BCC Elections 2020

[#Metro]

Stop over analysing everything would you.

It is not an analysis. This is just stating plain fact.

Its about your strategic campaign and how the party goes about itself.

What, having 1 woman as BCC Lord Mayor in 95 years is 'strategic'? How so??

The current Lord Mayors of Melbourne (Sally Capp), Sydney (Clover Moore), Perth (Lisa Scaffidi, suspended), Adelaide (Sandy Verschoor), and Hobart (Anna Reynolds) are all women.

[verbatim9]

Stop over analysing everything would you.

It is not an analysis. This is just stating plain fact.

Its about your strategic campaign and how the party goes about itself.

What, having 1 woman as BCC Lord Mayor in 95 years is 'strategic'? How so??

The current Lord Mayors of Melbourne (Sally Capp), Sydney (Clover Moore), Perth (Lisa Scaffidi, suspended), Adelaide (Sandy Verschoor), and Hobart (Anna Reynolds) are all women.

Yeah but are their deputy's female or male. Schrinner has a Female deputy which is logically balanced.

[verbatim9]

I prefer Schrinner, He has integrity, vision and believes in Daylight Saving. Just a reminder that Patrick Condren doesn't.

BCC wish list

A Council that can push for a successful Daylight Saving Trial

A Council that promotes safe segregated Active Transport

A Council that can deliver good and effective Public Transport in collaboration with State and Federal counterparts

A Council that can deliver the 5 new Green Bridges

A Council the is free from union influence in final decision making

A Council that can use advertising revenue effectively to subsidise services.

A Council that uses private enterprise cost effectively to provide services

A Council that is visionary that can turn Brisbane from a car centric city to a mixed transport mode city.

A Council that believes in a relative restrictive free night time economy.

A Council that can push for reform in Retail trading hours to allow Supermarkets to be open until midnight 7 days and on Labor Day and from midday Anzac Day.

A Council that would also bid to allow Supermarkets the opportunity to be licenced where appropriate and applicable.

^^I think the current Council are meeting most of these requirements. But could do better on delivering more segregated cycling infrastructure around the place to connect the network.

[AnonymouslyBad]

this thread so far: David Leyonjhelm for Mayor of Brisbane! 

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Lord mayor attacks Labor's 'professional complainer' candidate for 'cheap stunt'

Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner has dismissed new Labor candidate Patrick Condren's first policy announcement as a "cheap stunt" from a party with no vision for the future.

Labor announced on Sunday that the veteran journalist would replace Rod Harding as the lord mayoral candidate for the 2020 Brisbane City Council election.

The former Seven Network state political reporter immediately hit out at the LNP administration over the state of the city's footpaths, promising to freeze the lord mayoral salary and spend any increases on "repairing some of those neglected footpaths".

Cr Schrinner would not entertain the idea as he fronted the media on Sunday, saying an independent tribunal would decide whether a salary sacrifice could be done.

"We're investing $30 million on footpaths so what we're seeing is a cheap stunt that won't make any difference to anyone," he said.

"This is the largest council in Australia. It's not something we can risk with someone who's inexperienced."

Brisbane Times reported a 2 per cent jump to all councillors' salaries in the 2018-19 financial year, which would have increased the lord mayoral salary by about $5000 from $254,613 the previous year.

Cr Schrinner, who had been a councillor for 14 years before replacing former lord mayor Graham Quirk earlier this year, said the council would continue investing in footpaths, bikeways and upgrading roads.

The lord mayor said Labor had always had a "disunited" team with "no vision for the future" and focused on "squabbling, fighting and knifing each other".

"[There's] a different person but nothing has changed," he said.

"Ultimately, what we do have is a candidate that was an amateur complainer replaced with a professional complainer now.

"Someone who is very negative about Brisbane and its future and someone with no plans for the future."

Cr Schrinner said his council remained focused on delivering the Brisbane Metro, Victoria Park's upgrade and rolling out infrastructure, including bridges.

When asked how he felt about Cr Schrinner calling him a professional complainer, Mr Condren took a swipe back.

"That's a bit rich coming from Adrian Schrinner, particularly given the way that he's treated the lord mayoralty," he said.

"The LNP has treated the lord mayoralty as a play thing. They've handed it around between their mates for the last few lord mayors.

"He's an unelected lord mayor.

"Adrian Schrinner is no Graham Quirk and he's definitely no Jim Soorley."

Mr Condren earlier criticised the LNP spending ratepayers money on $300 cab rides to Cher concerts and about $4 million on self-promotion instead of focusing on much-needed footpath repairs.

"You don't have to be a politician to know that ratepayers are being ripped off," he said.

"There is a vast amount of ratepayers' money being wasted."

Mr Condren said it was an advantage to have no experience as a politician because he came in without political baggage.

"It's time for a long overdue change. This election is too important for me to sit on the
sideline," he said.

[verbatim9]

this thread so far: David Leyonjhelm for Mayor of Brisbane! 

^^If you want socialism move to Sweden.

[ozbob]

Rod getting the rocket, has put a bit of a spark in #BNEvotes2020.   I wonder if Patrick will stick with ' Fare Free Fridays ' ....

[#Metro]

Schrinner has a Female deputy which is logically balanced.

It's not balanced. One position is subordinate to the other.

I am surprised that Red Team have not put a woman forward as the candidate.

