Category: General news

Tourism industry associations’ plea to GBRMPA over permit for dumping of port dredge spoil in waters of the Great Barrier Reef

Four Queensland peak tourism industry associations have this week expressed grave concerns to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) over the consideration to dump 3.5 million cubic metres of port dredge from Abbot Point Coal Port into the waters of the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef.

The Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators, Queensland Tourism Industry Council, Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association and Dive Queensland have written to GBRMPA requesting that they do not issue a permit to allow dumping of port dredge inside the Marine Park waters.

Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators Col McKenzie said the four industry associations expect that the GBRMPA act on the organisation’s own report findings about management of the reef.

“The ecosystem health of the Great Barrier Reef is rated as ‘poor to very poor’, which is why we are asking GBRMPA to not issue a permit for offshore dumping of industrial volumes of spoil inside the reef’s waters,” Mr McKenzie said.

“GBRMPA’s own report states ‘the reef’s health is declining, and without additional management intervention the region’s ecosystem, it is likely to continue to deteriorate’.

“We ask GBRMPA to heed their own findings which state ‘Strong steps are needed now to secure the long-term future of the reef. A history of increased nutrient and sediment loads entering the region, combined with a decade of extreme weather, has affected the region’s ecosystem.”

Queensland Tourism Industry Council Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind said the interests of all coastal industries- including tourism – must remain significant and competitive alongside other government interests.

“Tourism in Queensland directly contributes $22 billion to the state’s economy and more than 136,000 Queenslanders are directly employed through tourism,” Mr Gschwind said.

“The reef alone produces an Australia-wide value-added economic contribution of $5.7 billion generated in the Great Barrier Reef catchment with employment of almost 70,000 people.”

“It is essential that the correct balance is achieved in regards to port development and the environmental protection of the Great Barrier Reef.”

Whitsunday Charter Boat Industry Association President Tony Brown said all users of the marine park should follow the best environmental practices.

“The cost to a business should never be part of the equation in deciding if a permit should be given. Just because it is more expensive for the Ports to build wharves to deeper water, should have no bearing on the permit approval process,” Mr Brown said.

“If the best environmental outcome is to build the wharves, then that is the way it must be if that user wants to operate within the marine park.”

Dive Queensland President Steve Moon said it is time for GBRMPA to take the ‘strong steps’ they themselves say are needed if there is a chance to not only halt but reverse the decline of the reef’s health.

“Any way you look at it, there will be an escalation in sediment loads on the Great Barrier Reef, in particular on the already stressed inner coral shelf,” Mr Moon said.

“We don’t have five, ten or twenty years to decide what to do – the only sensible action from here is to reduce man-made sediment loads immediately.”

 

I am Travis James Windsor.

I will be your effective representative for Griffith.

I am here because of personal calls from a wide range of electors of Griffith.

This makes me confident I will be truly representative and I will certainly be independent.

This morning, I wish to cover three items.

Firstly, I am extremely likely to be the new Member for Griffith.
Secondly, I want to talk about who I am and what I have already done in the seat of Griffith
Thirdly, I want to provide some understanding of my ‘political position’.

Therefore, firstly, let me state that I have full confidence that the electors of Griffith will choose wisely and I will be your representative in Griffith after 8th February.

Secondly,
I am a mentor with Queensland’s largest business assistance program, Small Business Solutions.
Small Business Solutions has helped 5000 businesses in the past 6 years. I am one of the leading mentors in terms of numbers of businesses helped and also the highest success rates of improving their businesses. I write the programs and train the mentors. I do business development for the program and in the last 2 years have helped triple and then double the number of businesses assisted. I have conducted 35 business seminars in the seat of Griffith and assisted over 50 businesses in this area.

When distressed businesses call up, I am the one who helps them.

When something goes wrong, I am the one who is sent in.

I am active in many business organizations and forums including committee roles and as a key note speaker to the 3 Chambers of Commerce in the Griffith electorate. I founded the Australian Motorcycle Business Chamber for business owners who ride motorcycles. My international connections include the Hong Kong Australia Business Association and the Australian China Business Council. I am also a past member of the Australian Institute of Export

I have owned or managed businesses for over 20 years. I ran a job network recruitment agency with thousands of clients and 20 staff. I have set up numerous workforce development projects across South Brisbane for the Australian Industry Group. I’m on the board of SCIPS, who as many in this area would know, is a leading not for profit that links schools, government, industry, business and training organisations. I have contributed behind the scenes to thousands of local young people finding their career of choice and local businesses overcoming workforce issues.

I have a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in Global Trade Management, a Bachelor of Business in Enterprise Development, a Diploma of Management and qualifications in Real Estate and Training. I lectured in business at Latrobe University for 5 years and at Charles Sturt University for 1 year. I have also taught in the TAFE systems in Queensland, NSW and Victoria for over 8 years.

Thirdly, in relation to policies, I believe the critical issue is to think globally and push locally. My approach is based around bringing people together with the purpose of achieving outcomes.

An example is my last week were I set up a multicultural business development program in conjunction with a local council, set up a business improvement program in an outback Queensland region and brought together a number of parties to develop a program for small businesses in Rockhampton. All from the seat of Griffith.

