Matt Dennien

Top state literary award winner calls out silencing of genocide concern Ministerial intervention in a separate First Nations fellowship over remarks about Israel’s actions in Gaza led to a judge exodus-driven delay to the ceremony.

Amy McQuire has won Queensland’s top literary award for her book about the media’s failings in Indigenous affairs reporting, using her acceptance speech to criticise child imprisonment and the silencing of those warning of genocide in Gaza.

The dept insists it is committed to working with those embarking on the difficult task, but has cited the need to “enhance privacy and compliance with the legislation” and promised no immediate fix

Jigsaw wrote to Minister Amanda Camm, with no response to date. My Qs to her didn’t get one either

First contact previously possible via Jigsaw and Stolen Generation support group Link-Up Qld will now have to come through officials from the very govt which split families up

With men rarely changing their last names, it will also largely only hinder efforts to reconnect with mothers and daughters

Had the new processes been in place in 1991, Sparrow says it would have stopped her search for her mum in its tracks – as it will for the many still trying to reconnect.

Instead, people will be pushed underground into the “dark depths” of DNA and internet search.

Jo-Ann found her mum in 1991. Quiet changes will hurt the chance for others A shift in Queensland’s approach to allowing adopted people or their families to access information to reunite has cast a shadow over three decades of reform.

New: Without warning or consultation this month, the Qld govt changed how families separated by the state’s historical child removal practices can access information to try and reunite.

“It just took my breath away,” Jigsaw Qld president Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow told me.

Jo-Ann found her mum in 1991. Quiet changes will hurt the chance for others A shift in Queensland’s approach to allowing adopted people or their families to access information to reunite has cast a shadow over three decades of reform.

New: Without warning or consultation this month, the Qld govt changed how families separated by the state’s historical child removal practices can access information to try and reunite.

“It just took my breath away,” Jigsaw Qld president Dr Jo-Ann Sparrow told me.

Top state literary award winner calls out silencing of genocide concern Ministerial intervention in a separate First Nations fellowship over remarks about Israel’s actions in Gaza led to a judge exodus-driven delay to the ceremony.

Amy McQuire has won Queensland’s top literary award for her book about the media’s failings in Indigenous affairs reporting, using her acceptance speech to criticise child imprisonment and the silencing of those warning of genocide in Gaza.

Opening public hearing now set for October 1, via Catherine Strohfeldt www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/que...

Unions alarmed by social services productivity push Treasurer David Janetzki said the productivity commission will look at how to get “bang for buck” in frontline services – but he insisted it won’t chase cuts.

New: Queensland’s peak union body has raised alarm about the “slippery slope” of a proposed Crisafulli government productivity drive for the public sector – flagged by the Treasurer in comments reported today which he has declined to elaborate on.

Unions alarmed by social services productivity push Treasurer David Janetzki said the productivity commission will look at how to get “bang for buck” in frontline services – but he insisted it won’t chase cuts.

New: Queensland’s peak union body has raised alarm about the “slippery slope” of a proposed Crisafulli government productivity drive for the public sector – flagged by the Treasurer in comments reported today which he has declined to elaborate on.

Judge reveals ABC’s penalty in Antoinette Lattouf unlawful sacking case The six-figure sum is in addition to the $70,000 compensation the broadcaster has already been ordered to pay.

The ABC has been ordered to pay a penalty of $150,000 to Antoinette Lattouf for unlawfully terminating her Sydney radio contract after a judge found it “let down the Australian public badly” by capitulating to pro-Israel campaigners www.theage.com.au/national/jud...

Qld's $20m royal-commission style inquiry into the CFMEU has, without fanfare, launched its website and public submissions – almost two-months into its slated 12-month probe

Still no date for an opening hearing, but these will be public "wherever possible". More in the blog: www.brisbanetimes.co...

‘Be normal’: Why these two leaders are speaking out amid their party’s chaos David Crisafulli and Adrian Schrinner have largely refused to encroach on federal matters. But two recent speeches may indicate the pair have had enough.

a Qld cabinet member distilling Crisafulli’s party room reminders (and also summarising two recent, notable, speeches from the Premier and Lord Mayor) to James Hall: “be normal”

Qld Health tells staff to ‘hot desk’ in $50m budget-saving move The shift is aimed at making “smarter use” of existing space at its three Brisbane offices, amid an increase in flexible working arrangements.

