Union boss to sleep rough in the name of charity

He is one of Queensland’s most controversial union officials but Michael Ravbar will put his differences with CEOs aside all in the name of charity.

CFMEU boss Michael Ravbar is

CFMEU boss Michael Ravbar will join the top end of town in this year’s St Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout.

The annul event brings together leaders of businesses and community organisations across Queensland who spend a night sleeping rough to raise awareness and cash for those experiencing homelessness.

More than $1.2 million was raised last year and Ravbar’s goal is to generate $5000 in sponsorship. If he gets to $10,000 he’s promised to spend a second night sleeping rough. If the thought of the union boss spending a couple of nights huddling under a blanket in the cold and drizzling rain has some appeal, help back the cause.

This year’s event will be held on June 23 at Brisbane City Botanic Gardens Riverstage with other participants including Bowen Coking Coal boss Nick Jorss, Maleny Dairies’ Stephen Tait and local ad man Dan Adler.

Michael Ravbar.

DOWN DOWN?

THE big supermarket chains are claiming they are keeping prices down, but is there a little bit of overkill of how much money consumers are saving?

An eagle-eyed City Beat reader spotted a discount price tag at Coles Lutwyche on the weekend offering Raid insect spray for $6. But the discount tag had lifted partially to reveal the old price that was exactly the same - $6.

To be fair to Coles, the discount tag says the price was $7 in October last year but our readers says it’s misleading to consumers who believe the chain was slashing prices regularly.

A Coles spokesperson says the tickets highlight the lower price and how long it has been at that particular price.

“We know our customers love good value and more than 1,500 products have remained at the same low pricing for more than 12 months,” the spokesperson says.

Experts say Australians can expect to see shelf prices at the nation’s biggest supermarkets to increase as inflation does.

Currently headline inflation in Australia is 3.5 per cent, with Treasury forecasts in the recent Federal Budget anticipating inflation to reach 4.25 per cent before this financial year is over.

The discount tag at Coles Lutwyche has lifted to reveal the same price.

LEGAL MOVE

VETERAN personal injury lawyer Stephen Hughes has joined Sunshine Coast law shop Travis Schultz & Partners (TSP).

Hughes, who has been a personal injury accredited specialist since 1998, is the latest addition to the almost 40-strong team at TSP.

“Apart from achieving optimal financial settlements for my clients, what I love about my work is helping vulnerable people feel listened to, included and hopeful as we manoeuvre the legal process together,” Hughes says.

Since being admitted to the Queensland Supreme Court in 1991, Hughes has enjoyed a diverse career in compensation law and employment law, most recently as a principal lawyer with an award winning and nationally recognised specialist workplace relations firm.

Last year he was awarded an honorary fellowship of national peak body the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors, having served as an honorary board member and legal counsel since 1993.

HERITAGE HIRE

A BIG new hire at Heritage Bank with finance executive Jan Manigque joining as head of internal audit.

Manigque was most recently head of group internal audit for the RACQ Group in Brisbane.

Prior to that she held roles with Bupa and the QBE Group, covering several countries across Asia Pacific while based in Hong Kong.

Heritage chief executive Peter Lock welcomed Manigque’s appointment and the acumen she would bring to the role. “The risk and audit function is so important to businesses like Heritage today that we need to make sure we have top-quality leaders in place,” says Lock.

Jan Manigque is joining Heritage from RACQ

Originally published as Union boss to sleep rough in the name of charity