Trad, as much as people might disagree with her, would be a potential good candidate for the position.

It would be very interesting to see if Green Team realises the gender vacuum at the very top and steps in.

Sarina Russo? She's accomplished a lot... I'm sure others can think of and make suggestions.

[techblitz]

this thread so far: David Leyonjhelm for Mayor of Brisbane! 

[#Metro]

Register of Interests

https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/governance-and-strategy/lord-mayor-and-councillors/councillors-register-of-interests

Another thing of interest - the register.

So many councillors are directors of companies and businesses. And two are members of model railway clubs. 

[verbatim9]

It's been rumoured for weeks and now it's official. Labor has dumped its Lord Mayoral Candidate @RodHardingBNE. Instead, former political reporter @PatrickCondren will take the fight to Adrian @Schrinner. @ijmullen #7NEWS https://t.co/c4rDYmF8mo

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1178219182908788737

[aldonius]

For those who care, the Greens are indeed putting a woman forward for Lord Mayor.


https://greens.org.au/qld/person/kath-angus

I want to see more power in the hands of residents. I want to see a beautiful and connected Meanjin/Brisbane that everyone can access.

Hi, I'm Kath and I'm your candidate for Lord Mayor of Meanjin/Brisbane.

I'm an early childhood educator, midwife and community volunteer.

I've put my hand up to be Lord Mayor because I'm tired of our communities being left behind in daily decisions made by the council. I want the people of Meanjin/Brisbane to be the priority - not wealthy developers and big corporations.

As your Lord Mayor, I will bring community voices back to the table, particularly in issues like neighbourhood plans, to make sure we have plenty of green spaces and public transport that works for you.

This is our city. We should have a say in the various council decisions affect our families. I know many of you feel like you don't have a say and that's something I am determined to fix. Referendums on the final drafts of neighbourhood plans would be one way I would change town planning as your Lord Mayor.

Together, we can work together to shape the future of our city and create a more vibrant, liveable Meanjin/Brisbane.

[#Metro]

The LM is a direct elect position.

Therefore, it's possible to have a Green Team LM or Independent LM run the city.

Let's hope they promote the 1 woman in 95 years angle, and the fact LMs are direct elect, which means you can still vote for Blue Team or Red Team if that's what you want in your ward.

With women making up 50% of the city, it is the largest constituency, however you measure it.

And it would be a a huge change of narrative - unique - to the usual ones which are:

1. Rates are too high, you are being ripped off

2. Not enough money spent on footpaths and potholes


Sure, policies matter, but that is only one factor. We live in a representative democracy and thus expect people like us to

represent us. IMHO, a narrative such as 'Hey ladies, you have paid rates for almost 100 years, and they only put one woman in the

role of LM for that entire time.' would easily defeat (1) or (2).


The Greens have had sensible policies before, but they haven't got across the line with that alone.

If the 1.15 million women of Brisbane get wind of the 1/95 fact, I think it might easily carry the day.

Blue and Red Team will have no defence against this angle. Both their candidates are men.

Even worse, their reported treatment of Nicole Johnston - a woman - has been deplorable, shutting down her speeches and making it hard for her ward to get funds.

The optics of that is just dynamite.


You could run with a nice slogan: Women Pay Rates Too. It could be a huge conversation around #HerRates

If the Greens had smarts, they shouldn't go into battle on the rates or footpaths. Have a signature

domestic violence policy for the city instead. Maybe waive development fees for childcare centres

across the city like BCC has done for student accom. and aged care homes.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> 20 questions with Labor's lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren

Patrick Condren has been coy about his plans for Brisbane Metro, says he will consider making public transport free for school kids and has promised to redevelop King George Square if wins the March mayoral election. Here are his answers to 20 key questions.

PUBLIC transport for school kids could be free, construction start times would be pushed back on Saturdays and smoking would be banned in public parks under a Council administration led by Patrick Condren.

Speaking to The Courier-Mail yesterday about a raft of issues, the Labor lord mayoral candidate said he wouldn't ban brothels from the suburbs or scrap fireworks during Riverfire.

Mr Condren has also been coy about his plans for Brisbane Metro if he wins the lord mayoral race in March.

"Adrian Schrinner likes to dress this bendy bus scheme up as an equivalent of the Paris Metro which is like comparing the Melbourne Cup to a merry-go-round," he said.

"The Metro will be certainly a focus of our deliberations."

He has also highlighted residential rates as Labor's "highest priority", promised to redevelop King George Square – which he described as a "fry pan" – and committed to trialling 30km/h speed limits on CBD streets.

Mr Condren launched his campaign for the city's top job yesterday, where he declared he was coming for Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

"This is the starter's gun for the campaign," he said.

"It's going to be a long campaign ... we've got a mountain to climb, but we've got our walking boots on."

Q&A with Labor lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren

1. Would you lower residential rates?

At the moment we are working up a suite of policies and the highest priority is rates.

2. Would you ban smoking in public parks?

Yes, I would – for health reasons. Parks are for kids and families. They're not for smokers.

3. Would you scrap Brisbane Metro?

Brisbane Metro was hatched four years ago on the back of an envelope and at the moment there has been no shovel in the ground. Adrian Schrinner likes to dress this bendy bus scheme up as an equivalent of the Paris Metro which is like comparing the Melbourne Cup to a merry-go-round. We are obviously going to look at the Metro. The Metro will be certainly a focus of our deliberations.

