The executive director of the Australian Coal Association, Ralph Hillman, said governments were making serious investments in renewable and clean energy production.

“People are working on all these technologies because everyone can see climate change science is real and we are facing a carbon constrained future, “ he said.

Mr Hillman said coal industries were working towards methods to address carbon emissions and they have Coal21 Fund, which is dedicated to carbon capture and storage technologies.

“Coal is going to have to address its greenhouse gas emission via carbon capture and storage, which is central to a global solution to climate change,” he said.

Energy ‘boost’

Australian Conservation Foundation climate change campaigner Phil Freeman said the survey results released in September would hopefully spark renewed action to promote clean energy.

“What we need next is a boost for the emerging clean energy technologies like large-scale solar, geothermal hot rocks and tidal and wave power,” he said.

Urban and Regional Planning and Sustainability lecturer at Queensland University of Technology, Mellini Sloan, said it was significant the survey shows an overwhelming majority of people in both areas care.

“It’s a great challenge for young engineers and it certainly seems like it’s a direction that we are going in,” she said.

“It’s quite exciting”.

‘Expensive to perfect’

The Zero Carbon Australian 2020 Stationary Energy Plan said it was “technically feasible, practical and economically attractive” to have 100 per cent renewable energy in Australia in 10 years.

But Mr Hillman said both renewable energies and cleaner traditional methods would be essential to meeting future energy demands.

Mr Hillman said renewable technologies were expensive and took time to perfect and these costs would transfer to consumers.

However, Mr Freeman said electricity prices would continue to increase regardless of whether or not the energy was being produced by renewable or clean energy sources.

“[Electricity prices have] already doubled in the last 10 years and that’s got nothing to do with clean energy policies or putting a price on pollution,” he said.

The estimated increase outlined in the Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan would be an “affordable” $8 per household each week.

But Mrs Sloan said whether homeowners would find this a reasonable amount they are willing to pay was still hard to tell.

“Eight dollars doesn’t sound like a lot but if you are strapped financially [it may be hard],” she said.

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson was not available for comment on the issue.

Energy efficient measures

However, Mr Freeman said there were many measures homeowners could take to reduce their energy usage and there energy bills.

“It’s a smart hip-pocket move to think beyond the next electricity bill, invest some time and money in smart technologies like solar hot-water and better insulation, that will reduce energy use,” he said.

The Queensland GreenHome Guide said the top five things to do to reduce energy were:

• switch to green power;
• install solar hot water system;
• heat and cool homes efficiently;
• have an energy efficient fridge;
• and do not leave appliances on stand-by.

Sustainable communities

Meanwhile, master plan communities, which offer shared lifestyle centres and self-contained communities, are taking great steps towards becoming more environmentally friendly.

Future master plan community, Rochedale Estates, south of Brisbane’s CBD, began construction this month and will have recycled water for gardening and flushing toilets and 5,000-litre water tanks standard in each home.

The homes are also designed with the housing orientation in relation to sun and wind patterns in mind, which Mrs Sloan said was sensible and could help reduce energy usage.

Brisbane Lord Major Campbell Newman said Rochedale Estates had made outstanding developments in water sensitive design and efficient use of power and water.

“This is a significant master plan community that’s finally on its way,” he said.

Peter Brown CEO of FKP, the property and investment group behind Rochedale Estates, said a great amount of environmental work was done because purchasers appreciated it.

“Within limits buyers are willing to pay a premium for [more sustainable housing],” he said.

Related Links:

• Queensland GreenHome Guide – Australian Conservation Foundation.
• Media Release Survey – Australian Conservation Foundation.
• Zero Carbon Australian 2020 Stationary Energy Plan.
• Ezy Green – Brisbane City Council and The Queensland Government

One in four Australian children are overweight or obese. Photo: Ellen-Maree Elliot

A producer has defended an advertisement to highlight the problem of childhood obesity that equates parents giving their children junk food to injecting them with heroin.

Precinct ad agency managing director and producer Henry Motteram says his agency created the ad to “spark discussion” and was “happy to be the enemy”.

