions have spooked the business community.

And with the threat of reduced government services, increased taxes and asset sales looming in both the May 13 Federal Budget and June 3 Queensland Budget, concerns are unlikely to ease.

Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland General Manager of Advocacy, Nick Behrens, said the Pulse survey of business conditions identified a dip in the recent strong business sentiment.

“These results confirm that we have failed to capitalise on the past six months and the start to 2014 has not seen the initial strides that we would have liked,” Mr Behrens said today.

The last Pulse survey showed record highs in the second half of 2013 for the outlook of the state and national economies. While results remain in positive territory for the March Quarter, there have been significant falls overall.

“These results are unfortunately further reflected across all key business indicators with falls recorded in general business conditions, sales and revenue, profitability, employment and capital expenditure,” Mr Behrens said.

“Diminished consumer and business confidence bought about by government deficit and debt discussions and rising business costs are key contributing factors influencing these results.

“The results are a strong indication that we cannot take business confidence for granted across the conversations relating to deficits, debt and asset sales. They are unquestionably spooking consumer confidence.”

Some of the key points in the Pulse survey reveal:

The Business Confidence Index for Queensland decreased in the March Quarter by 7.1 percentage points to 51.7. The majority of businesses are expecting similar (32 per cent) or stronger (38 per cent) economic conditions in Queensland over the coming 12 months.

The National Business Confidence Index fell by 8.0 percentage points to 52.2. The majority of businesses expect the national economy to strengthen (38 per cent) or remain the same (35 per cent) over the next 12 months.

General business conditions contracted over the quarter, falling 7.5 percentage points to 44.9. The majority of businesses indicated that general business conditions were weaker (38 per cent) or remained the same (36 per cent).

The Sales and Revenue Index fell 8.1 percentage points to 44.3, with 40 per cent of businesses reporting weaker sales over the three month period.

The Profitability Index decreased by 6.4 percentage points to 37.1, the lowest level recorded since the June quarter 2011. Only 17 per cent of businesses reported stronger profitability levels during the quarter.

The Employment Levels Index decreased by 3.4 percentage points to 45.2. The majority of Queensland businesses are keeping employment levels steady (63 per cent).

Mr Behrens said it was crucial that once the Federal and State budgets had been delivered, politicians start focussing on the positives in the economy.

“When we saw some green shoots in the last six months CCIQ cautioned care and attention were needed to nurture a further recovery in business growth. These results indicate it is too early to take for granted,” he said.

“Optimism and expectation of growth in the state and national economy whilst diminished remains there, but Queensland is yet to convert this anticipated improvement in actual business performance.

“The conversion that was anticipated to occur in the March quarter looks to be pushed out by at least three months.”