Politics
Ned Hammond
Reporter/Journalist
Australia
Reporter for ABC News, Brisbane. Previously in community journalism for three years at The Westender.
Contact:
- reach_nrh@pm.me
- hammond.ned@abc.net.au
- 0478908999
Australia
Reporter for ABC News, Brisbane. Previously in community journalism for three years at The Westender.
Contact:
- reach_nrh@pm.me
- hammond.ned@abc.net.au
- 0478908999
Politics
Read Ned Hammond's interview with Trina Massey as she steps into the role of Councillor for the Gabba Ward. Trina talks about her career in music and community development and her priorities for the coming year - key among them getting to know us, the community.
Queensland's first Greens city councillor, Jonathan Sriranganathan, will step down in April after seven years in the role. His replacement is Woolloongabba arts worker, and DJ, Trina Massey. "With the next council election in March 2024, I was deciding whether I wanted to serve another four-year term as Gabba ward councillor, by which time I would've held the same role for almost twelve years," said Sriranganathan in a statement on Saturday.
The Griffith electorate, encompassing much of Brisbane's south side, is a marginal seat (2.9 %) held by the Labor Party's Terri Butler. Although historically a Labor seat, the Greens consider it a target at this year's election.
Australia's political and press elite descended on the Brisbane Convention Centre on Sunday morning for the official launch of the Coalition's election campaign, and community protestors were on the scene to make their voices heard. Ned Hammond went along for the Westender.
Greens candidate for Griffith, Chandler-Mather believes the Brisbane City Council limit on number of election signs is contrary to democratic ideals and the concept of free speech. He says it constitutes an "extraordinary intervention into a federal election campaign by an LNP led council."
Volunteers, voters and campaign staff came together on Saturday night at the Montague Hotel in West End to celebrate the end of a long campaign fought door by door. It was quiet at first, but as results rolled in throughout the night, it became clear that the party had something to shout about.
Culture
The Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts heard evidence from a variety of stakeholders, including the state government's Arts Queensland, peak body QMusic, and a research round table.
In saying its goodbyes on Friday night, The Zoo gave a last flash of what made it so vital to the city's music scene.
Electric and dynamic duo Vika and Linda Bull return to Brisbane for one night at the Tivoli on Friday before playing Red Hot Summer Festival on Saturday at Toowoomba's Queens Park.
Channel Nine's Telethon Concert in support of the Children's Hospital Foundation returns on Saturday 23 April at the Fortitude Music Hall. Headliner Missy Higgins spoke to the Westender about the gig, the power music gives her, and the journey her music has taken over a sparkling career.