Less than half of Queensland's train stations are fully accessible. At Maiwar stations Taringa and Auchenflower, navigation is practically impossible for people who use a wheelchair for mobility, our ageing population who may use a walking frame, or parents with prams. Queensland Rail has a Station Accessibility Upgrade Program designed to address accessibility issues but it doesn’t include any timeframe for upgrades at Auchenflower Station, and Taringa Station isn’t mentioned at all. The Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey has already admitted defeat, and says we won't meet the 2022 deadline for compliance with federal disability standards. The missing ingredient in this scenario is political will. I’ve prepared an open letter to Minister Bailey, asking him to reverse that resignation and commit to full accessibility by the 2022 deadline. You can read the letter and add your name here. Auchenflower station upgrade submissions Auchenflower station is scheduled for upgrades, but we don’t know much about what they’ll include, or when they’ll be completed. I’ve made a submission based on my consultation with disability advocacy groups, individuals and other local organisations (which you can view on my website), and I’d encourage you to do the same - especially if you use Auchenflower station and/or have access needs which should be considered in the upgrade design. Writing a submission of your own is really easy. All you need to do is write an email to: stationsupgrade@qr.com.au 1. Start by mentioning how you're impacted by the lack of access at this station (do you live near by, do you use the station, or are you unable because of its dismal accessibility). 2. Your input on the design: any thoughts or requests for what the station should include (any particular features etc). We are particularly highlighting that the Auchenflower station upgrade design should include a mechanism to allow disability access to one of the platforms via the underpass or directly from the street, by way of a lift or other design solution, which doesn't seem to be included in the current plans. We are also highlighting that the upgrade should also include better provisions for people cycling to the station. 3. Be sure to mention that you feel more needs to be done to upgrade all stations in QLD, including the nearby Taringa Station (for which there is no upgrade plan at all). Petition Please join me in calling on the Minister to fund accessibility upgrades to meet disability standards and accepted community functionality at Taringa Station and Auchenflower Station by signing this petition. Accessibility upgrades are an investment, not a cost. Full accessibility at train stations in Maiwar, and all other stations on the QR network, is incredibly important, to ensure each and every citizen can exercise their right to engage with our broader community. Check out the video I made with visiting WA Senator Jordon Steele-John, who was shocked at the state of our stations here! Post by michaelberkman.greens.  

The Pig n Whistle Indooroopilly's application for a license for 45 pokies is out of line with what our community wants and needs. I'm calling for this application to be withdrawn, or failing that, to be rejected by the OLGR. Anyone concerned about this should make a written submission to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. Submissions formally closed on 13 June 2018 but the OLGR may still accept submissions. See below for some tips on writing. Submission tips: We all know the devastating effect pokies have on communities in general, but a successful submission needs to be specific. Gambling regulation expert Lorraine Cherney has prepared a useful guide for submissions which is available here.  Submissions should: 1. Be about why the Pig N Whistle in particular should not have any pokies. For example, children may be left unsupervised in the shopping centre car park while parents gamble, and it is near impossible to check such an enormous parking area. 2. Speak about the proposed location for the pokies. For example, the Pig N Whistle is close to four out of seven “gaming sensitive sites” as outlined in the Community Impact Statement guidelines, increasing the likelihood of “convenience gambling”. 3. Mention the impact the new pokies would have on you specifically. For example, do you live or work nearby? Do you or someone you know have a problem with gambling, which you think could be made worse by pokies at the Pig N Whistle? It's important we ask OLGR to reject the application entirely. Experts say that even if only a few machines are approved, it's likely the Pig N Whistle will be able to increase this number over time. You can use my submission as a guide, which you can view here.  View the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation's Community Impact Statement Guidelines here and the Pig N Whistle's Community Impact Statement here.

The rental sector is changing. In the 10 years prior to 2016, the number of renters in Australia grew by 38% - that’s twice the rate of household growth! For many, home ownership is increasingly out of reach, so it's no surprise that the renting demographic is growing and shifting. An ever growing population of people, including families, are choosing renting as a long term housing solution. Despite this, the current law in Queensland prevents renters from establishing roots in their home. No access to long term leases means creating community and finding housing security are constant challenges for many renters. It’s grim for landlords too! All too often we see shoddy maintenance jobs and low living standards in rental properties. What’s more, the rent is too damn high! In every single major population centre in Queensland rents have grown faster than median wages over the last 10 years. To make matters worse, current laws mean tenants are vulnerable to unregulated rent increases at the end of every fixed term lease. So what do we want? Lease security: All tenants will have access to unlimited leases, which can only be terminated with 12 months’ notice by the landlord, and only on reasonable grounds. Rent controls: Landlords may only increase rents every 24 months outside of fixed term leases and only by a rate as determined by the Residential Tenancy Authority (RTA). Right to minor renovations: Tenants will be given the right to make minor renovations to their property without permission from the landlord, including putting nails in the wall, painting rooms or putting up shelving. Minimum standards: Landlords will be required to maintain a property to a certain set of specific minimum standards prior to and during the tenancy. Ban No Pet clauses: Tenants will have the right to have a pet in their rental property and landlords will be prohibited from including any sort of ‘no-pet’ clause in lease contracts. These policies have already been implemented throughout the world, in places like Berlin, Paris, Sweden, Tasmania, The Netherlands and Italy. You can support our fight for Renters Rights by signing up here.