4. Would you redevelop King George Square and return grass and a fountain to the square?

I would love to do that, because at the moment, it's a fry pan.

5. Would you trial 30km/h speed limits on CBD streets?

Yes, for safety reasons. Apart from that it makes it safer for pedestrians, it attracts more people into the CBD to shop and spend their money with local businesses.

6. Would you scrap footpath dining fees for cafes and restaurants?

I think that's a good idea, because it would encourage more people to enjoy the wonderful climate outdoors that we have in Brisbane. Maybe scrapping or reducing, but certainly doing something to encourage more outside dining.

7. Would you commit to removing the Lord Mayor's face from any ratepayer funded council pamphlets?

Yes, because it is an abuse of ratepayers' money for this unelected Lord Mayor to spend $4 million of their hard earned cash putting his face onto pamphlets.

8. Should we have a Brisbane Olympics or a Queensland Olympics?

I support the Olympics and I think it would be transformational for Brisbane. It's going to be Queensland (Olympics).

9. Would you allow school kids to travel for free on Brisbane's buses and ferries?

I certainly think that is something we should look at, to encourage them and to educate into the use of public transport. We'd look at a range of things to encourage people to use public transport more often. It's good to get people onto public transport because then it gets cars off roads and lessens the congestion.

10. Do you support compulsory preferential voting for local government elections?

It's an issue for the State Government and I don't have any sort of input into exactly what their deliberations are. The argument in favour of it is consistency across the three levels of government.

11. Should fluoride be removed from Brisbane's drinking water?

No. There is science to prove that fluoride does benefits. I grew up in Townsville where they had fluoride in the water and I'm not insane.

12. Would you scrap the prayer before Council meetings?

No. I think both (the prayer and acknowledgment to country) are important. It sends a message.

13. Should the 25km/h speed limit for electric scooters in Brisbane be lowered?

Yes, because they've nearly cleaned me up a couple of times. It's a safety issue. Schrinner could have done this at the beginning. He could've instigated that at the beginning when he signed the contracts (with Lime and Neuron).

14. Would you continue to support Council's plastic straw, helium balloon and single-use water bottle ban for Council-sponsored events?

Yes. It's good for the environment.

15. Would you support a change in construction start times on Saturdays so residents can have sleep-ins? (It is currently 6.30am)

I gotta tell you I'm in favour of putting it back to 7am on a Saturday. Weekends are precious. If they can have a bit of a sleep in until 7am on a Saturday, I think that's a good idea.

16. Should recycling bins be emptied every week instead of every fortnight?

I don't see the point of doing it weekly. I think what we should be doing is encouraging people to be more conscious of recycling. There's lots of waste and recycling options that should be explored.

17. Should the fireworks during Riverfire be scrapped?

No. I think Riverfire is fantastic. It was a visionary initiative of Jim Soorley's. I see no reason to scrap it given the enjoyment that it has brought to millions and millions of people.

18. Do you support daylight saving for Queensland?

I don't think there's an appetite for daylight saving in Queensland. I think it's too hard because of the size of the state. And I used to live in Townsville when they had the trial, and a kid going home at 2 o'clock in the afternoon in summer on a school bus was almost a blob of grease on the bus seat – it was that hot.

19. Do you support a construction ban on townhouses, units and apartments in single home areas (low density residential)?

I support the ban.

20. Would you ban brothels in the suburbs?

Provided they're subscribing to the laws, I don't see any reason to change the status quo when it comes to brothels in the suburbs.

[verbatim9]

^^What a waste doing up King George Sq again. All it needs is a pavement  spout fountains that you can turn off during events. (It did have bi partisan sign off as well)

Plus with going back to the drawing board with metro would cost a lot too.

It already sounds that a Labor Council will be a big spending council without benefiting the wider community.

[AnonymouslyBad]

^ That interview with Condren reads a lot like he got the questions ahead of time, and repeated back whatever non-answers an ALP puppetmaster gave him. It's early days I suppose, but it's not a great start. I don't have high hopes for the 'issues' the CM is going to focus on either, if these are the questions they're trotting out.

Full-on party politics in local councils is always a bit embarrassing to watch. Unfortunately due to BCC's size we're probably stuck with it.

[#Metro]

19. Do you support a construction ban on townhouses, units and apartments in single home areas (low density residential)?

I support the ban.

^ This is garbage. Not allowing infill causes fringe areas like Ripley and Flagstone to be developed. These places are 30-50 km from the CBD.

Then you need a rail line at $200 million/km extended out there because no other mode can do the job.

This is an expensive draw on funds when there are rail projects that could be pursued closer to home, on the existing network, with that money.

[SurfRail]

Brisbane is and will continue to be run by idiots.

I blame the voters.  Demand better FFS.

Unfortunately this coming election is probably my last living in a competently run LGA before I start living in this shitshow.

[Cleveland Line]

^^What a waste doing up King George Sq again. All it needs is a pavement  spout fountains that you can turn off during events. (It did have bi partisan sign off as well)

Plus with going back to the drawing board with metro would cost a lot too.

It already sounds that a Labor Council will be a big spending council without benefiting the wider community.

Did you read the actual questions and answers or just fire off based on CM's sensationalized reporting?

The actual question and answer say not much at all about a huge redevelopment but specifically mention fountain and grass, which Condren says he would love to. You seem to like the fountain too so you're just arguing over the grass?

