News: One year on from devastating floods

Queensland towns mark one year since the big one

It’s been a year since a wall of water first surged through the mountaintop town of Toowoomba and down into the Lockyer Valley. Residents didn’t receive any warning of the ‘inland tsunami’ that was coming and 22 lost their lives. Another three are still missing. Houses were swept away and many were trapped on their roofs as the water lapped at the edges, surging past and eventually on to Brisbane resulting in the worst floods since 1974. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said at today’s memorial: “Memories of them [lost loved ones] are painful and this week is a time for sorrow and for many people a time of relived trauma. The events of last summer were shocking, they were traumatic, they were devastating.”

Teach migrants how to use deoderant … and to queue

The Coalition’s citizen spokeswoman Teresa Gambaro said cultural awareness training, which including teaching migrants about deodorant, should be supplied to all newcomers. She told The Australian: “Without trying to be offensive, we are talking about hygiene and what is an acceptable norm in this country when you are working closely with other co-workers,” she said. Wearing deodorant and waiting in line politely were about “teaching what are norms in Australia”. The MP for Brisbane said while her comments may upset people, migrants also needed to be educated about their rights and how to improve their chances of getting work.

Biggest PR disaster of 2011

It’s here. The official list of the biggest PR meltdowns from last year, based on social media reaction. You might recognise a few of these. And in a rare event, one company has taken out the top two spots and third in the top 10. Qantas came in at number one for its decision to ground, without warning, its entire fleet of aircraft around the world. The move stranded tens of thousands of passengers and came at the height of tense negotiations between three airline unions and the company regarding pay and conditions. Then, apparently to assuage the damage done, a poorly conceived Twitter campaign to allow users to win – get this – a pack of amenities you’d get for free if you were flying first class. Tony Abbott made the list, not for an initial Channel 7 story in which he said ‘shit happens’ relating to tragic events in Afghanistan but for his minute-plus long head-shaking freeze when questioned during the follow-up. It was uncomfortable viewing. Kyle Sandilands came in at number nine and rounding out the list at 10 was the Gasp clothing store customer service abomination which eventually led to the closure of the store. Any others spring to mind? Lessons to be learned?

Here’s the video of Tony Abbott. The big freeze starts at 1:44.

Study links gas fracking to health risks

The controversial gas extraction method known as ‘fracking’ which is used in some Coal Seam Gas projects in Australia (but not the majority, which use a different method) has been linked to adverse health problems in the United States. There fracking is common in the shale gas industry which is similar to Coal Seam Gas but not identical. The review studied 24 cases in six US states where it was claimed health problems arose because of drilling and gas extraction. It was headed by a Cornell University academic and a veterinarian. The study said: “…strongly implicates exposure to gas drilling … in serious health effects on humans, companion animals, livestock, horses and wildlife.” The health risks allegedly stem from a cocktail of chemicals used during the fracking process. The chemicals are injected into the Earth to ‘fracture’ the beds and release the gas.

And if you were at all interested in the song Jay Z recorded for his new bubba, have a listen. What do you think of it?