General News
19 June, 2024
News in brief: Armed robbery in Mount Isa
All the briefs from this week's newspaper
Police have charged a 17-year-old boy with armed robbery following an incident in Mount Isa on Monday.
It is alleged the boy entered a Miles Street business, locked the door and demanded cash after producing a knife.
Police said he took cash from the register before fleeing the scene.
Two suspects were seen on a red motorcycle with their faces covered.
Investigations led to the detaining of two males from Mount Isa. One was charged with armed robbery and was bailed, to appear in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court.
The second male had yet to be charged at the time of publication.
The employee at the business was uninjured and police praised their actions while under duress.
Katter in contempt
Member for Traeger Robbie Katter says he will apologise after he was found to be in contempt of Queensland parliament by the state ethics committee.
In March, Mr Katter and Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto confronted a pro-Palestinian rally outside parliament, with signs reading “condemn Hamas”.
The MPs were ushered away by police.
Ethics committee chair Stirling Hinchliffe told the House on Friday the two Katter’s Australian Party members had engaged in disorderly conduct.
The penalty determined by the committee was for the MPs to make an apology to parliament.
Mr Dametto made his apology on Friday, while Mr Katter, who was absent due to a family matter, has indicated to North West Weekly that he would also apologise at the next sitting.
“I believe in following the rules,” he said.
Mr Hinchliffe said the ethics committee would hand down more serious penalties in future.
Mornington by-election
Jane Ah Kit will be sworn in as the newest councillor on Mornington Island after a convincing win in Saturday’s by-election.
While the Electoral Commission of Queensland had yet to declare the result at the time of print, Ms Ah Kit (130) had received 45 per cent of the vote and was well clear of her rivals Roxanne Thomas (96) and Helen Moon (62).
Voter turnout was well down, however not surprising considering Mornington Shire Council held its local government election just three months ago.
State stings Glencore
Glencore says it can’t understand why the government has targeted the miner with payroll tax changes that would only directly impact one company.
In last week’s budget, the state made an adjustment to the eligibility criteria for the regional payroll tax discount that will make Glencore pay an additional $5 million in tax for the next four years.
Glencore said it had not been consulted over the change.
“We are at a loss to explain why the Queensland Government wants to penalise local Mount Isa workers,” a spokesperson for Glencore said.
“The Queensland Government imposing an extra tax burden on Mount Isa employment will only make MIM’s [Mount Isa Mines] future harder.”
New CEO appointed
Anne Andrews will be the new CEO of Carpentaria Shire Council, replacing the long-serving Mark Crawley, who will retire next month.
Ms Andrews knows the region well and is currently the council’s director of community development, tourism and regional prosperity.
“Thank you (mayor) Jack Bawden and the councillor team for trusting me to work with the Carpentaria community to grow our economic future and grow community capacity,” she said.
“I am very much looking forward to pursuing and activating local, regional, state and Commonwealth opportunities to build a sustainable future for our people.”
Racing icon farewelled
The Outback racing industry is mourning the death of iconic horseman Neville ‘Nocka’ Peoples, who passed away on the weekend, just hours before his silks were worn in a victory at Caloundra.
The horse trainer prepared Snedden to win the Birdsville Cup in 1995 and 1996, and also won the Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville with Holmebrook in 1989.
“He had a very fulfilling life – he was a hall of fame football coach and was one of the first inducted into the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach,” said grandson Louis Peoples, who is also a horse trainer in partnership with his mother Kristie Clark