“I don’t think we would have got a quarter of a million hits in two weeks if we hadn’t done something shocking,” he said.

“I know the analogy towards heroin and junk food is very strong – but both kill.

“Junk food kills a lot more people than heroin does in this country every year.”

Mr Motteram says the Breaking the Habit ad was made for “purely philanthropic” reasons.

“What we’ve done is drawn attention to something that really needed attention drawn to it,” he said.

‘Hard-hitting’

Cancer Council NSW nutrition program manager Colleen Glasson says the ad’s concept is “very hard-hitting” but she has “major problems” with it.

“We all need to eat – we don’t all need to take heroin,” she said.

“It’s okay to have a little bit of junk food – it’s not okay to have a little bit of heroin.”

She says one in four Australian children are overweight or obese.

“Many of those children will grow up to become obese adults, increasing their risk of chronic diseases, like certain cancers, heart diseases and diabetes.” she said.

“It’s a huge problem.”

Unhealthy food advertising

Junk food advertisements directed at children are self-regulated by two separate bodies, the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and the Quick Service Restaurant Industry (QSRI).

Both bodies have voluntary “initiatives” that outline guidelines for responsible food advertising to children.

A report compiled by the University of Sydney and the Cancer Council found there was a significant reduction in “non-core” food advertising to children by AFGC signatories between 2007 and 2009.

However, the report found the voluntary nature of the self-regulated codes limited their effectiveness and did not “adequately protect children”.

Ms Glasson says there ”are a lot of loopholes”.

She says although parents need to be educated about the link between too much junk food and obesity, the “real problem is the environment and the volume and the nature of unhealthy food advertising for children”.

“Everywhere they turn, children are being confronted by junk food ads,” she said.

Stronger regulation needed

Ms Glasson says the Cancer Council believes self-regulation does not work.

“The government needs to impose stronger regulations on junk food marketing to children,” she said.

She says restrictions need to:

• Be effective for children under 16 years old across all media;
• Have a standard definition of unhealthy foods across the board;
• Be effective for whenever children are watching television (for example, the children peak viewing time of 6-9pm);
• Restrict pervasive marketing techniques (for example, no promotional characters, sporting figures or premiums);
• Be monitored by an independent statutory body;
• Have meaningful penalties for non-compliance.

However, a spokesperson for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing says they take childhood obesity “very seriously” and are taking steps to address it.

“Food marketing is but one element of what is a complex challenge in addressing obesity,” the spokesperson said.

“Effectively tackling this issue in Australia will require collaboration across industry, the community, families and individuals.”

Education environment

University of Sydney Associate Professor Dr Margaret Allman-Farinelli says encouraging an environment where children can make good food choices is just one aspect of combating childhood obesity.

“One thing is always education, perhaps for parents and communities as a whole, as to what constitutes a healthy diet,” she said.

Dr Allman-Farinelli says healthy food needs to be more accessible to busy families.

“It might be difficult to get public transport to and from getting the source of fresh food, but it might be only a walk to get some form of takeaway food,” she said.

She says community and local councils can improve and implement infrastructure like parks, footpaths and cycle ways, that are safe for children to use.

Dr Allman-Farinelli says everyone needs to pitch in.

“It’s not just a health issue – it’s an issue that goes across society if we’re going to be really serious about addressing it,” she said.

Related Links:

• Cancer Council’s website – Junk Busters
• 2010 International Journal of Pediatric Obesity: Industry self regulation of television food advertising: Responsible or responsive? – Joint research project by University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW.
• AFGC Responsible Children’s Marketing Initiative Core Principles
• QSRI Initiative for Responsible Advertising and Marketing to Children

Parklands is the host of the Big Day Out music festival, which is likely to move interstate upon its closure in 2013. (Image courtesy of aeryxz)

The plea comes after the State Government revealed its ultimate vision for Parklands to be a Transit Oriented Development acting as a support centre for the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

The redevelopment will contain a low-cost, high-density housing proposal and will see the closure of Parklands in June 2013.

It may also be used to accommodate athletes if the Gold Coast wins the 2018 Commonwealth Games bid.