Metro he just says they would look at it and be part of their deliberations. Nothing about going back to the drawing board. As a $1billion project for BCC isn't that reasonable and responsible for an opposition? Or should they just accept all the polished PR the LNP has put out about it and commit to it with no change or review?

^ That interview with Condren reads a lot like he got the questions ahead of time, and repeated back whatever non-answers an ALP puppetmaster gave him. It's early days I suppose, but it's not a great start. I don't have high hopes for the 'issues' the CM is going to focus on either, if these are the questions they're trotting out.

Full-on party politics in local councils is always a bit embarrassing to watch. Unfortunately due to BCC's size we're probably stuck with it.

The CM is never going to be very positive for Labor. And you can see in the questions they were trying to grab a few attack headlines. Condren as a political journo would be acutely aware of this and gave careful answers. Fair enough I reckon.

It is six months out from the election. With Christmas/ New Year holidays in between when the usual political assumption is everyone switches off. So don't expect anything major until 2020. In the meantime, expect targeted announcements designed just to raise profile.

[Cleveland Line]

Brisbane is and will continue to be run by idiots.

I blame the voters.  Demand better FFS.

Unfortunately this coming election is probably my last living in a competently run LGA before I start living in this shitshow.

Condren has only been candidate for a week. They haven't announced much policy yet. So now is the time to lobby and seek to influence his agenda now.

I might have missed something but what policies have you or this group put forward to him or Labor for this election that have been rejected or ignored yet?

[#Metro]

^ He just announced that he supports banning the missing middle housing.

Density means patronage. Low density in far places means drawing ~ $1 BN in funds

for commuter rail network extension, and of course, the $50,000/car space car park as the densities

won't support decent bus service.

[ozbob]

All our media/emails goes to BCC - both sides. 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Campbell Newman hammers Patrick Condren's 'character' over behaviour in old TV job

FORMER premier Campbell Newman claims Labor's new lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren fails the political character test, accusing him of inappropriate behaviour towards "politicians, political staffers and media colleagues" in his previous job as a television journalist.

The explosive attack from Mr Newman follows two cryptic tweets he fired off to Mr Condren in 2017 and 2018, in which he made reference to the use of "crude sexual innuendo" in front of female colleagues.

Mr Condren said last night he wouldn't comment on "baseless allegations" made by Mr Newman, who was also Brisbane's lord mayor for seven years, saying the LNP was "scraping the bottom of the barrel" in a vain attempt to undermine his campaign.

"Queenslanders passed their judgment on Mr Newman in 2015, dumping him from office after a single term as premier and what he's saying now says more about him than it does about me," Mr Condren said. "In response to the serious claims, I won't dignify those sorts of baseless allegations with a response."

The explosive war of words has erupted within the first week of the lord mayoral campaign after Labor dumped Rod Harding to make way for Mr Condren, a former state political editor for the Seven Network and 4BC mornings host.

Mr Newman said Mr Condren had no vision for Brisbane and did not have a plan.

"He doesn't even know who the members of the ALP team are," Mr Newman said.

"Condren has already demonstrated a cavalier and arrogant attitude, effectively saying that these things don't matter and neither does he have any responsibility to be across the detail.

"He is a manifestly unsuitable candidate, cynically foisted on the community by a 'do nothing' Premier that is unable to deal with integrity issues in her own team.

"In my 11 years in public office, I saw and heard of repeated instances of inappropriate behaviour by Condren in his dealings with politicians, political staffers and his own media colleagues.

"Brisbane does not need someone who not only fails that proverbial 'pub test' but more importantly the character test."

Mr Newman said he believed others who had experienced Mr Condren's behaviour would come forward before the council poll, "as they surely should".

Mr Condren said Mr Newman had made no secret of the fact he didn't like him.

"As the state political editor for Seven and a radio broadcaster, I held him to account and refused to bow to his bully boy tactics," Mr Condren said.

"I will continue to ignore his bully boy tactics. He was pleasant enough when he wanted to speak to me at 4BC but now this suits his agenda and he's having a go.

"I'm disappointed the LNP is scraping the bottom of the barrel. I'll be playing the ball not the man, I'm about policy not personalities.,

"You've had Newman come out, (Deb) Frecklington has had a go, (Tim) Mander. They are clearly rattled."

I have followed both Condron and Newman on twitter for years.  I got the impression the ex-Premier when Premier was trying to get rid of certain journalists. Just an impression, may be wrong.  This rant from Mr Newman continues from there it seems to me.

[verbatim9]

Brisbane is and will continue to be run by idiots.

I blame the voters.  Demand better FFS.

Unfortunately this coming election is probably my last living in a competently run LGA before I start living in this shitshow.

Condren has only been candidate for a week. They haven't announced much policy yet. So now is the time to lobby and seek to influence his agenda now.

I might have missed something but what policies have you or this group put forward to him or Labor for this election that have been rejected or ignored yet?

^ He just announced that he supports banning the missing middle housing.

Density means patronage. Low density in far places means drawing ~ $1 BN in funds

for commuter rail network extension, and of course, the $50,000/car space car park as the densities

won't support decent bus service.

ALP will have their own agenda prior to any lobbying from the Public.

