Went along to Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie's media conference this morning to ask some of the outstanding questions from our reporting about his interactions with billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart over the last week. Here's a thread of the main takeaways:

New: After a brief nod in a political column, & vague disclosure in the Deputy Premier’s official diary, we can report Gina Rinehart’s own websites state Jarrod Bleijie was at the Gold Coast’s April Aus swim champs as a member of “her party” And that’s not the first (or only) time the pair have met

got sidetracked by announcement of Qld’s next Governor this morning, and neglected to post this deeply reported dive into One Nation’s finances by colleagues James Hall & Patrick Begley (including detail of $10k-a-seat dinners at Gina Rinehart’s Bris mansion) www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/fed...

Dinners at Rinehart’s mansion, Hanson loans, an offensive film: One Nation’s sources of cash

The mining billionaire is sometimes a late withdrawal from the $10,000-a-ticket dinners. But guests can still enjoy the sweeping river views with Pauline Hanson.

brisbanetimes.com.au

Fresh from an estimates week where Qld Health’s David Rosengren gave reasons for missing First Nations health board directors jarring with evidence, we’ve got more… and heard from a board insider who reckons he’s misled the committee. Dept non-response cites confidentiality, Min says not our prob.

some headlines from the last(!) estimates blog of 2026 - Fire crews sent from wrong station amid 18-hour Telstra outage fallout - New peak First Nations mayors group yet to get promised annual cabinet meeting - Weir blowouts and a Paradise Dam to SEQ pipeline bring estimates weeks to close

The Cairns Supreme Court will this morning hear arguments from media organisations seeking to overturn a ban on reporting of the name of a high-profile man, against police efforts to have the order upheld. Get up to speed (on what we can tell you) here. www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/que...

The high-profile man, the extortion case, and the ‘unusual’ step to suppress it

The story of a prominent man embroiled in a Cairns extortion case has sparked concern and curiosity, and it could prompt changes to Queensland law.

brisbanetimes.com.au

Spokesperson for mining billionaire’s Hancock Prospecting says it’s “hardly surprising” the Rowing Australia patron wrote to Qld’s 2IC backing Rocky as 2032 Games venue. On Qs re support for a new National Aquatic Centre (also against independent advice)? Crickets from both.

Rinehart and Bleijie coy on billionaire backer’s aquatic centre support

Australia’s richest woman and Queensland’s second-in-command have ducked questions about her lobbying for a second Game venue decision against independent advice.

brisbanetimes.com.au

some headlines from the estimates blog via Catherine Strohfeldt & I today - Schools in Bleijie’s electorate funded for upgrades against policy - Minister played down LNP candidate’s appointment to multicultural advisory group - Minister lashes Labor over rejected First Nations ‘invisibility’ claims

icymi last night in the late breaking file bc it somehow found it's way to News Corp first... letter unearthed by Brisbane Times under RTI shows Aus' richest woman lobbied Qld's Deputy Premier on Olympic rowing in Rocky, before the govt ignored its own independent advice

Rinehart lobbied Bleijie on Rockhampton rowing. Then the LNP backed it

A letter obtained by this masthead shows billionaire Gina Rinehart pushed for Rockhampton to host 2032 rowing. The state then rejected its own advice.

brisbanetimes.com.au

New: The Queensland government went against the advice of its own Olympic venue review with a controversial decision to host rowing in Rockhampton after intervention from Australia’s richest person and conservative political patron Gina Rinehart.

Rinehart lobbied Bleijie on Rockhampton rowing. Then the LNP backed it

A letter obtained by this masthead shows billionaire Gina Rinehart pushed for Rockhampton to host 2032 rowing. The state then rejected its own independent advice.

brisbanetimes.com.au

New: The Queensland government went against the advice of its own Olympic venue review with a controversial decision to host rowing in Rockhampton after intervention from Australia’s richest person and conservative political patron Gina Rinehart.

Rinehart lobbied Bleijie on Rockhampton rowing. Then the LNP backed it

A letter obtained by this masthead shows billionaire Gina Rinehart pushed for Rockhampton to host 2032 rowing. The state then rejected its own independent advice.

brisbanetimes.com.au

In estimates y/day, Qld Health director-general David Rosengren claimed 3 health service boards lacking legally required Indigenous directors did so bc of “unscheduled vacancies” caused by post March-overhaul resignations Thing is, those departures all happened, were known about, or forced, prior

Queensland may be playing catch-up on the booming data centre industry, but there's no shortage of activity behind-the-scenes. And with that scramble comes significant efforts to get in front of political and departmental decision makers, including party event sponsorship and big name middle-men.

we've got a brief reprieve from Qld budget estimates today, which is back tomorrow for the rest of the week so probably as good a time as any to catch up on a weekend piece I wrote cataloguing instances where the Crisafulli LNP avoided, or used its control of the parliament to block, tricky Qs

Some headlines from the estimates blog so far today (and yesterday!) - A-G brushes off Labor calls for commissioner’s email probe - New child abuse reporting scheme led to 60 police referrals - CCC flags secret police integrity unit talks, but no funding Follow along here:

Queensland parliament updates: Courts, cops and corrections in focus

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington, Police Minister Dan Purdie, Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber and their officials will appear before the fifth day of estimates.

brisbanetimes.com.au

y/day's Qld budget estimates takeaways - Final sign-offs on new aquatic centre still months away: GIICA - KPMG’s WorkCover gig cut short after data leak concerns - No ‘worker rep’ definition for Bleijie's now union-free boards - Bleijie clashes with Labor MP over fired ‘friend of the CFMEU’

out of estimates y/day: Queensland’s top treasury official says cabinet confidentiality restricts him from outlining how the Crisafulli government could have met its plan to fund $6.8 billion in election promises amid an ongoing increase in consultant and contractor spending.

