Managing director of Ebono Institute and major sponsor of The Generator, Geoff Ebbs, is running against Kevin Rudd in the seat of Griffith at the next Federal election. By the expression on their faces in this candid shot it looks like a pretty dull campaign. Read on
Lord Mayor Quirk yesterday announced the details of the latest Guide to Hotel Investment for Queensland.
The figures reveal that Brisbane loses around $114 in potential business each year as a result of its shortage of high-end hotel accommodation. Asa result, Lord Mayor Qurik said, the hotel market is rich with opportunity:
Due to a shortage in internationally-recognised, full-service hotel room supply, Brisbane is forgoing about 121,000 visitors a year.
The shortage is causing the market to defer an estimated 278,000 room nights every year – about 14 per cent of current demand.
The deferred economic benefit is largely contributed to the lack of hotel supply which in turn is hampering Brisbane’s ability to attract major events and conferences. This lost visitor expenditure equates to about 1100 jobs and $114 million in economic activity.
THe lor Mayor appeard with Qld Minister for Small Business Jann Stuckey.
Committed to the cause of refugees and asylum seekers
Thirty years ago, Sonia Caton ran a free legal telephone advice line from her own flat, and her commitment to helping those who cannot afford a lawyer has not changed ever since. Today, the solicitor and migration agent advises refugees on their legal rights. She will talk about this challenging yet inspiring work at the 2014 WILPF Peacewomen Awards in South Brisbane on 2 May.
Held at COTAH restaurant / Southbank TAFE, the Peacewomen Awards acknowledge the work of four outstanding Queensland women who are committed to peace, social justice, and human rights.
This year’s theme is freedom, and guest speaker Sonia Caton said that her work relates to this concept in many ways. “Freedom can mean so many things – freedom from fear; freedom to get an education, to work; to move; to play music; to sing; to be an artist; to be an activist; freedom of expression; to chose your life partner; to practice your religion; to plan your family; to access to medical care and to have access to justice.”
“My work with asylum seekers and refugees has involved all of these lived meanings of the word ‘freedom’.”
Ms Caton has worked with the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service on and off for over 20 years, including as its Director/Principal Solicitor.
She is also a board member of the Refugee Council of Australia, a consultant to a number of organisations working with asylum seekers and a member of several other Boards and Government advisory committees. She has worked in detention centres on Christmas Island and elsewhere.
Ms Caton said that her most rewarding work has been assisting vulnerable women who have legitimate claims for protection. “My case load was consistently comprised of at least 80% female clients. I found my previous work as a criminal lawyer relevant as many had suffered terrible violence in their countries of origin.”
Asylum seekers are often criminalised in the public debate, Ms Caton said. “There has been a complete conflation of asylum seeking with criminality and being ‘at war’.”
Many politicians tend to simplify this complex matter, she said: “The issue of asylum seeking is global and it is ‘wicked’ – in that it is a very difficult one to solve.”
A multi-lateral, long term approach was necessary to address the problem, she said, but not popular with most politicians: “A highly aggressive partisan rather than a bi-partisan approach has won elections before so I think it is now hard for some politicians not to inflame the issue for political purposes.”
To hear Sonia Caton speak at the WILPF Peacewomen Awards, please register by 22 April. More information on the registrations is available on http://www.wilpf.org.au/qld-peace-women-awards. Alternatively, please contact Norma Forrest on 3207 7929 or 0407 768 873, email: normarod@bigpond.com.
Many kids now spend more on the computer than they do sleeping, says new research
Australian adults now average more time in front of a screen than they do sleeping, but do not fully understand the associated health risks, or how to change their behaviour.
A new community survey commissioned by Medibank also reveals that a majority of parents are very concerned about the time their children spend on screens and the effect it is having on their health.
The Medibank Health Check – Is it time to unplug? is the first in a series of community surveys which will examine Australians’ views on emerging health issues.
The first independent survey asked 1,505 Australians their views about the amount of time they spend in front of screens (computer, TV, smartphone, tablet).
Respondents estimated they spend about nine hours a day looking at a screen – six hours for leisure and three hours for work or study – which is more than the eight hour recommended average adult daily sleep-time.
National Medical Director at Medibank, Dr Ian Boyd, said some of the key results were concerning.
“It is worrying that adults are spending more time in front of screens than sleeping, and while they want to change their behaviour they don’t seem to know what to do about it,” Dr Boyd said.