I also prefer higher density and  infill. Especially within 10km of the CBD. 20 story buildings should be encouraged   Existing Green spaces and bush should be kept and not developed ensuring we have a Green ring of natural habitat around the city I hope the ban is lifted once again after the Council election. Infil would be one of the only ways to make an underground driverless metro system plausible. The ever expansion of Suburbia is really choking Brisbane. Well insulated 3-4 bedroom apartments can be better than a 3-4 bedroom house. Onsite amenities plus the added benefits of a walkable and cycleable community, with high frequency Public Transport.

[James]

I have followed both Condron and Newman on twitter for years.  I got the impression the ex-Premier when Premier was trying to get rid of certain journalists. Just an impression, may be wrong.  This rant from Mr Newman continues from there it seems to me.

I think there are a lot of LNP members who would have put Patrick Condren in the basket of being a journo who was out to hurt the LNP at every turn while in government. Now he has become a card-carrying ALP member, blue team will be feeling very validated and I am sure nobody will be holding back...

^ He just announced that he supports banning the missing middle housing.

Density means patronage. Low density in far places means drawing ~ $1 BN in funds for commuter rail network extension, and of course, the $50,000/car space car park as the densities won't support decent bus service.

Who needs middle housing? We want our unaffordable trendy backyards in urban sprawl 2km from the CBD! A constantly available parking spot outside my house is a human right! BCC doesn't pay to carry people from other councils, go use your own public transport!

As far as BCC is concerned, they don't give two sh%ts about the land which lay beyond BCC boundaries - transport, development or otherwise. We've seen this with the ban placed on non-BT buses using Adelaide St, BT buses avoiding non-BCC areas & train stations, the list goes on. Looks like Condren has written his campaign mantra - if it isn't in BCC, it's not our problem! Affordable housing be gone!

[timh]

I may be premature in saying this, but as a big proponent of infill density, anyone who's going to jump on the bandwagon of "GRR APARTMENTS BAD" to win over boomer voters (and NIMBYs from other age brackets) will never see my vote!

[Cleveland Line]

^ He just announced that he supports banning the missing middle housing.

Density means patronage. Low density in far places means drawing ~ $1 BN in funds

for commuter rail network extension, and of course, the $50,000/car space car park as the densities

won't support decent bus service.

Really, where?

I go back to the point that the CM interview will be looking for angles to attack Labor.

Look at the actual question and answer.

19. Do you support a construction ban on townhouses, units and apartments in single home areas (low density residential)?

I support the ban.

So really it is asking if you support low density housing in low density zones....sounds pretty obvious...

The broader issues are far more complex.

The many issues with Brisbane transport network are clearly pointed out across this forum, yet you then expect residents to openly welcome higher density development supposedly leveraging a great transport network? Brisbane surbubs have seen rapid high density development during the same period of rail fail and no serious bus network improvement. Can you really blame residents being concerned about this?

I may be premature in saying this, but as a big proponent of infill density, anyone who's going to jump on the bandwagon of "GRR APARTMENTS BAD" to win over boomer voters (and NIMBYs from other age brackets) will never see my vote!

Let's not judge and entire issue based on one question and one answer in one interview.

How about putting the detailed question directly to them and judging the response then? No answer or don't like it, then call it out. Or they support it or wanted to talk more, great!

[AnonymouslyBad]

Yeah the high density question is a great example of Condren saying what he knew the CM would want to hear. And to be fair, no candidate is going to advocate the bulldozing of leafy suburbs for apartment blocks. I don't like how matter-of-fact his response was, though: it made it sound like he won't support increased density anywhere, full stop.

I may be premature in saying this, but as a big proponent of infill density, anyone who's going to jump on the bandwagon of "GRR APARTMENTS BAD" to win over boomer voters (and NIMBYs from other age brackets) will never see my vote!

You'll probably have a hard time finding anyone to vote for

Building up is always a careful political game - changing an area's character bit by bit. All councils want to create density, but few like the political cost. Existing residents rarely like it, regardless of their demographic or political affiliation (see: Gabba ward). It's a shame.

[timh]

Yeah the high density question is a great example of Condren saying what he knew the CM would want to hear. And to be fair, no candidate is going to advocate the bulldozing of leafy suburbs for apartment blocks. I don't like how matter-of-fact his response was, though: it made it sound like he won't support increased density anywhere, full stop.

I may be premature in saying this, but as a big proponent of infill density, anyone who's going to jump on the bandwagon of "GRR APARTMENTS BAD" to win over boomer voters (and NIMBYs from other age brackets) will never see my vote!

You'll probably have a hard time finding anyone to vote for

Building up is always a careful political game - changing an area's character bit by bit. All councils want to create density, but few like the political cost. Existing residents rarely like it, regardless of their demographic or political affiliation (see: Gabba ward). It's a shame.

You make some very good points there! Especially regarding Gabba ward, I'd forgotten that they have a pretty vocal opposition to density there that trends younger and more left. Stark contrast to UMG which is the battle I'm used to...

Some other good points were made that the question is phrased in such a way that if an area is already zoned for apartments (again see UMG) then it's fine, seeing as the question is regarding areas zoned only for low density.

Basically keeping NIMBYs on side with their words but in practice still aiming for density.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[verbatim9]

Brisbanetimes.com.au----> Queenslanders will not be forced to allocate preferences at the March 2020 local council elections.

Queenslanders will not be forced to allocate preferences at the March 2020 local council elections.