Treasury boss pulls cabinet secrecy veil over LNP’s $6.8b savings plan

Spending on consultants and contractors continues to climb, despite the LNP’s pre-election vow of a staged cap to fund its promises.

brisbanetimes.com.au

Estimates is here again under the Crisafulli govt, and there's plenty of material floating around for a closer look – in the orbit of some public sector chiefs more than others. Some will also face such Qs for the first time, in roles they're only (for now) acting/interim picks in. Circus dives in

New: Qld police have been tracking community views of youth crime through public sources such as social media, with a recent internal report obtained by BT giving an “extremely negative” score. But beyond confirming its existence, the agency and govt have refused to answer other Q about the work

“Experts & those working to prevent violence against women describe their frustration at the apparent cycle of outrage & fatigue, often fuelled by the latest tragedy, then prolonged by the inability of govt’s to implement lasting & effective, though costly, reforms.”

Two women and two girls dead in four days. Australian experts yet again call for action

‘We already have more than 1,000 recommendations. The knowledge gap isn’t there. There’s an implementation gap,’ policy expert says

theguardian.com

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has brushed off questions raised by Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce chair Margaret McMurdo AC about the LNP’s approach to key parts of her landmark work, suggesting she was more interested in working with Labor.

Bleijie claims taskforce chair worked more ‘enthusiastically’ with Labor

The Deputy Premier has brushed-off questions raised by a leading domestic violence prevention figure about the LNP’s approach to key parts of her landmark work.

brisbanetimes.com.au

Last year, the Qld govt quietly wound-up an independent office publicly monitoring major women’s safety & justice reforms. Since then, there’s been crickets from the group meant to have replaced it. Now, the architect of the original office is speaking out for the first time. www.brisbanetimes.co...

some developments from Queensland State Library land this morning

Brandis names public service veteran as acting State Library boss amid overhaul

The Library Board of Queensland chair has written to staff naming long-time public servant Scott Martin as outgoing Vicki McDonald’s temporary successor.

brisbanetimes.com.au

'Lots of people could do it," Qld's deputy premier quipped last week when asked if he had any particular person in mind for his next departmental boss, suggesting he would announce a permanent replacement for departed John Sosso in due course. But who? Public Circus takes an early look.

Queensland’s domestic and family violence minister has defended the state government’s $38.5m funding drop-off for the sector, as she faces mounting pressure to step down from her portfolios, Courtney Kruk reports (w some additional reporting from me)

Minister defends DV funding cuts after alleged murder of young mum

The embattled minister for child safety and domestic and family violence fronted media to explain nearly $40 million in cuts in this year’s budget.

brisbanetimes.com.au

New: Queensland’s state government will waive contract term limits for the rapid bus portion of the Sunshine Coast Wave, in a move critics warn could lock taxpayers into a new privatised Airtrain-style deal.

Critics question risk of ‘Airtrain 2’ under Wave fast-track law tweaks

Amid a largely unrelated bill introduced last month, the LNP has floated changes to public transport procurement laws to fast-track the watered-down project.

brisbanetimes.com.au

New: The third head of a Qld department steering work on youth justice programs facing mounting questions has been permanently appointed without an external process, five months after he was elevated to the role on an acting basis amid claims of ministerial office "toxicity".

Troubled department confirms third permanent boss in closed-door hire

Appointing Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber’s top bureaucrat marks the first in a series of looming LNP moves to shore up the highest public service ranks.

brisbanetimes.com.au

Last parli sitting, the govt made snap changes to South Bank Corporation laws allowing it to sack directors without reason, saying it was just standardising appointment frameworks Then, at 6pm on Friday, the Deputy Premier put a broom through the board (with new LNP-linked figures parachuted in)

New: Qld's public-spending watchdog has fast-tracked its probe of the $188 million Unify child safety IT system, now due by September, after what minister Amanda Camm described as a "critical IT failure" was looked-over by the Child Safety Inquiry cut short by government

Audit office fast-tracks probe of bungled child safety IT system

Queensland’s public-spending watchdog now plans to release its audit of the $188 million Unify upgrade in months, as pressure mounts on the department and minister.

brisbanetimes.com.au

Islamic College of Brisbane chief says Hanson visited his school (invited) for a looming Seven Network piece. A "robust conversation" ensued, in which Hanson sported an Israeli flag pin and questioned one of the students' decision to wear a niqab, Catherine Strohfeldt reports

Why this Brisbane Islamic school wants to meet Pauline Hanson again

The One Nation leader wore an Israeli flag pin and questioned a student on her face covering. Now the school’s head wants a second conversation.

brisbanetimes.com.au