“While 62 per cent of respondents know that reduced physical activity is a consequence of too much screen time, almost half of those surveyed also failed to recognise the likelihood of the known health risks of screen time which include obesity, attention difficulty, low self-esteem and depression.”
Dr Boyd said that concerns adults held for themselves were in contrast to those they had for their children, with a majority particularly worried about the impact of too much screen time on their children’s health and development.
“More than 60 per cent of respondents with children agreed that screen time affects their family time, and their family’s health, and 57 per cent of these want to cut back on screen time,” Dr Boyd said.
“And one in five say that if they weren’t in front of a screen they would be involved in a physical activity instead such as going for a walk or riding a bike.”
Dr Boyd said that enough concern had been raised about screen-time to warrant further research and education to improve community health outcomes.
“There needs to be much greater community education around what are safe levels of screen time and more programs are needed to encourage people to unplug and get involved in other recreational activities,” he said.
“The benefits of unplugging and spending more time being active are clear for both adults and children, and we need to be encouraging this before people accept our over-use of screens as the norm.”
Rumours that male cyclists are not interested in women need to be rectified on Monday 28th April
Bicycle Queensland is on the hunt for biking bachelors, with the organisation’s 10-speed dating event oversubscribed with fit, female riders.
Held as part of Bike Week 2014, the two-wheeled take on the traditional dating technique involves a leisurely ride around the riverside and West End before finishing at a local café where you can chat and perhaps meet the rider of your dreams.
“It is a fun and light-hearted evening and certainly one of our most popular Bike Week events,” Bicycle Queensland CEO Ben Wilson said.
“There are 40 spots available and while there has been a strong uptake from the fairer sex, we’re in need of a few unattached blokes who are keen to meet other single riders.”
Mr Wilson said the Bike Week program – which runs from April 26 to May 4 – offered plenty for bike riders not looking for love.
“Regardless of whether you think you’d look good in lycra or your last bike had training wheels, Bike Week is all about jumping on a bicycle and giving it a go,” he said.
“With 25 activities on offer, most of which are free, there’s no excuse not to dust off your bike or borrow a friend’s and rediscover your love of cycling.”
Mr Wilson said the BDO Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge and the Great Brisbane Bike Ride gave riders looking to push their limits a choice of challenge over 30, 50, 75 or 110 kilometres.
“The BDO Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge is perfect for challenging yourself, or your mates,” he said.
“Every Coot-tha rider will battle the clock over the 2.3 kilometre 9 per cent climb up the mountain where PB’s, bragging rights and the climb record of six minutes and 29 seconds are all up for grabs.
“But if you haven’t sat in the saddle for a while, then the Great Brisbane Bike Ride is a great chance to stretch your cycling legs on a more leisurely route.
“There’s also “Closed Streets for Kids”, a new free event to get children and families riding a flat 5 kilometre course as part of the big rides day on Sunday May 4.”
Bike Week entries are now open. For more information about 10-speed dating, other Bike Week activities, or for a full event program head to www.bikeweek.bq.org.au.
Bike Week is partnered by the Queensland Government with support from BDO, Transcity Joint Venture and SCODY.
The oldest police station in continuous use in Brisbane
UPDATE: We just received this email from the West End Police, which states that the West End Police Station (see story below) has already started operating at it’s new premises in Vulture Street. Here’s the message:
As an addition to your recent story involving the relocation of West End Police Station, we would like to advise that we have now moved and are fully operational at our new premises located at 2/36 Vulture Street, West End. All telephone, fax and postal addresses remain the same.
Would it be possible to include our new address as an addendum to your previous story? If you would like to contact West End Police for any clarification or comment, please refer any inquiries to our OIC, Acting Senior Sergeant Pat Humphrys.
Regards, Vanessa MANN Acting Sergeant
The West End Police station in Boundary Street – 130 years old, and the oldest operating police station in the State of Queensland – is soon to close its doors for the last time, and operations moved to purpose built new premises in Vulture Street.
According to Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers, the move comes none too soon, as he has been agitating for its replacement for some time.
“When Jack Dempsey first became Minister I invited him here to West End and took him on a tour of West End police station to show him that not much had changed in the station’s 130 years of operation that made it a significant workplace health and safety concern for police.
“He immediately took on board my request on behalf of the police who work here in one of the most diverse and neglected policing beats in the state for a solution and I am proud today to see that come to fruition,” said Mr Leavers.
Commissioner of Police Ian Stewart said that the new station would replace the oldest serving police station in the State.
