George Street Beat: Election promise, $1m fence up in smoke if govt’s maligned stadium goes ahead

There’s been a new twist in the furore over Premier Steven Miles ignoring an independent review to push ahead with a southern Brisbane stadium. THIS IS GEORGE STREET BEAT

Just when you thought the government’s koala drama at their favoured Olympic stadium site at Nathan couldn’t get any more cuddly, GSB has uncovered a new chapter in this saga.

Locals and conservationists have been up in arms ever since Premier Steven Miles immediately ignored his own independent review and said a revamped $1.6bn stadium would instead be built at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre – adjoining the koala “hotspot” of Toohey Forest.

Mark Bailey spruiking the government's $1m koala proof fencing at Toohey Forest while Transport Minister in 2020.

While the Premier doesn’t appear to want to acknowledge the threat, it wasn’t too long ago the government was keenly splashing taxpayer cash and spruiking their efforts to protect the exact same koalas they’re now happy to boot out.

GSB can reveal the government has spent about $1m on installing koala proof fencing over the past few years along Toohey Forest to protect the iconic creatures from straying onto the adjoining highway and getting scuttled.

GSB – Mark Bailey spruiking the government's $1m koala proof fencing at Toohey Forest ,

In fact, Miles’ former Cabinet colleague and Transport Minister Mark Bailey even listed “koala-proof fencing installed between Toohey Forest and the freeway” as one of the “54 reasons to vote 1 for Mark Bailey” for him in the lead-up to the 2020 election.

“We love our Toohey Forest koalas, despite their lack of road sense, and this will help them live much longer lives,” he said.

One post sees Mr Bailey proudly saying: “the new fencing is crucial to help keep our thriving local Toohey Forest koalas off the freeway, approach road and cycleway and safe from vehicle strikes”.

TMR confirmed the multiple-stage project along the Toohey Forest transport corridor had cost more than $1m – $400,000 in 2019, $400,000 in 2020, and a further $250,000 in 2021.

The government has said its too early to say how much bushland will need to be cleared – but conservationists say “koalas in South East Queensland are suffering a death by a thousand cuts”.

PREMIER’S ‘OH NO’ SCO-MO MOMENT

A frosty reception awaited Premier Steven Miles when he travelled north to Mackay this week for an extended stay in an attempt to woo the locals in what is emerging as a must-win seat for Labor.

The hot topic was the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro – a $12bn (or $18bn and counting, depending who you ask) – project, which has the unfortunate combo of being slated to be built in a pristine habit, with a major platypus population and where dozens of homes would need to be resumed.

In one awkward moment an ABC News camera catches the always-friendly Premier extending a handshake to one unhappy local – who promptly leaves him hanging.

At least he didn’t go full Scott Morrison – and simply force the voter to shake his hand anyway.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has a ScoMo handshake moment while visiting Eungella to discuss the Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro Project. Credit: ABC News

MACKAY HIJINKS

And while the Premier gets some kudos for rocking up and fronting the town set to be almost wiped off the map thanks to Labor’s plan (it’s pretty hard to imagine his predecessor doing the same), it was unusual to see Miles spending so much of the week in one spot.

He headed off early Tuesday – which meant skipping a public meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was in Queensland the same day for the first time since Labor’s by-election headaches talking tanks with his own entourage.

The government also held community cabinet there on Wednesday, while the Premier made two more appearances on Thursday before heading home in the afternoon.

Taking a quick squiz at the 2020 result, Mackay is Labor’s 17th most marginal seat on a “fairly safe” 6.7 per cent margin – meaning his extended stay looks pretty telling on how Labor think they are performing.

With youth crime a burning issue in the region, there was no surprise to see Mile’s second stop on Thursday fully focused on increasing the city’s police powers – and less platypus talk.

BUTCH LIGHTS UP NETFLIX

Water Minister Glenn Butcher is known as one of the more affable figures in parliamentary corridors and GSB is well versed on the comedic character of the Gladstone-based MP.

But even we were shocked to see the smiling cabinet member listed by Google as a cast member in the Netflix smash hit series Fisk as the role of Viktor.

This economy sure is tough but it’s a concern when the $365,000 salary of a Minister requires a second income.

Glenn Butcher of Netflix fame.

Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher. Picture: Annette Dew

Or perhaps the cheeky regional MP is sensing a swing of disastrous proportions in the October election and is keeping his career options open.

Of course, the real actor who plays Viktor is also named Glenn Butcher, who is a legendary comedic actor. But, for what it’s worth, we back the Water Minister for a colourful future on the small screen if he so desires.

GOING GLOBAL

And speaking of the Games debacle, Brisbane’s dramas have made worldwide headlines. Publications from The Korea Herald to The Japan Times publishing reports on the back and forth over stadiums and rumours of cancellation chat.

Several Greek publications have also taken a keen interest, regularly reporting on how Brisbane 2032 Games president Andrew Liveris is handling the drama (well, according to them).

‘THE WORLD IS WATCHING’

We’re less than seven-months from a fiercely contested state election with cost-of-living, crime and housing deeply rooted in the brains of political strategists but it appears punters only care about one thing – a magpie named Molly.

The internet caught a lit after the Queensland environment department seized the adopted bird, prising the magpie from its best pal, English staffy Peggy, infuriating fans of the unorthodox pair.

An image from the Peggy and Molly the Magpie page. Picture: Facebook / Peggy and Molly.

The widespread outrage forced the Premier to step in and jump on board the campaign to unite the pair, with the former environment minister offering a solution to the unique problem.

Mr Miles advocated on their behalf and suggested the dog owners should seek wildlife carer training – providing a reasonable solution and conceding “I don’t have the power to reverse the decision”.

But this did little to appease the furious masses logging on to Instagram, who ruthlessly spammed all posts from the state leader and ominously warned: “the world is watching”.

A feel-good Easter post about Save the Bilby Foundation? Not interested, champ – “BRING MOLLY HOME!!! the entire world is watching and waiting!”

How about a scrumptious pepper steak pie at the Pinnacle Family Hotel near Mackay? “What about Molly the magpie???”

And another confusingly added about the wild bird: “Instead of having a pie, go and return Molly back to her environment where she belongs with her loving family.”