Changes to the Landscape in Queensland

With the departing words ‘Queensland I love you!’, Peter Beattie vacated his position as Premier, and the station of self-confessed media tart. After nine years in the top job, Beattie let his emotion show. Associate Professor Heather Beattie was equally emotional to have her husband back in the family. Beattie’s departure has heralded a new direction for Queensland politics, in which females will play a prominent role: Member for South Brisbane, Anna Bligh, was this morning anointed as Premier by Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce. Anna moves from her position of Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, and draws on her experience as Education Minister and her initial post as Minister for Disability Services and Families, Youth and Community Care.

In another significant gesture, the Treasurer of Queensland has been announced as MP for Mount Coot-tha Andrew Fraser. A passionate advocate for civic engagement, Andrew is 30 years old, and as such one of the youngest members of the Queensland Parliament. He has served as Parliamentary Secretary since July 2005, and has assisted in the beleaguered Health portfolio.

In an unrelated dramatic moment in my electorate last Saturday which certainly changed the landscape, a large warehouse down the road caught fire and exploded around 9.30am. Given that its roof was full of asbestos, Sherwood Road was closed for the day, and residents were asked to keep their windows closed.

The smoke was rather full-on during the evening, as ash landed in our yard. The next day revealed a smoldering wreck, which once housed 90 businesses and 400 storage units.