Parklands was originally zoned by The Queensland Government to be a Health and Knowledge Precinct to contain The Gold Coast University Hospital project, before it was realised that Griffith University and University Hospital project did not require the land.

LNP member for Gaven Dr Alex Douglas, who is supporting the petition, says the critical issue is the loss of a venue for communities who use Parklands.

“I think the aspects are multi-dimensional. The Show Society is losing its site, The Indoor Sports Centre, and The Harness Racing Club is having their whole club closed and no replacement of it,” he said.

“What people don’t know is besides these three main groups there’s literally thousands of groups who use the space.”

Dr Douglas is also concerned about the loss of The Big Day Out festival, which will be moved interstate upon the closure of Parklands.

“For the Gold Coast it is our biggest young-person event every year,” he said.

“It also drives tourism, it basically gets people in the habit of just being able to go to The Gold Coast and we’re going to lose all of that – the state will lose it.”

Contrary to the petition’s suggestions, spokesperson for the Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe ensures the development will boost employment and will not leave the Gold Coast Show without a site.

“The redevelopment of the State Government owned Parklands site as a vibrant office, retail and residential precinct could generate a total of up to 6380 jobs and an estimated $550 million per annum,” he said.

“The state government is currently investigating a number of options for an alternative showgrounds site on the Gold Coast. The leading option is at Carrara.”

Spokesperson for Save Parklands Action Group and Gold Coast Show board member Peter Johnston says the State Government has in fact offered this site to the Show Society an alternative, before it was determined unsuitable.

“The Gold Coast Show was offered 12 hectares of the Carrara Floodplain,” he said.

“12 hectares… is around about half the size of those required to conduct the activities currently being done at the Gold Coast Show.

“That tells me 104 years of Gold Coast Show history is now seriously in jeopardy.”

Plan for action

In addition to losing a venue, the communities based at Parklands are losing patience waiting for a proper answer on the State Government’s plans for the site.

In fear that the people of the Gold Coast have been sold out, Mr Johnston says everybody is being kept in the dark.

“The Government will not tell us why it is necessary for them to rip out this major infrastructure to put a village in for a commonwealth games that is going to last three weeks,” he said.

Mr Johnston says the government has alternative options and he is suspicious the move is about selling state assets.

“Parklands has an estimated value of between $75million and $100 million and it’s our understanding the state government is looking for partners to develop that land and sell it,” he said.

“The only commercial sense it makes in any way we look at it is the fact the state government are looking for funds.”

According to Dr Douglas, the state government owes keeping Parklands to the people of the Gold Coast.

“The reasons the show society agreed to move out was because if the hospital or the university needed the space for the knowledge precinct, and neither of them do,” he said.

“The government has no right to resume the title and they should withdraw.

“It does not belong to them and it is held in deed of trust for the benefit of the community that it serves.”

Despite the tension, Mr Hinchliffe’s spokesperson reiterates that there will eventually be a suitable site for the Gold Coast Show to resume operations.

“The Parklands site is state owned land,” he said.

“In 2007 the Government announced that the Parklands site would be transformed into the Gold Coast Hospital and Knowledge precinct… The Government announced on a number of occasions that as part of this process an alternative site for the Gold Coast Show would be identified.”

Queenslanders can have their say in the debate by signing the e-petition on the Queensland Parliament website.

Under Queensland’s Criminal Code, abortion is unlawful unless it is performed to “preserve the woman from serious harm to her life or physical or mental health”.

Abortion rates "never going to be zero". Photo courtesy: David Jackmanson

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at James Cook University, Caroline de Costa said the laws occupied a grey area and were “out of date” and “out of step” with modern ideals.

“Abortion is an important health issue for women so there should be regulations within health law for the practice of abortion,” she said.

“It should not be criminalised. It should be just the same as mainstream medical practice.”

Health law expert Dr Ben White agrees.

“By moving abortion law away from the criminal model to a health model, a woman is able to obtain a termination as they are able to obtain other health services,” he said.

Dr White said current abortion laws in Queensland were contrary to other Australian jurisdictions which were increasingly moving away from criminal abortion.