The Queensland government had, in February, suggested changing the way Queenslanders vote at council elections by introducing compulsory preferential voting, bringing them in line with state and federal polls.

Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, in Cairns on Tuesday morning to speak at the Local Government Association of Queensland annual conference, announced the state government had changed its mind and optional preferential voting would remain.

Comment has been sought from Mr Hinchliffe, who was on a flight back to Brisbane to attend Parliament.

LGAQ president Mark Jamieson welcomed the change.

Cr Jamieson, the Sunshine Coast mayor, told delegates the state government deserved applause for heeding the concerns of councils.

The government's move to drop compulsory preferential voting for council elections follows a strong campaign by the LGAQ against the proposal.

Mr Hinchliffe is expected to table further amendments to the local government legislation in state Parliament on Tuesday afternoon following the 2017 Operation Belcarra investigation into several councils.

LGAQ spokesman Craig Johnstone said the decision was met with applause at the conference.

"It means they have scrapped compulsory preferential voting," he said.

"They have seen the light."

The Queensland government intends to bring the second reading of the Operation Belcarra local government amendments to Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, he said.

"They will bring on the second reading debate and it will be confirmed that that aspect that they were trying to introduce has been dropped for these council elections," he said.

"He wasn't really clear as to whether they will ever revisit it."

The LGAQ in February strongly opposed the proposed changes to the way in which Queenslanders vote at local government elections.

A survey of 1200 Queenslanders showed 70 per cent were happy with the way they voted for their councillors.

More than 76 per cent of Brisbane residents who were surveyed said they were happy with the scheme used to elect their councillor.

The Queensland government also appears to have dropped a proposal where a councillor would be "deemed to know" when he or she needed to declare a political donation, Mr Johnstone said.

"That caused quite a lot of problems," he said. "It was a reverse onus-of-proof situation."

The Queensland Law Society raised questions about these proposed changes in its submission to the second stage of Belcarra amendments.

"When operational, some of the new obligations may not be practical and, indeed, expose local councillors to a real risk of prosecution for unintentional administrative oversights," the society wrote.

Previously, Mr Hinchliffe said having a similar voting system at all three levels of government – local, state and federal – would make the process simpler for voters.

"Consistency across the electoral systems that are used in the state of Queensland across three levels of government would provide a simplicity and a greater level of understanding, I believe, for voters, no matter which election they're turning up for," Mr Hinchliffe said in February.

Conservative councillors believed Labor was trying to restrict the impact of Greens voters, while Labor insisted the proposed change was for consistency.

However, only the largest local councils across Queensland have political party-affiliated candidates.

Mr Hinchliffe is expected to brief state MPs on Tuesday afternoon.

- with Lucy Stone

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Labor pledges full safety screens for Brisbane bus drivers

Labor's lord mayoral candidate Pat Condren has announced all new Brisbane City Council buses would have full screen protection for drivers if he were elected.

Bus driver safety has been a contentious topic in recent months after a spate of attacks on drivers around the city.

Deputy mayor Krista Adams has called on the state government to employ more senior network officers, who would have greater powers to remove passengers and provide security to drivers.

The choice of safety screens to protect bus drivers has also been a point of difference between the council and the Rail Tram and Bus Union.

Mr Condren said no one should feel unsafe at work and buses should be safe for operators.

"Bus drivers are the front line of customer service for Brisbane City Council, and council has
a duty to ensure their safety," he said.

"Today marks the third anniversary of the tragic death of bus driver Manmeet Alisher [Sharma], but
sadly not enough has been done to ensure it can never happen again.

"I've listened to bus drivers and they want new buses to include extra security measures to
increase their safety."

Mr Condren said he believed "one assault is too many" and pledged that if he were elected, all new buses would have full screens, and new buses with the screens would be prioritised on bus routes deemed high-risk.

RTBU bus division secretary Tom Brown called on lord mayor Adrian Schrinner to match the promise.

"Just last month in so-called Safe September there was a record 74 serious incidents, including nine physical assaults – more than double the reported monthly average," he said.

Speaking in a September council meeting, Cr Adams said it was unacceptable that so many assaults had occurred on bus drivers.

In the three months up to mid-September, council noted 153 verbal assaults on bus drivers and 11 physical assaults on bus drivers while at work.

The state government also announced a new ad campaign targeting assaults against bus drivers, which was welcomed by the Transport Workers Union.

[verbatim9]

Brisbanetimes --> Labor pledges full safety screens for Brisbane bus drivers

Labor's lord mayoral candidate Pat Condren has announced all new Brisbane City Council buses would have full screen protection for drivers if he were elected.

Bus driver safety has been a contentious topic in recent months after a spate of attacks on drivers around the city.

Deputy mayor Krista Adams has called on the state government to employ more senior network officers, who would have greater powers to remove passengers and provide security to drivers.

The choice of safety screens to protect bus drivers has also been a point of difference between the council and the Rail Tram and Bus Union.

Mr Condren said no one should feel unsafe at work and buses should be safe for operators.

"Bus drivers are the front line of customer service for Brisbane City Council, and council has
a duty to ensure their safety," he said.

"Today marks the third anniversary of the tragic death of bus driver Manmeet Alisher [Sharma], but
sadly not enough has been done to ensure it can never happen again.

"I've listened to bus drivers and they want new buses to include extra security measures to
increase their safety."

