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Friday, 26 April, 2024
INSPECT SAT & WED 10-10.30AM 19 Key Court, Noosa Sound
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INSIDE
PR OP ER TY
Triathlon with a twist By Margie Maccoll
Navigating the water park.
Picture: ROB MACCOLL
“It’s a great day, members love it - that’s what it’s all about,“ was an apt description by a staff member of Sunshine Butterflies fifth annual triathlon, held last week at their Cooroibah premises, Our Backyard. The centre was a hive of activity as Sunshine Butterflies members, staff, volunteers and community members including St Andrews College students came together for the success of the event, which continues to flourish. Sunshine Butterflies Triathlon was brought to life in 2020 when many local sporting events including the Noosa Triathlon were impacted by Covid. Sunshine Butterflies members with disability were devastated by these cancellations. The Sunshine Butterflies team put their heads together and with the support of the community and major sponsor June Canavan Foundation they created Sunshine Butterflies Triathlon. Continued page 9
Reform stalled After six months’ work, Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said it was “deeply disappointing“ the bipartisan Youth Justice Reform Parliamentary Select Committee she chaired failed to adopt its interim report, but was pleased the report was now in the public domain, which followed the House last week dissolving the committee. With three MPs each from the Liberal National and Labor parties, the committee had been working towards the completion and tabling of an interim report which incorporated findings from 26 meetings, 13 public hearings, nine public briefings, 220 submissions and multiple site visits across Queensland. Ms Bolton spoke in Parliament last week regarding the untenable situation that had developed, with the failure of the committee to adopt the report titled ’Inquiry into ongoing
reforms to the youth justice system and support for victims of crime’, even after multiple extensions beyond its March deadline. “As Chair, I have endeavoured every step of the way to work patiently, impartially, respectfully and collaboratively with both sides of the House to achieve a balanced, nonpartisan report on many contentious issues. This is an extremely difficult environment of heightened media and politicking with the upcoming elections.” In Parliament Premier Steven Miles accused the LNP of putting political interests before community safety in blocking the release of the draft report, which he said led to the dissolution of the bipartisan committee and release of the report. LNP leader David Crisafulli asked the Pre-
mier if the committee had been dissolved because the government didn’t want to remove ’detention as a last resort’ after reinstating it in 2016, or because it didn’t want victims of crime in the media before the election? “I want to see the report of the committee,“ Mr Miles replied. “I know they worked hard. I know the Member for Noosa worked hard in the face of very difficult treatment by those opposite. All I want is to see their report so we can consider their report and start implementing recommendations.“ The report contains 60 wide-ranging recommendations, the first being “That the Queensland Government reform the Youth Justice sector and Act to ensure there are consequences for action and put the rights of vic-
tims above the rights of offenders“. Ms Bolton said prior to commencing the drafting of the interim report, the committee had workshopped the content on three occasions. “Even though there was consensus within the committee that Queensland’s youth justice system is not meeting community’s expectations with regard to community safety and the rehabilitation of children and young people and that earlier intervention is required, MPs’ views on how best to address this have proved polarising. As a consequence, I sought to achieve compromises in an effort to reach a bipartisan agreement, which consistently has been asked for by Queenslanders whether it has been at public hearings or otherwise.” Continued page 5
25TH APRIL
ANZAC DAY Lest We Forget 12683612-AV17-24