“Queensland is one of the last remaining jurisdictions which still treates abortion as a criminal offence,” he said.

“The ACT regulates abortion as a health matter, like any other health issue.

“The model sets out a clear way in which abortion can be regulated outside the criminal sphere.”

Law reform opposition

But opponents of abortion law reform exist.

Brisbane obstetrician Dr Adrienne Freeman said placing abortion in health legislation would be a “double-edged sword”.

“I’m not in favour of changing anything because the change is the opportunity for a lot of restrictions to be imposed,” she said.

“You can’t do it here and you can’t do it there - this person can do it and that one can’t.

“It’s just a chance for more access block.”

Abortion alternatives

Dr Freeman said a solution could be found in education and contraceptive research.

“We have contraceptives, but we need more options -   especially for males,” she said.

“We also need more access to contraception.”

But Dr de Costa said the solutions would be temporary as abortion rates are “never going to be zero”.

Kathy Newnam, member of the Pro-Choice Action Collective agrees with Dr de Costa.

“Women have always needed abortion, women have always had abortion and they always will,” she said.

“Circumstances change and contraception does fail.”

Survey results

A survey released by non-profit sexual health organisation, Marie Stopes International found 75 per cent of GPs and women support the removal of abortion from Queensland’s Criminal Code.

Dr de Costa said she believed the authorities were aware of the views of the majority.

“I think that the police and the government know that this is what women want and need,” she said.

“But that doesn’t completely solve the problem because the law is still there, and there’s still uncertainty about it.

“It’s something that we need to work on and are working on.”

Abortion was repealed from the Crimes Act in the ACT in 2002.

In 2008, abortion was decriminalised in Victoria and guidelines were set for when abortion could take place.

Young parliamentarians set to battle over important issues. Photo: YMCA Youth Parliament Blog.

Ninety-two members of the YMCA Youth Parliament took over the Queensland political headquarters last week to show the State Government how it’s done.

Representatives aged 15 to 25 from each of Queensland’s 89 state electorates debated policy issues relating to young people and judging by the intense debate on show at Parliament house the future of politics is in good hands.

Aspiring politicians came head to head on a diverse range of issues including the school curriculum, obesity, agriculture, daylight saving and the controversial issue of women serving in the front line.

The young parliamentarians argued each side of important topics, ensuring most passed, but were equally split over the contentious issue of women in front line defence.

Louis Paul Franks, YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament coordinator, says it’s a great way to see what young people think about certain issues and provides a way to influence the State Government.

“The Youth Parliament has been providing an apolitical environment where young people can engage with community issues for more than a decade,” he said.

“I think the government needs to take an active role understanding that young people are going to deal with these issues and they need to actually invest in young people and get young people engaged in the political process.”

The future leaders are shaping up to fill big shoes as government MPs and officials forward on their wisdom as they mentor the young parliamentarians.

Karen Struthers, Queensland Community Services Minister, was also there to pass on some of her experience to the political rookies and says it’s a powerful way for young people to learn about democracy in action.

“We’ve got to actually reward young people for their efforts and encourage them to have their say and Youth Parliament is one of those very important opportunities,” she said.

“Through the debates, we’re learning about what young people think about issues important to them.”

Important Issues on Show

In the Legislative Assembly of Queensland’s Parliament House youth members argued for and against the eight Youth Bills they felt needed to be tackled.

The passed Bills, recorded in Hansard, are signed by the Youth Governor and passed to the state Government for consideration.

The Battle Begins in Queensland Parliament house. Photo: YMCA Youth Parliament Blog.

Members of the YMCA Youth Parliament have mixed opinions over the Queensland Government but agree more should be done to include the needs of young people.

Ricky Marcourt, Member for Kurrungal, believes not all people need to follow society’s favourable university direction to become successful after high school.

“I think that needs to be extended to up skilling young people who don’t want to go to uni,” he said.

Member for Lytton Ellen Desmarchelier believes it is important to know about the political process, and the State Government should listen to younger generations.

