4BC Breakfast

4BC listeners have raised concerns that the Brisbane City Council has scaled back on Christmas decorations with some saying you 'wouldn't even know it is Christmas'.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Krista Adams told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, 'we do actually have more decorations by number than we usually have in the mall.'

'But I do think they're probably just a little bit different to last year and everybody has their own opinion of what they like and they're entitled to that opinion.

If you really, really, really want to feel that true Christmas spirit, go and celebrate 100 years in the Brisbane Arcade as well. That is spectacular,' Councillor Adams said.

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The Star Casino is putting on a family friendly free sound and light show festival called 'Sono Lumo'.

Unfortunately, the best vantage point is underneath the Riverside Expressway on the Bicentennial bikeway with the Casino asking cyclists and scooter riders to dismount for 100 metres to keep families safe.

Space 4 Cycling spokeswoman Belinda Ward told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, 'this is a transport corridor. It's an important transport corridor. It has been for years.'

'It is basically the only safe transport corridor where people on bikes are not required to share space with trucks and heavy vehicles and it is a space where people feel safe to ride who otherwise wouldn't ride,' Ward said.

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The Queensland Police Service is set to launch a state-wide road safety operation this Friday aimed at reducing road fatalities during the Christmas season.
 
Operation Mistletoe will see an increased number of police patrolling Queensland roads to hopefully stop many of the avoidable incidents that occur at this time of the year.

Acting Chief Superintendent Gareth Channels from the Road Policing and Regional Support Command told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, 'I would ask all of our motorists on the road to drive courteously, use patience, consider their actions behind the wheel, ensure that they're complying with the road rules and driving to conditions, particularly as we enter the holiday period.'

'I'd ask them to plan their trips, manage their fatigue, have a break every two hours if they're traveling long distances, swap drivers,' Acting Chief Supt Channels said.

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From this Friday garbage collectors in Ipswich will be going on strike affecting up to 30,000 homes.

A pay dispute between Ipswich Waste Services workers and Ipswich City Council has led to this industrial action.

Workers are asking for better pay, increased superannuation, and allowances for handling dangerous materials.

Transport Workers’ Union Queensland Director of Organising Josh Millroy told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, 'these guys do really dangerous work, they're often hosing out hazardous waste, poisons, rotting garbage from the back of trucks.'

'So, this is a really tough job. Now, these members don't want to take industrial action. They've tried to reach a fair agreement with the Council,' Millroy said.

'So we want to make sure these guys get a fair day's pay for a fair day's work, and also that they're not destitute in their retirement.'

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Listen to 4BC Breakfast with Peter Fegan weekdays from 5.30am-9am.

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Christmas is the season to be giving and there is a new innovative way for people to share the joy this December.

Light the World Giving Machines are bright-red vending machines that allow people to donate life-changing items like meals, clothes, schoolbooks, bicycles, and toys to those in need.

The co-host of Nine's Parental Guidance, and Light the World ambassador, Dr Justin Coulson, told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, 'small donations have a significant impact, these machines globally have raised $50 million for charity now.'

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The Human Rights Commission recently released a review into the Queensland Police Service, that unveiled systematic discrimination towards women and First Nations people.

QPS Commissioner Steve Gollchewski told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, 'I'm going to say what you've seen is that there have been things that have led all of us down, happened in the past.'

'We're a big organisation and I'm quite certain that we've got a lot of more work to do in that space, but where I'm coming from is that we are an agency that is absolutely committed to change,' the Commissioner said.

'We're absolutely committed to every single member of the organisation coming to work, being valued, being included and being safe.' Gollchewski continued.

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Incentives worth up to $70,000 luring Queensland Health workers to remote and vacant roles have been axed by the Crisafulli Government.

The scheme was launched on July 1 last year by the Palaszczuk Government to address the critical shortage of doctors and clinicians in regional areas.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls, said the reason behind the decision was a projected overspend of $165.8m from the program.

AMAQ President Dr Nick Yim told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, 'it was quite perplexing from my perspective.'

'We know that in Queensland, we have a workforce shortage, and that's not just doctors,' Dr Yim said.

'And we're competing, not just in Queensland, but with other states in Australia and also the world.

The other big thing is, those people who do go to regional rural areas, they will also reinvest into that community as well, because they are delivering that healthcare service,' he said.

'So you have your doctors, nurses being in that region, and if they are there for three years, four years, maybe sometimes 10 years or 20 years, that is going to be great for those communities.'

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Listen to 4BC Breakfast with Peter Fegan weekdays from 5.30am-9am.

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The arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, along with several other incidents, has led to the establishment of a dedicated task force known as Operation Avalite.

The task force is set to tackle anti-Semitism and ensure the safety of Australia’s Jewish communities.

Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner National Security Krissy Barrett told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, "We police the criminality, not the religion or the race or the community group. We're very objective in that."

"We do investigate these offences quite regularly, but this special operation does allow us to focus in on the Jewish community and what we're seeing in the current environment," Deputy Commissioner Barrett said.

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