“In the year that we proudly celebrate 150 years of service it seems fitting that the oldest operating police station in the State makes way for a new complex that is fit for purpose,” Commissioner Ian Stewart said.
“It has remained in continued operation with several modifications made to the original 19th Century timber and corrugated iron building.
“The new station is a short hop away and the move maintains police operations in the heart of West End, which is critical in terms of projected growth and policing requirements,” Commissioner Stewart said.
Police Minister Jack Dempsey said that his LNP Government is committed to revitalising frontline services for police. “We’re delivering new modern facilities to deliver on that promise,” Mr Dempsey said.
“We are addressing that through a new modern fit for purpose station that will benefit officers, and responses to the local community.
“Today we are announcing a win for the local community and the officers of West End.”
While no announcement has been made on the future of the prime real estate on which the current police station sits, and it is intended that the property remain in the hands of the Queensland Police Service, the Westender has spoken to a number of local real estate agents who expressed keen interest in being involved if and when it goes on the market..
Proponents of the Blue economy believe that we need to do more than add sustainability frameworks onto building codes. David Bragg writes that the concept of ‘green’ design should be all inclusive. It is meant to incorporate all the actions and things that it takes to live on this blue planet sustainably.
See more at: http://sourceable.net/blue-vs-green-need-integrated-perspective/#sthash.rmonGrsh.dpuf
It is an important concept that has created a massive movement in the green building sector and must continue to grow and prosper. Its vision is good, and it is still needed because there are countless buildings whose developers still need to be turned away from ‘worst practice, lowest price’ practices to greener outcomes.
However the implementation of a model that will sustain ‘one planet living’ and ensure a truly sustainable future where the integrity of natural systems is paramount is still along way off. The agenda have been largely taken over by consultancies that with little depth to their expertise in sustainability, focus on a ‘tick the boxes’ approach to green design and decide the sustainability outcomes for their projects on a dollar per credit point cost analysis basis.
While this type of approach is adequate, it is unlikely to deliver the type of integrated innovation that can ensure that buildings become a part of the solution rather than remaining just a lesser part of the problem. We will not be able to achieve truly sustainable cities until we stop designing buildings that just ‘do less bad’ and design buildings that to take part in a restorative, net positive development future.
When the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star team (and LEED and BREEAM) originally conceived their respective tools, whole systems analysis via integrative design processes (IDP) were perceived to be a critical part of the process and the Accredited Professional was supposed to lead an IDP process, but somehow this aspect of their role seems to have been lost along the way and they are now the compiler of the submission, rather than the driver of the whole-system design process.
To some extent this is understandable, because there have been few courses and little focus on IDP outside the technical manuals. IDP processes are designed to find and drive synergistic design, materials and technology outcomes to achieve higher level efficiencies at lower costs.
Some countries identified the importance of IDP and in fact Abu Dhabi in the UAE mandated IDP submissions at Development Application (DA) stage as part of their ‘Estidama’ (Arabic for Sustainability’) tool and now require reporting of progressive improvements throughout the design process as part of the DA submission. But this is not the rule anywhere else.
There is no doubt that in some cases IDP did and still does occur, especially in the highest rated levels of buildings, but the green sector is now dominated by engineering practice based sustainability consultancies, that together with the tools themselves seem to have settled into a semi-comfortable retinue of technological solutions that don’t seem to be able to deliver the kind of disruptive change that is needed to change building completely, let alone influence the way our economy overall is run.
The drive by leading designers within the profession to seek new tools such as the Living Building Challenge and One Plant Living is an indication there is disquiet about needing to do more. The desire to do more, to look at things again in a different way, to focus on whole system integrated solutions that go way beyond just buildings and can influence whole industries and even economies, is what the ‘Blue Economy’ is about.
Blue Economy proponents are not seeking to denigrate ‘green’ in fact we all depend on the movement continuing and growing, its just that we need to take green to the next level, to fulfil its original intent and to get ‘cut-through’ of the elements needed to achieve this, a re-phrasing is needed, not to ‘greenwash’ but to identify and focus on the things that can lead to high level, net-positive, disruptive change that will create massive innovation and multiple benefit streams while simultaneously dramatically reducing costs, not just in the building sector but economy wide and the first step on the pathway is a strong focus on integrative design.
– See more at: http://sourceable.net/blue-vs-green-need-integrated-perspective/#sthash.rmonGrsh.dpuf
Lord Mayor Quirk yesterday announced the details of the latest Guide to Hotel Investment for Queensland.