“It’s not more about government telling young people what they need but young people telling government what they need,” she said.

Torres Webb, representative for the Torres Strait region, points out the government has done a lot in terms of giving a voice to the people of Torres Strait but could do more to ensure their future success.

“Economic development, job opportunities and training are really important for our people to succeed,” he said.

In the next coming weeks members of the YMCA Youth Parliament will again come together to look back on their recent debates and forward their concerns to key decision-makers of the State Government.

Student medical interns work at Hervey Bay Hospital in southern Queensland. Photo courtesy of: Emily Rickman

The National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) says a shortage of medical internship placements means an improved “pipeline” is needed to make sure training is available for student doctors to work in rural Australia.

NRHA chair Dr Jenny May says while she is keen to see more doctors in rural areas, she is mindful of the need for appropriate supervision.

“One of the difficulties in providing such supervision is that doctors, nurses and other health professionals working in rural areas are in an environment where clinical needs are high,” she said.

“Devoting time and effort to teaching is actually quite difficult … [therefore] rural practice is not suitable for first year postgraduate medical students unless suitable supervision can be organised.”

Dr May says although the NRHA is happy to see an increase in general practitioner (GP) training, internships and graduate training are also needed in specialist work.

“[We need graduates] to do anaesthetics, for people to do surgery and provide intensive care, because that is the sort of skills we need for people who are living in rural Australia,” she said.

The Australian Medical Association of Queensland (AMAQ) also says the national shortage of medical internships has severe implications for the future workforce to meet the health care needs of a growing and ageing population.

AMAQ president Dr Gino Pecoraro said in a media statement there were not enough supervisors, infrastructure, and other resources to train the students and graduates.

“Unless we devote more resources to medical training after medical school, we will not solve our doctor shortage despite increasing medical places,” he said in the statement.

Rural health pledge

However, Dr May is optimistic about Federal Labor’s recent deal with the independents that pledges regional Australia gets a 30 per cent share of the number of infrastructure programs that are health related.

She says these programs involve hospitals having more rooms for beds, increasing the number of GP clinics and increased allocation of funds to Aboriginal community-controlled health care services.

“The period between increasing the number of medical students and expecting to see an increased number of doctors in the bush is probably a 15 year undertaking, so the lead time on these [government] initiatives is long,” Dr May said.

“I think it would take a good package and incentives to keep well trained people in the bush.”

She says three factors are involved in retaining doctors in rural areas.

“[Firstly], whether their workplace is effectively run, whether their workload is manageable,” she said.

“[Secondly], the spouses or partners’ needs [and] access to schooling and employment.

“[Thirdly], attraction to physical geography of the place and cultural barriers … some people might not be used to small communities.”

Infrastructure concerns

Albert Jung, a final year medical student at the University of Queensland (UQ), says he would consider a rural placement if it meant him being in a job or not.

He is an international student from Canada and says he has invested a significant amount of money in his four years of medical education at UQ.

“If given the choice of a metropolitan or rural placement, I would have to honestly say metro, as I am married and have family commitments to consider,” he said.

“Unfortunately even if you want to go rural, for example Mount Isa or Alice Springs, they do not have the infrastructure in place for postgraduates year one [first year of internship right after leaving medical school].

“[But] the biggest challenge at this time is not whether to go rural or not, but not having spots for internships.”

Rural experience ‘fantastic’

Mr Jung says third year medical students in UQ are required to do a rotation in a rural setting and he did his rotation in Ayr, a town an hour south of Townsville in north Queensland.

“The experience itself was fantastic – I was fortunate enough that the hospital was large enough that they did a number of their own surgeries,” he said.

“The problem is if you go too rural, they do not have the infrastructure so surgeries have to be done at another hospital.”

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) held a medical intern summit in Canberra on September 29, 2010 where discussions included developing solutions to the shortage to pass on to government.

Related Links: 

•  AMA Medical Training Summit Joint Statement – 29 September 2010.
• National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA)
• Australian Medical Association of Qld (AMAQ) Campaigns

A national principle of responsible gambling declared in 2009 that children should not be exposed to gambling within gambling venues has had little success. Photo courtesy of Jayne Andd

An anti-gambling advocate says children who are frequently exposed to gambling venues and pokie machines are more likely to become problem gamblers later in life.