Qld Health is expanding its use of hot-desking across three Brisbane offices in what’s said to be an effort to save $50m over the next 7 years

Minor parties want a bigger parliament. When will Queenslanders? The public are often said (and shown) to be cold on more MPs. But they also dislike not being heard – something only likely to increase without better representation.

a bit of a parli week wrap ft:
- KAP joining Greens calling for lift from 93 seats (just don’t ask majors)
- Steve Minnikin telling Nikki Boyd “redistribution will take care of you”
- the pill testing ban farce + Jarrod Bleijie calling backers (seemingly incl AMAQ) “morons”

missed the last couple days of parli bc of sickness, but the most significant moves (banning pill testing without public scrutiny, despite pleas from key groups & the parents of a young man who lost his life) came after 8pm last night anyway...

more in BT's daily blog here: www.brisbanetimes.co...

The government has laid out the perils of the climate crisis – but will Albanese meet the moment? Grave remarks on the potential shocks to people, property and the economy are all too familiar. Putting a credible number on the emissions target is the harder part

Words today.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Queensland Clarion Awards Entries are now open for the 2025 Queensland Clarion Awards – marking the 30th anniversary of celebrating journalistic excellence in Queensland.

winners will be announced on October 18 — and you can find the full list of finalists here: www.meaa.org/meaa-me...

(and we did end up getting an answer a couple months later: www.brisbanetimes.co...)

I took this in the middle of an hour-long media conference on the campaign trail w the LNP back in Oct, in which almost 1/3 of the running time was taken up by then opposition leader David Crisafulli batting away the 3rd day of Qs re how he could promise no change to abortion laws if elected.

Finalists for the 30th year of the Qld Clarion Awards are now live! As usual, there’s much great work from some amazing colleagues

Which makes being on the list myself, for something a tad different & kinda returning to my journalism roots (best metropolitan news photo), that much more of an honour

Full report here: www.ohchr.org/sites/...

Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, major UN report finds Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide in Gaza, according to the "most authoritative assessment" to date.

The UN Human Rights Council's independent Commission of Inquiry finds Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, recommends member states (ie Aus) do all they reasonably can to prevent it, including ending arms/equipment transfers and imposing sanctions against Israel.

Outgoing watchdog’s ‘troubling’ signals from the Crisafulli government Queensland’s first human rights chief is signing off after seven years. His last speech shares a “utopian” 2032 vision – and the political roadblocks in the way.

Qld’s first Human Rights Commissioner, Scott McDougall, will reach the end of his term within weeks. But not before some final words about the direction this and the former govt charted, and where he hopes the state could go (with some pretty serious u-turns).

“Tolerating the intolerable makes us all crueller, and validates those who have no compassion for anyone they don’t understand.”

Opinion | Charlie Kirk Didn’t Shy Away From Who He Was. We Shouldn’t Either.

wrote on charlie kirk for the newsletter this weekend

required reading on this moment (as usual)

Accusations fly as row kicks off over redrawing election map The LNP says Labor’s submission is “sloppy and unfeasible”, as one former minister shared her fears that “the clock is ticking on a gerrymander”.

the dam wall has burst on major party opinion of opening submissions to the Queensland state electoral redistribution, after Tally Room analysis the LNP-proposed changes would significantly lift the govt's notional parliamentary majority.

A couple down, now only maybe 12(?) months of Qld state redistribution news to go!

I dove into public consultation stage 1/4 (initial party & interested ppl’s proposals) recently here: www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/que...

But as this chat w Ben suggests, there’s plenty more to come…

I was joined by @mattdennien.bsky.social for this week's podcast, discussing the Queensland state redistribution. In this clip we discuss the LNP's proposal to break the city of Bundaberg in half, flipping the seat from Labor to LNP. #qldpol www.tallyroom.com.au/61911

Gareth Evans scolds ‘bone-headed’ Meanjin publisher as imminent closure sparks protest Exclusive: Critics want Melbourne University Publishing to transfer ownership of Meanjin rather than dissolve it. But CEO says ‘the journal is not for sale’ * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The former Labor attorney general and foreign affairs minister, Gareth Evans, has sent a scathing email to the chief executive of Melbourne University Publishing, lambasting its decision to scrap the literary journal Meanjin as “bone-headed”. Several hundred protesters gathered outside MUP’s Swanston Street headquarters in Melbourne on Thursday protesting against the imminent closure of one of the cornerstones of Australian literary culture for 85 years. Continue reading...

Gareth Evans scolds ‘bone-headed’ Meanjin publisher as imminent closure sparks protest