Matt Dennien
@mattdennien.bsky.social
1.3K followers 560 following 710 posts
State political reporter at Brisbane Times・Qld media president of MEAA・Ex-4ZZZ・On Yuggera Ugarapul country・Secure msg: Signal (@mattdennien.15) & [email protected]・mattdennien.com
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mattdennien.bsky.social
Along w reporting on all things Qld politics & parliament, I can now say my patch is also growing to focus more on the public service

So, please, say hey, or flick your goss/tips/leaks (confidentially, of course) my way – big & small 👋

I'm at [email protected] & @mattdennien.15 on Signal
Reposted by Matt Dennien
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
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.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
mattdennien.bsky.social
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
mattdennien.bsky.social
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
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
Reposted by Matt Dennien
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
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.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
mattdennien.bsky.social
Opening public hearing now set for October 1, via Catherine Strohfeldt www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/que...
Reposted by Matt Dennien
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
Reposted by Matt Dennien
maxwalden.bsky.social
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...
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.
www.theage.com.au
mattdennien.bsky.social
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...
mattdennien.bsky.social
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”
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.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
mattdennien.bsky.social
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...
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
mattdennien.bsky.social
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
mattdennien.bsky.social
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.
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.
www.abc.net.au
mattdennien.bsky.social
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).
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.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
mattdennien.bsky.social
“Tolerating the intolerable makes us all crueller, and validates those who have no compassion for anyone they don’t understand.”
amyremeikis.bsky.social
Given this is making some waves - here is the piece and you can judge for yourself.

(I'm fine, there are no issues - right wing ecosystem just doing what right wing ecosystem does).

Take care of you - it's rough out there! Ax

amyremeikis.substack.com/p/charlie-ki...
Charlie Kirk died in the America he wanted
I mourn the loss of human life. I feel compassion, empathy and grief at an inexcusable killing. But I find nothing to lionise in his legacy.
amyremeikis.substack.com