The proposal to build a soundproof children’s play area within view of poker machines in the Pink Hill Hotel in Melbourne has sparked fresh debate around the ‘normalisation’ of gambling in Australia.

Paul Bendat, anti-gambling advocate and founder of PokieAct.org, says children are “lured” into pubs and normalised to the sights and sounds of gambling culture.

“[This] will lead to a greater prevalence of problem gambling,” he says.

Judgements like the Pink Hill Hotel decision “are a massive, massive mistake.”

‘Water-tight’ legislation

The 1999 Productivity Commission’s report National Approach to Problem Gambling showed around 290,000 Australians are problem gamblers.

Mr Bendat says this number will increase without “perspective legislation” to control gambling practices throughout Australia and greater restrictions on children’s exposure to gambling.

He says a national principle of responsible gambling,  declared in July 2009, that children should not be exposed to gambling within gambling venues has had little success.

“Unless there is a specific type of legislation in a water-tight way saying, ‘you will do this’ – [gambling venues] don’t do it,” he says.

It is a legislative requirement for venues such as casinos to not permit children on the premises, except for restricted dining areas and accommodation.

Michelle Pillonel, Treasury Casinos’ Corporate Affairs Manager for South East Queensland says the Treasury Casino child play areas or child minding was “not on the agenda”.

“We don’t enter into that at all – we’re strictly 18-plus,” she says.

The Queensland Gaming Commission and Clubs Queensland were unavailable for comment.

Children ‘dumped’?

The designer of the Pink Hill Hotel, Mr David Gordon, wanted gamblers to be able to keep watch of their machines and children at all times.

However, Mr Bendat says there remains concerns about the welfare and supervision of children “dumped” in child play areas within gambling venues.

He says parents often do not actively supervise their children when gambling.

A card-dealer at the Treasury Casino says he frequently sees problem gamblers and has concerns about children exposed to gambling and possible child neglect.

“ [On-premise child play areas are] a pretty bad idea because it’s allowing people to be irresponsible by gambling instead of taking care of their children,” he says.

Related Links:

Productivity Commission – National Approach to Problem Gambling Report 1999

Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulations (VCGR)  – Decision for Pink Hill Hotel application

Paul Bendant, PokieAct.org – Make Pokie Places Kid Free

Gambling Help – Helpline and Advice

Gamblers Anonymous – Recovering from Addiction

While the opposition fears for Australia, experts are not concerned.

James Cook University Associate Professor Doug Hunt said the arrangements this month between Labor, the Greens and the Independents should provide a stable government for the economy.

Julia Gillard, Wayne Swan and Independents. Photo: www.news.com.au

“If the Labor party manages to retain a disciplined party room, and if they nevertheless aren’t timid in government, if they still pursue policy, I can’t see why they can’t be stable.”

He said although a minority federal government is relatively new in Australia, it has worked successfully in other countries and should not be an excuse to stop international investment in the country.

“Some people will develop this argument about political instability, uncertainty, risk to investment; I don’t think that’s a very credible argument.”

Australia has had only one other hung federal parliament since the two-party system was established in 1910.

In 1940, the incumbent Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, secured the support of two independent MPs and resumed government.

But during the parliamentary term, the independents changed their alliances to the opposition, creating a Labor government and bringing John Curtin to power.

Earlier this year, the United Kingdom had a hung a parliament which resulted in a conservative minority government being formed by a coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

Although there were fears the UK would end up at the polls by the end of the year, this now seems unlikely.

Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Heather Ridout said a stable government is important to business, and needs to be able to make tough decisions in contested areas that are fundamental to longer-term prosperity.

“The strength of our economy, our fiscal position, our location close to the new centre of global economic growth and our human and physical resources base gives Australia a lot of opportunities and choices.

“To realise these, we need to restore our flagging productivity growth, make further gains in workforce participation, build our business capabilities and equip ourselves to manage the structural pressures that are associated with the minerals boom.”