Mr Condren said he believed "one assault is too many" and pledged that if he were elected, all new buses would have full screens, and new buses with the screens would be prioritised on bus routes deemed high-risk.

RTBU bus division secretary Tom Brown called on lord mayor Adrian Schrinner to match the promise.

"Just last month in so-called Safe September there was a record 74 serious incidents, including nine physical assaults – more than double the reported monthly average," he said.

Speaking in a September council meeting, Cr Adams said it was unacceptable that so many assaults had occurred on bus drivers.

In the three months up to mid-September, council noted 153 verbal assaults on bus drivers and 11 physical assaults on bus drivers while at work.

The state government also announced a new ad campaign targeting assaults against bus drivers, which was welcomed by the Transport Workers Union.

I can see the Council budget blowing out already, if Labor gains power.

[verbatim9]

Brisbanetimes --> Labor pledges full safety screens for Brisbane bus drivers

Labor's lord mayoral candidate Pat Condren has announced all new Brisbane City Council buses would have full screen protection for drivers if he were elected.

Bus driver safety has been a contentious topic in recent months after a spate of attacks on drivers around the city.

Deputy mayor Krista Adams has called on the state government to employ more senior network officers, who would have greater powers to remove passengers and provide security to drivers.

The choice of safety screens to protect bus drivers has also been a point of difference between the council and the Rail Tram and Bus Union.

Mr Condren said no one should feel unsafe at work and buses should be safe for operators.

"Bus drivers are the front line of customer service for Brisbane City Council, and council has
a duty to ensure their safety," he said.

"Today marks the third anniversary of the tragic death of bus driver Manmeet Alisher [Sharma], but
sadly not enough has been done to ensure it can never happen again.

"I've listened to bus drivers and they want new buses to include extra security measures to
increase their safety."

Mr Condren said he believed "one assault is too many" and pledged that if he were elected, all new buses would have full screens, and new buses with the screens would be prioritised on bus routes deemed high-risk.

RTBU bus division secretary Tom Brown called on lord mayor Adrian Schrinner to match the promise.

"Just last month in so-called Safe September there was a record 74 serious incidents, including nine physical assaults – more than double the reported monthly average," he said.

Speaking in a September council meeting, Cr Adams said it was unacceptable that so many assaults had occurred on bus drivers.

In the three months up to mid-September, council noted 153 verbal assaults on bus drivers and 11 physical assaults on bus drivers while at work.

The state government also announced a new ad campaign targeting assaults against bus drivers, which was welcomed by the Transport Workers Union.

I can see the Council budget blowing out already, if Labor gains power.

This is pure rhetoric from Labor stating that their budget will have significant savings compared to a Liberal Council.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Labor set to 'do a Sallyanne' on LNP lord mayor

Labor hasn't held the Brisbane lord mayoralty since 2004, but it's about to unleash a tactic that proved devastating against the "unbeatable" Sallyanne Atkinson nearly 30 years ago.

LABOR has launched an attack campaign targeting the Lord Mayor and LNP councillors' perceived perks, as it ramps up its bid to take back Brisbane City Hall.

Just weeks after Labor dumped its former mayoral candidate Rod Harding for ex-TV journalist Patrick Condren, the party has launched an "End the rorts" campaign against the LNP council.

The election is only five months away.

The ads, to be distributed via mailouts, on social media and billboards, all include photos of Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner with messages about alleged rorts.

The campaign's website lands on a petition calling on residents to "Tell the out-of-touch LNP council: End the rorts."

It is reminiscent of the infamous "Salaryanne" strategy that helped Labor's then unknown Jim Soorley trounce lord mayor Sallyanne Atkinson, who was considered unbeatable, in 1991.

Labor state secretary Julie-Ann Campbell, who authorised the blitz, said: "Brisbane residents deserve to know that their rate increases are paying for Adrian Schrinner's rorts."

Labor councillors have been pushing the line of ratepayer money being spent on rorts and perks for the LNP for months.

Cr Schrinner has fought back by calling the opposition mudslingers.

On Tuesday, opposition leader Jared Cassidy asked Cr Schrinner "do you have no shame" over the Lord Mayor's picture appearing on four million ratepayer-funded publications.

Cr Schrinner replied that he did not know why Labor was so obsessed with his face.

"They just have personal attacks and mud to throw," he said.

The LNP has held the mayoralty since Campbell Newman was elected in 2004, and control of the chamber since 2008 — with 19 councillors compared with Labor's five.

The remaining two wards are held by the Greens' Jonathan Sri and Independent Nicole Johnston.

[verbatim9]

I don't think we will see any start to any new or huge projects until after the Council elections. BCC have just pulled out of the (Active Transport) segregated bike path  project in West End and Highgate Hill. It will not go ahead at the moment. Hopefully after the election?

No doubt there will be promises and pledges here and there. Even Councillor Sri is against segregated Bikeways in West end as it takes away street carparks. Go figure another typical politician  How has this happened??? Greens want carparks retained. LNP would like them removed for safe vital infrastructure and traffic calming to support an active lifestyle. As well as removal of some bus stops to comply with best practice and proper spacing of these stops.

Transport wise there hasn't been really any major new Public Transport nor Active Transport projects completed except for the Gabba Bikeway and a few band-aid and patchwork solutions.

After the election there will be a flurry of activity and most probably a Public Private announcement of the long awaited Buranda to Toowong road tunnel as well.

