Hervey Bay Gossip

Some new powers are coming for police and for some the changes can’t come soon enough.

Police will have the ability to use ‘move-on’ powers in all public spaces in Queensland, under a new Bill introduced to State Parliament yesterday.

Police Minister Judy Spence said the provision of statewide move-on powers in the Police Powers and Responsibilities and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2006 was about safeguarding the community’s right to feel safe in public places.

“By ensuring move-on powers apply to all public spaces and recreational areas, it will enable them to be enjoyed peacefully by everyone,” Ms Spence said.

Ms Spence said move-on directions could be issued by police to avoid arresting someone.

“The amendment of any police legislation is always approached by government with a great deal of consideration and deliberation,” Ms Spence said.

“That is why police will be required to publicly report on the use of move-on directions in the Queensland Police Service Annual Statistical Review, which is published each year.

“The Crime and Misconduct Commission would also undertake a review of the issuing of police move-on directions 18 months after the new statewide powers come into effect.

“These new powers for police will not affect a person’s right of peaceful assembly, or their right to enjoy public facilities.

“They are about ensuring someone does not get arrested in the first instance, by giving someone a direction to leave an area for a period of up to 24 hours.”

Ms Spence said the Bill would also remove the time-consuming and extensive application process for local councils.

Statewide move-on powers are among a range of provisions covered in the new Bill, which also contains:

* the new offence of ‘evade police’, in which someone who causes high speed pursuits will soon face permanent confiscation of their vehicle, a fine of up to $15,000 and/or three years in jail;

* inclusion of spitting, biting or throwing bodily fluids at a police officer as a “serious assault” under Section 340 of the Criminal Code, which carries a jail term of up to seven years;

* requiring a person to provide their password, code or encryption details to police if their computer is seized in accordance with a search warrant;

* enabling police to issue a ‘notice to appear’ to start a domestic violence application, instead of first having to make an arrest or serve a summons;

* providing specific powers to watchhouse officers to enable them to carry out many of the functions presently restricted to police officers;

* giving police the power to enter a chemist’s premises to monitor excessive sales of pseudoephedrine by inspecting their register and other related items;

* enabling police to search people and vehicles without a warrant for an offence involving wilful damage if there is a reasonable suspicion.

The Minister for Emergency Services, Pat Purcell, has today praised the response to Tropical Cyclone Monica - which has now passed over the Queensland mainland.

The latest advice from the Bureau of Meteorology is that the cyclone is now situated in the Gulf of Carpentaria; and that warning for the west coast of the Cape York Peninsula has been cancelled.

However, the cyclone could intensify as it tracks towards the Northern Territory.

The cyclone passed over the western coast of the cape yesterday as a category 2 system.

Mr Purcell said that no injuries or significant damage was reported.

There were also no reports of injuries from the cyclone crossing the eastern coast of the cape as a category 3 on Wednesday.

Mr Purcell yesterday visited Lockhart River, a town only 30 kilometres from where the eye of the cyclone passed.

“The communities and residents there are coping well, and local councils have the situation well in hand,” Mr Purcell said.

“I was impressed with the preparedness and spirit of the people of the Cape York Peninsula.

“These are resilient people, who are familiar in dealing with cyclones.”

Latest information includes:

* Mains power was restored in LockhartRiver yesterday afternoon, and power has been restored to the 50 homes in Coen on feeder lines.

* The landline telephone network to the cape has also been restored.

* Numerous roads are blocked, however the Department of Emergency Services has logistical plans in place to re-supply any areas cut off.

* The rescue helicopter yesterday evacuated several people from Laura, where flood waters were at calf height. They were taken to Cooktown.

* The Department of Emergency Services will continue to check on and re-supply outlying communities and isolated homesteads.

* The heavy rain that Monica brought has caused some localised flooding in Cairns. Contingency plans are being developed should evacuations be necessary - though fortunately the rain did ease overnight.

* Flooding is also a possibility in the western cape region, and this is being monitored.

“Queensland’s emergency management system is, once again, responding magnificently to a potentially deadly natural disaster,” Mr Purcell said.