University of South Australia Emeritus Professor Kevin O’Brien said he feels there will be a very limited impact on international trade and investment by the Australian minority government.

“There will obviously be a little bit of uncertainty in the resources area until the question of the taxes is sorted out, but I think basically, the demand for our exports will continue regardless of the government.”

He said there is uncertainty about the broad policy direction, especially with a large impact from the Greens.

“They will be pressing the carbon tax area and putting the price on carbon.

“Those sorts of issues have the potential to raise costs for Australian industry, and that will have in the longer term an impact on Australia’s competitiveness and return on investment.”

Professor O’Brien is confident Australia will have economic growth.

“I think that Australia is on the surge of a commodity boom that’s going to continue for at least the next few years.”

Residents with leases less than six months long should technically pay to park outside their houses.

People residing in Residential Parking Areas are exempt from any parking restrictions as long as a council-issued parking permit is clearly visible on their vehicle.

However, Brisbane City Council is receiving scruitiny from social media communities who say obtaining a permit is in some cases impossible despite an applicant’s legitimate residency.

Currently, parking permits will only be issued to residents with a lease of six months or longer.

A council spokesperson said the guidelines were needed to ensure parking was provided to genuine residents.

“Parking is at a premium within the inner city and council is keen to ensure residential parking permits are not mis-used,” they said.

“It is standard council policy to issue permits to residents who have a lease for at least 6 months because residential parking permits last for 12 months.”

Daisy Watson is moving to a Residential  Parking Area in October but will not receive a permit because her lease does not meet the council’s minumum length.

“To be booked for parking your car in front of your own house is unbelievable. Not only do I not have the money to pay fines but I refuse to be charged,” she said.

“I am unsure what to do with my car as the council does not seem to provide me with many options. It seems ludicrous that I would have to re-park my car in different areas every few hours.”

Previous public outcry over rules that disadvantaged people  in share house situations has been met by council policy ammendments.

The current policy entitles residents to two parking permits per property, plus access to additional permits upon request.

The  council’s new policy will take effect before the end of this year, allowing residents to apply for a permit for each vehicle registered at the premises and two restricted visitor permits.

Residential Parking Areas are usually located near hospitals, universities or sports stadiums.

Readers want magazines that form more direct connections to their lives. Photo: Tijana Jaksic

In August 2010 magazine and pop culture blog, Girl With a Satchel, reported a 43.3 per cent circulation increase of the lifestyle niche magazine, Frankie, between June 2009 and June 2010.

Brisbane-based “green fashion magazine” Peppermint says its circulation quadrupled in the two years since its launch.

Girl With a Satchel also reported magazines Cosmopolitan and Cleo had circulation losses of 9 per cent and 10.6 per cent respectively.

Ms Bartle, founder of Girl With a Satchel, said the two glossy magazines were falling because mass marketing to women as one group is no longer effective.

“My generation and the generation below have grown up seeing ourselves as much more individual than my mother’s generation,” she said.

“What we’re looking for now are magazines that appeal to particular interests.”

Building a relationship

Sahil Merchant, co-founder of specialty magazine retailer Magnation, says Frankie is still a niche magazine even though it could now be considered more mainstream because circulation has “gone through the roof”.

“I still think of it as a niche magazine because of the passion and the loyalty that Frankie has managed to create,” Mr Merchant said.

“The defining characteristic of a niche magazine is that they tend to generate a lot more passion about their magazine and the contents than the average mainstream magazine would.”

Kelley Sheenan, founder and editor of Peppermint, agreed building a relationship with readers was an important factor in a magazine’s success.

“I think readers have taken to Peppermint so well because they are wanting more from their media,” Ms Sheenan said.

“By more, I don’t mean more shoes, more sex, more celebrities … they are wanting more soul, more depth and more realistic role models.

“I also believe that readers want to feel more connected with their media and have it reflect their actual lives.”

Related Link: Girl With a Satchel Mags: State of the (mag)nation – June 2010 circulation

Related Video: ABC 7.30 Report Frankie Magazine beats the odds