Council projects completed by 2026, at least 3 Green Bridges built and operational  The Bne Metro should be up and running. Riverside redevelopment completed. Missing connections of the segregated bikeways completed incl inner city (CBD) segregated network, Articulated buses running on key routes incl 412 and 333 plus a bit more I suspect.

[AnonymouslyBad]

No doubt there will be promises and pledges here and there. Even Councillor Sri is against segregated Bikeways in West end as it takes away street carparks. Go figure another typical politician

This smells of rubbish. Councillor Sri has made multiple statements in support of segregated bike lanes in West End, and none to the contrary that I can find.

Yes Sri's an opportunist like most of them, but it's the Gabba ward. There's little local appetite to keep parking over bike lanes.

Council projects completed by 2026, at least 3 Green Bridges built and operational  The Bne Metro should be up and running. Riverside redevelopment completed. Missing connections of the segregated bikeways completed incl inner city (CBD) segregated network, Articulated buses running on key routes incl 412 and 333 plus a bit more I suspect.

I would love to see that CBD bikeway network, but there's no indication it's coming. If the politically invincible BCC of 5 years ago wasn't willing to do it, don't hold your breath on 2020. It's not difficult, it's not expensive, it's just unpalatable to Schrinner's voter base in the leafy northern suburbs.

The rest will of course be a reality as they're already underway. (Except the green bridges, but I'm willing to bet they'll happen even if 3 people use the bridges - because they're relatively cheap, but big ticket projects, something BCC loves)

[verbatim9]

No doubt there will be promises and pledges here and there. Even Councillor Sri is against segregated Bikeways in West end as it takes away street carparks. Go figure another typical politician

This smells of rubbish. Councillor Sri has made multiple statements in support of segregated bike lanes in West End, and none to the contrary that I can find.

Yes Sri's an opportunist like most of them, but it's the Gabba ward. There's little local appetite to keep parking over bike lanes.

Council projects completed by 2026, at least 3 Green Bridges built and operational  The Bne Metro should be up and running. Riverside redevelopment completed. Missing connections of the segregated bikeways completed incl inner city (CBD) segregated network, Articulated buses running on key routes incl 412 and 333 plus a bit more I suspect.

I would love to see that CBD bikeway network, but there's no indication it's coming. If the politically invincible BCC of 5 years ago wasn't willing to do it, don't hold your breath on 2020. It's not difficult, it's not expensive, it's just unpalatable to Schrinner's voter base in the leafy northern suburbs.

The rest will of course be a reality as they're already underway. (Except the green bridges, but I'm willing to bet they'll happen even if 3 people use the bridges - because they're relatively cheap, but big ticket projects, something BCC loves)

It's true he wasn't in support of the Bike lane on Dornoch Terrace. He wants to keep the status quo and just reduce speed limits and add a few Zebra crossings. Which Council don't build anymore apparently.

[aldonius]

He supported that because that's what his own consultation on the topic led him to conclude.

I'll defer to Space4Cycling:

https://www.facebook.com/space4cyclingbne/photos/a.1655631961349614/2467536346825834

Belinda attended Council's Public and Active Transport and Other Stuff Committee meeting this morning, and observed the presentation on Dornoch Terrace Safety Improvements consultation results. What emerged:

* Council will not proceed with the proposal they put forward, due to the strong community opposition to the concept plan.

* This was the only proposal (no alternative designs were produced) even though the local councillor had advised the project team that it was likely to be rejected by the community.

* Jonathan Sri, Councillor for The Gabba—who had consulted with local residents, but outside Council's formal process—felt he had a fair idea of what the community wanted: essentially a lower speed limit and additional zebra crossings.

* Lower speed limits and additional zebra crossings were not included as options in the survey or consultation, because Council did not want to "lead people through the survey".

* However they had no problem "leading" people to objecting to the "loss of 115 car parking spaces" to "create bike lanes" by describing the proposed to repurpose kerb-side space in that way.

* Cr Sri's input and advice was discounted because he did not provide it within the formal submissions process and window - despite being the local councillor, having multiple discussions with the project team, and giving pages of written feedback *before* the consultation period commenced.

So, the outcome:

There will be some small improvements to the footpaths along Dornoch Tce, and some additional pedestrian refuge islands. (We're concerned that's likely to make dangerous conditions marginally worse for cyclists). The priority going forward will be on retaining kerbside space for carparking. Unfortunately, we fear that priority is likely to carry through to future proposals, so potentially delivers a big blow to ever getting safe cycling conditions on nearby Vulture St, or on Stanley St East.

It was also claimed that it is "cyclists" who will be upset about the result, as they were the ones who wanted the bike lanes. Which as we know is untrue for most recreational and sporting cyclists riding the River Loop. It is the residents of West End and Highgate Hill trying to use Dornoch Tce for local trips instead of taking the car who lose. And all of us when the message becomes further entrenched that the priority use for street space is not for moving people, but for parking cars.

[verbatim9]

Labor's candidate for Lord Mayor is in hot water.

Patrick Condren has been caught helping a news crew do an interview on a political colleague. @lcalcutt #QldPol #9News https://t.co/NfYaBtWXqV

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1194531078771367936

[ozbob]

^ he was just a holding a mic during an interview whilst something was attended to.  Done that myself many times during an interview.

Nothing to see here ...  move on everyone ...