The State Government has plans to build a weir across the Mary River at Coles Crossing sometime in the nest three years.

A delegation from the four Fraser Coast Councils has met with the Natural Resources, Mines and Water Minister to air concerns about the weir but were not very happy about the outcome.

The Minister would not give an undertaking that the water from the weir would not be distributed to areas outside of the Fraser Coast.

For any family member who has the task of caring for a person with a disability the question of what happens when they can’t look after the disabled person anymore can be an incredible worry. Preparing for that point in time can be extremely difficult but now the Queensland Government is offering financial support to three organisations to help people with a disability, their families and carers plan for the future

The Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, Warren Pitt, said the funds would be allocated to Mamre Association Inc, Parent to Parent Association Inc and Homes West Association Inc for transition planning.

“Mamre Association, based at Stafford in Brisbane, will receive $514,648, the Parent to Parent Association at Yandina on the SunshineCoast will receive $531,257 and Homes West at Sherwood, Brisbane, will receive $88,500,” Mr Pitt said.

“The work of these organisations will make a huge difference to the lives of many people with a disability and their families.”

Transition planning helps carers and people with a disability plan for the future and build support networks to assist when ageing carers may be unable to continue in the role.

“By planning earlier, people with a disability, their families and carers are better equipped to make decisions that can reduce anxiety about the future,” Mr Pitt said.

He said the decision to fund the three organisations reflected the need for early intervention.

“I am confident the approach being taken by the Queensland Government in relation to transition planning will prove effective and practical.”

Mr Pitt said Mamre Association and the Parent to Parent Association would offer aid to people who wanted transition planning, and conduct statewide workshops for interested people.

Homes West Association would conduct regional workshops and develop a website and booklet for other non-government organisations seeking to implement transition planning, he said.

Creative young Queenslanders are invited to showcase their talents to the “Young at Art”.

The Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, Warren Pitt, said the Young at Art competition, formerly known as the Creative Youth Competition, aimed to bring young people and seniors together.

Youth aged 12 to 25 can enter the competition using multimedia, creative writing or visual art to show their interaction with a person or group of people aged over 50.

This year the theme is ‘Never too old!’ which highlights the positive aspects of ageing.

“With Queensland’s rapidly ageing population, projects such as Young at Art are important to ensure seniors actively participate in, and feel connected to, their community,” Mr Pitt said.

“By participating in the competition, youth can better appreciate the experiences of older people and the contributions they make to society.

“The competition helps to foster mutual respect and understanding, and raises awareness of different values and traditions.”

Mr Pitt said he encouraged young Queenslanders to start thinking creatively and enter the competition, and urged seniors to support the project by sharing their experiences with youth.

Entries close Friday, 23 June 2006. Six winners will be presented with a digital camera, valued at $500, at an awards ceremony to be held in Brisbane later in the year.

For more information contact the Office for Seniors on 1300 132 654.

Nomination forms are available from Department of Communities regional offices, seniors and youth organisations, electoral offices, QGAP Agents or on the Department of Communities website at www.communities.qld.gov.au

It seems that Townsville businesses that rely on tourism are not all that happy with a Hervey Bay business because Townsville and other parts of Queensland have been omitted from a new Queensland tourist guide.

The 2006/2007 Queensland Travel Guide - compiled by Australian Travel Wholesalers who are based here in Hervey Bay - doesn’t mention Townsville or outback Queensland at all.

It seems that it’s not that Australian Travel Wholesalers forgot about Townsville or the outback it’s just that: “…at this time, there aren’t enough large tourism operators in Townsville that can justify advertising in the brochure.” according to Australian TGravel Wholesalers manager Geoff Wright.

However Wayne Cooper, the manager of the Motel Palms in Rosslea described the guide as an insult.

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The major staff restructure at Queensland Health is now complete and savings of $16 million a year will be directed back into patient care, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson also told State Parliament the Beattie Government was making significant progress towards improving the workplace culture within Queensland Health.

“The massive restructure is now complete with three Area Health Services established and operating effectively as is Queensland Health’s new executive management team,” Mr Robertson said.