I stand for a healthier, better educated electorate with full employment.

How will I do this? I will bring groups and people together and solve problems together.

For example, West End is an unofficial musical nursery and a great place to eat. Let’s combine local venues with creative industry expertise and make it an iconic part of Brisbane to visit that excites a new generation of musicians.

We need a water polo specific pool for the Carina pool complex. Australian water polo is in the top 10 in the world. We are always 2 or 3 players off top 5 and when you are in the top 5, anything can happen. Queensland is already the powerhouse in Australia and with a water polo specific pool at Carina we will find those 2 or 3 players.

Small business is by far the biggest employer and the engine room of the electorate. We must ensure all small businesses have access to assistance. If we need more programs we need to develop them. This is critical

The TAFE system has just undergone under a major overhaul and is in real danger of becoming obsolete. The TAFE system needs to be supported not left out to dry. Pathways between school, TAFE and University need to be developed and strengthened. Links between schools, industry and business need to be strengthened

I will look to ‘dampen down’ emotional issues that get too much media attention and become ‘politically hot’ as this prevents possible calm resolutions of the matter.

On conscience issues that are forced to a vote, I will vote in according to what I understand is the majority view within the electorate, because, I work for you

I am Travis Windsor – and I look forward to being the Griffith Member of the House of Representatives after 8th February. It’s your choice – Choose wisely, Choose Windsor.

The carpark under Westpac in Boundary Street last night hosted a Brisbane Free University panel discussion titled Reporting the G20 Brisbane conference to be held in November this year.

Panellists included Nic Seton, community strategist for Greenpeace; Jim Beatson, founding member of 4ZZZ and activist in the Joh Bjelke years now adviser to Bryon Shire’s Green mayor, Simon Richardson; another ZZZer, Andrew Bartlett, community activist, then Democrats Senator and now convenor of the Queensland Greens; and Ben Pennings author of Generation Alpha and active member of BrisCAN-G20 an umbrella group coordinating the communities response to the G20.

The panellists all referred to the struggle to get fair representation in the mainstream media and emphasised the important role of independent media such as 4ZZZ and the Westender.

The challenge is that the mainstream media portray the G20 as a benign and beneficial conference showering millions on the people of Brisbane. A long list of opponents, though, recognise the G20 as a primary mechanism in the dominance of a small ruling class over small independent business and the other 153 nations of the world.

That list includes governments of developing nations, independent states, climate activists and those opposed to Free Trade Agreements. Free Trade Agreements grant corporations legal rights to sue governments for interference in trade thereby stripping governments of their sovereign rights to control pollution, slavery and abuse of workers within their borders.

The Australian tobacco regulations and pharmaceutical benefit scheme are two pillars of Australian society that the G20 specifically want to see removed.

Westender attended the discussion as part of its ongoing coverage of the G20 summit and the impact it will have on the people of Brisbane. We are in close contact with the authorities planning the summit as well as the groups opposing it. Our role is to accurately report the events and the issues. The next major piece will run in the February print edition, due on the streets on February 1st.

Spoiler alert: Griffith by-election result is announced on this article. Do not read until February 9 if you intend to enjoy the election.

Most Australians and nearly all Queenslanders are heartily sick of politics: None more so than the people of Griffith. They adored the Ruddster with rock-fan like devotion only to be let down again and again. And then, again. Rudd’s ‘good burghers’ (ironically, the line was used sarcastically by the Greens in the 2007 campaign) are now forced back to the poll because he could not see out a term on the back bench – despite explicitly promising to do exactly that.

Ci’est la vie, that was then this is now, and a fresh bunch of candidates line up to tickle our collective fancy. Only problem is, gee whizz, those candidates are not so fresh. Ebbs and Glasson are old white guys, coming back for a second round, determined to prove something to themselves and their long-suffering wives. Battle-worn and proud, they will display their scars claiming experience and wisdom, ‘cause that’s what old guys do.

Glasson wants us to remember that he is a doctor, “trust me”, gets things done and will unshackle small business from all that awful red and green tape. Don’t worry about that nasty Prime Minister in Canberra and the shenanigans of the party I represent, when we get back far enough to the past it will all fall into place and you CAN “trust me”, remember.

Ebbs is valiantly trying to get the media to recognise that the sky is falling, the Greens are really a Rhode Island Red and it is completely unfair that coverage is focussed on whether Terri or Bill will dosh out the biggest pile of pork(ies) to their constituents.

Well, sorry Sir, this is the class of 2014 and we want bread, circuses and cheap grain and we don’t care if our government rips the guts out of some over-crowded country to feed our faces, even if hell on earth comes to us in our old age. Some of us are not going to have to wait and I’m really annoyed because I am far too young to experience hell just quite yet.

No doubt Ebbs has a time capsule containing an unpublished novel titled I Told You So already stashed away somewhere about his person. I call it the suppository of righteousness.

So, the Fresh New Face is Butler who will help redress the gender balance in Canberra, is probably of immigrant stock, has good labour lawyer credentials and a background fighting on behalf of the unions and … hang on that sounds quite familiar too. Where is it, my god, was she the Prime Minister … it seems like aeons ago. No! Butler is new but the story is familiar. I call her the Apparat Chick.

