Quo vadis Queensland?

Queensland has just experienced a history-making election, with a unprecedented and dramatic landslide to a new LNP Government. On Sunday 15/4/12, at 39 Lacey Rd, Carseldine, from 3.30pm, the Queensland Democrats are hosting a roundtable forum, under the title Quo vadis Queensland? We will be discussing what the election means for Queensland, the implications of the election nationally, and what the election means for the nature of campaigning in the future. All members of the public are most welcome to attend. Refreshments provided. Please telephone 0418.293629 for further information.

Qld Democrats Christmas Party

All citizens of good will (and even those who don’t have good will) are warmly and heartily invited to the Queensland Democrats Christmas Party, to be held this coming Sunday 27 November from 3.30pm, at 39 Lacey Road, Carseldine. Members and nonmembers are invited to attend. Refreshments provided. A pleasant afternoon will ensue, with a mixture of deep political discussion and light banter. You’re most welcome to attend. Please telephone 0418.293629 if you’d like a lift.

Forum: Religion and State in Australia

The issue of religion and state has recently been a controversial one in Australia, and this is likely to be even more so with the High Court set to make an important ruling on school chaplains.

On Sunday 16 October the Queensland Democrats are hosting a public forum on the topic of religion and state. Our special guest for the forum is Dr Jonathan Crowe, an academic within the Faculty of Law at the University of Queensland, and an expert within the field of constitutional law.

The venue for the event is 39 Lacey Road Carseldine, and the starting time is 3.15pm. The format is a very relaxed one, with plenty of good red wine and vintage cheese available, and both Dems members and the public are welcome to attend.

For further information, please telephone 0418.293629.

Forum: Reviewing 9/11, a decade on

Sunday 11/9/11 will be tenth anniversary of what has become known around the world simply as “9/11”, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon by al-Qaeda.  The Queensland Democrats are marking this anniversary with a forum, looking at 9/11 in retrospect and examining how appropriate our response to this was. 

We are pleased to have Dr Andrew Phillips as our special guest for this forum.  Dr Phillips is an eminent political scientist, specializing in international politics and terrorism.  He holds a doctorate from Cornell University, has previously worked with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and is currently Senior Lecturer with the University of Queensland.  His book War, Religion and Empire was published this year with Cambridge Studies in International Relations: http://bit.ly/ozt44i

The venue for the forum is 39 Lacey Road Carseldine, in northern Brisbane.  The date is Sunday 11/9/11 at 3.15pm.  As always, our forums are very convivial and relaxed, with plenty of good red wine and fine cheese, so please feel very welcome to attend.  Please telephone 0418.293629 if you’d like further information, or if you’d like a lift from Carseldine Railway Station.

Forum: Is Australian democracy in trouble?

On Sunday afternoon 14/8/11, at 39 Lacey Road, Carseldine, commencing 3.15pm, the Queensland Democrats are hosting a forum on the topic “Is Australian democracy in trouble?”

Nearly one hundred years ago,  the Irish poet William Yeats wrote: “The best lack all conviction, and the worst / Are full of passionate intensity”.  These words were written about the widespread disillusionment in Europe after World War I, although these words might also apply to the widespread disillusionment about democracy in Australia.  One of the most common comments about politics in Australia is that people find this extremely depressing.  Membership in political parties has been steadily declining, and opinion polls indicate that our respect for elected leaders is at all time low.  Moreover there is also widespread cynicism that politics can really make a difference.

This forum aims to look at the state of democracy in Australia, to enquire whether it is in trouble, and to seek some solutions.  The forum is open to both Democrat members and to members of the public, so you are very welcome to attend.  There will also be wine and cheese available, to make this an enjoyable afternoon.  Please feel free to telephone 0418.293629 for further information.

Qld Dems Meeting June 2011

The next meeting of the Qld Democrats is on Sunday 19th June. Neilian Toms will be speaking on “NGO Accountability and the Appropriateness of Aid Programmes”.  Neilian holds a Bachelors Degree in Applied Science in Environmental Health and a Masters Degree in Governance and Public Policy.  She has wide international experience, including extensive experience working in Africa.

Fundraising BBQ

Members and the public are warmly invited to a fundraising BBQ, hosted by the Queensland Democrats and commencing 3.30 pm Sunday 22 May 2011 [please note change of date from that advised earlier in Newsletter]. Come along and enjoy vigorous political conversation, or simply come along and enjoy some good food and red wine. BYO meat or vegetarian alternatives. Salad and rolls provided. Location is 39 Lacey Road, Carseldine. Entry $10 donation to 2013 Election Campaign. For further information, please telephone 0418.293629.

Forum: The Science of Climate Change

Climate change. Is it real or just a myth? Or is climate change just part of the natural cycle of change on our planet, which is being exploited by alarmists? On Sunday afternoon 10/4/11, the Queensland Democrats are hosting a forum on “The Science of Climate Change”. Whatever your views, are most welcome to come along and participate – or just come along and listen. Our special guest for the forum is John Cook, a scientist by training and also the creator of the website http://www.skepticalscience.com. The forum commences from 3pm, and the format is very relaxed. There will also be plenty of red wine, cheese and biscuits available to make the afternoon more enjoyable. The location is 39 Lacey Road, Carseldine, in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. For further information please telephone 0418.293629.

Forum: Should we be teaching ethics in schools?

Democrat members and members of the public are warmly invited to a forum to be held from 3pm this coming Sunday afternoon, 13/3/11, at 39 Lacey Road, Carseldine, on the topic of ‘Should we be teaching ethics in schools?’  

The teaching of ethics in schools is a controversial topic. It involves questions of who should do the teaching and what should we be teaching.  Feel free to come along to give your views, or feel free to come along and simply listen.  Wine, cheese and other refreshments will be served.

Forum: Responding to Natural Disasters in Queensland

This summer Queensland has suffered two major disasters, in the form of major flooding throughout the state and the impact of a serious cyclone. On Sunday afternoon, 20 February, from 3pm, the Queensland Democrats are hosting a forum on how we ought to be responding to natural disasters. Important questions include: what responsibility does local government have, how can we facilitate insurance coverage, what state and federal legislation may be appropriate, and what can we do to cope with what appears to be increasingly frequent natural disaster events. The venue is 39 Lacey Road, Carseldine, and commences from 3pm. Democrat members and the public are most welcome. Telephone 0418.293629 for further information.