“As promised, we have abolished 168 corporate office positions. The majority were abolished last year with the last few cut during the past few weeks.

“This equates to savings of around $16 million a year which will be redirected to our health services.

“In addition, we have finished transferring 1,150 positions to areas and districts. This is 471 more positions than recommended in the Queensland Health Systems Review.

“These transferred positions translate to more people located closer to patient care supporting our doctors and nurses and other services delivered in local communities.”

Mr Robertson said another key feature of the new Queensland Health was the major shake-up of its workplace culture.

“A negative workplace place culture cripples an organisation, especially one as large as Queensland Health with over 50,000 employees,” he said.

“The State Government is making significant progress in this area with a new, more appropriate Code of Conduct for all Queensland Health staff now in place.

“One-hour workshops will soon be held across the state informing staff about the new principles and values of the new Code and how to treat and follow the Code.

“An on-line learning tool about the Code is also being developed for the Queensland Health internal website.

“We are also making real inroads in establishing a new Workplace Culture and Leadership Centre with a $3 million investment over two years to kick it off.

“The centre will help build workplaces where our staff want to work, where they are treated with respect, and appropriately supported to undertake their valuable work.

“Research has shown that staff attitudes and behaviours also impact significantly on our patients and clients.

“One of the centre’s first projects will be to run a Leadership Development Program that will kick off next month for the top 300 senior Queensland Health staff.

“The centre will also start a major roll-out of staff opinion surveys this month.

“Around a quarter of all staff will anonymously participate in the first round covering eight health service districts - Cairns, Mount Isa, Fraser Coast, Royal Brisbane, Bundaberg, Northern Downs, QEII and Roma.

“The information out of the surveys will be used to create better workplaces for our staff at all levels.

“All Queensland Health staff will have the opportunity to participate in the surveys over the next two years.”

Mr Robertson said all of the measures follow recommendations of the Review.

“We are determined to make ours the best health system in Australia,” he said.

“Improving our workplace culture, either in a hospital or an office building, is crucial in achieving this objective.”

Fortunately Tropical Cyclone Monica has had little if any effect on the weather as far south as Hervey Bay but further north the situation is much different.

The Bruce Highway is closed at the Mulgrave River Bridge just south of Cairns. The Captain Cook Highway is closed at the Barron River north of Cairns. The Kuranda Range is also closed to vehicles and the railway line is blocked by a landslide. The railway is not expected to re-open before next Wednesda.

The Rex Range Road is closed due to flooding and the Gillies Highway between Gordonvale and Atherton is also closed but could be re-opened by the 3end of the day.

So if you are heading north take it easy on the road and allow some extra time for your journey.

Last week the exotic virus Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus was found in a Wide Bay backyard and it has now spread to several commercial tomato growers’ properties.

This virus threatest Wide Bay’s million dollar tomato industry by stunting tomato growth and limiting yields. The vurs is carried by the silverleaf whitefly - a common pest in this area.

While the virus has no affect on humans it is important to eradicate it before it ruins the region’s tomato industry so if you see anything unusual in your backyard tomato crop contact the Department of Primary Industry immediately.

The Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department is once again serving the local community 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the emergency department resumes full 24 hour service today (Tues) following an innovative agreement between Queensland Health and Aspen Medical.

“The Caboolture Hospital Emergency Department is once again fully staffed, with doctors and nurses working around-the-clock shifts to serve the community.

“Rostered emergency department staff includes: 6 senior medical officers, 9 registrars, 8 junior doctors and 40 nurses.

“I’m delighted the hospital’s acting Director of Emergency Medicine has withdrawn his resignation and will continue to work in the Caboolture emergency department.

Mr Robertson said the resumption of 24 hour service delivers on the Beattie Government’s commitment to the people of Caboolture to fully restore emergency services as quickly as possible.

“The decision to temporarily reduce services at Caboolture Hospital due to the national shortage of senior emergency medical doctors was difficult but unavoidable.

“I acknowledge the difficulties experienced by the community in recent weeks, and would like to thank the people of Caboolture for their patience and understanding during this time,” Mr Robertson said.