And then there is the line up.

Bless their cotton-socks, they step up to exercise their democratic muscle, inspired by the success of the Shooters in NSW, the Motor Sports mob in WA (or is he going back to the polls?), Katter in Queensland (or is he last year’s story?) and Palmer everywhere (will he really repeal ALL of Newman’s laws?)

Most of them are wonderful people, sincere and ready to put their own personal cash in the kitty for the cause because they believe. If only they could get the message out and other people would believe too.

They love Ebbs because his suppository of righteousness is bigger than theirs, but they have to punish him because he can’t put them all first, I mean second, and he’s a smooth talker and if only he would see the light and promote their cause just a bit more then they would do as well as he does and that would be much more even-handed and fair, even if it doesn’t much change the result. <breathe>

So punters, get in amongst it and press the flesh. Give it a squeeze to see if it bleeds and to find out if I am right-on-the-money or simply a bitter-and-twisted, post-modern, over-hyphenating, cynical Gen-Alpha who knows that in the age of corporate-feudalism these idealists are tragic clowns, meat for the blood-sport that is the daily media.

Get to the Westender Meet-the-Candidates at Souths on Feb 5th and see for yourself. Then re-read this and weep.

Feel free to let me know what you think because I won’t be taking any notice, I already know the result. The Apparat Chick will cream the old white men. See, I’m from the future and I know where you live.

The strata title industry in Queensland applauds a ruling by the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria, clarifying the lawful use of class 2 (residential) buildings for short-term stays and holiday letting.

The Australian Building Code defines Class 2 buildings as containing two or more sole-occupancy units each being a separate dwelling. Apartments are class 2 buildings.

The ruling is regarded by the industry as vitally important – especially in major holiday letting markets like the Gold and Sunshine Coasts – in clarifying the letting rights of strata title owners and managers.

This ruling came after Melbourne City Council and a group of unit owners in a residential building at Docklands claimed that short term letting of apartments in the building was unlawful and that such use was only permitted in class 3 buildings that are explicitly residential.

Strata Community Australia (Qld), the peak body for the multi billion dollar Body Corporate and Community Title Management industry in Queensland, says the clarified definition of “dwelling” in the Building Code of Australia is a positive and vital step forward in clarifying the lawful letting of class 2 building units (like most holiday apartment buildings).

Strata Community Australia (Qld) President, Simon Barnard, said today the sector supports the decision, and believes it will benefit both the property and tourism industries.

“This ruling will provide a precedent for the many investment owners as well as management rights operators of residential apartment complexes throughout Queensland and Australia”, Mr Barnard said.

“It is reassuring having this ruling in place in Victoria. If the same dispute was to occur in Queensland it will now be much easier to protect the many investors who purchase units in high-tourist areas, with the clear intention of renting the properties to holiday makers, for short periods of time”

“The Queensland tourism and property investment market rely heavily on the return from short term stays and holiday letting in areas like the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. The Supreme Court ruling provides confidence that the Building Code will now be applied correctly in short term and holiday apartments.”

The Court of Appeal found that the use of the word “dwelling” in the relevant definition did not limit the residential use to permanent or long term residence. The concept of dwelling encompasses short term and holiday accommodation and there is no basis for limiting the word dwelling to just long term residential use.

Brisbane native Grace Scholl will be graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in December, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Geography. After graduating, she will move to East Sale to start her training as an Air Combat Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force

An Air Combat Officer helps navigate F-18 Super Hornets. Her first year of training at the School of Air Warfare will prepare her for her future role.

Grace considers a career in the Australian Defence Force to be very exciting.

“ADFA has already taken me around the country and has given me many opportunities. I recently had the chance to participate in an international cadet exchange to the United States Air Force Academy, something I would have never done if it wasn’t for ADFA.

“I have certainly enjoyed the challenge. However, the most memorable moments have occurred under pressure. The bonds you create with people in these circumstances are powerful and I have definitely made friends for life.”

All ADFA officer cadets and midshipmen participate in a Graduation Parade at the end of each year to celebrate the completion of undergraduate degrees.

“There is a sense of pride, partaking in an event which is a milestone for the Third Year class. I am excited about graduating and moving onto my professional training, but I will certainly miss the friends made at the Academy, who I now consider my family. I am proud to serve with this motivated and dedicated group of people,” Grace said.

“I was the only girl who wanted to attend ADFA in my year at high school, but if I was to say anything to any other women who wanted to join ADFA, it would be that it’s not as hard as people think; the physical element is not that much of a shock. Joining ADFA can be a challenge, yet in the end it is extremely rewarding.”

ADFA enables officer cadets and midshipmen to develop the necessary skills to be successful junior leaders of the Australian Defence Force. These future leaders embody the best values of the services: Professionalism, Loyalty, Integrity, Courage, Innovation and Teamwork.

ADFA is currently recruiting for its 2015 intake. For further information on military training and study at ADFA and careers in the Army, Navy or Air Force go to: www.defencejobs.gov.au or call 13 19 01.