Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer sought and gained a personal audience with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli over a “matter of commercial significance” related to his interests in the state, but the details have been blocked from public release.

This masthead sought documents relating to three meetings between the pair disclosed in Crisafulli’s official diary over 12 months from last August, most recently after Palmer changed the name of his coal operation.

Only one text message was found and released by the Department of Premier and Cabinet under Right to Information laws, but with key segments redacted as they were deemed “contrary to the public interest”.

Crisafulli’s government has taken an unapologetically pro-coal stance, vowing to keep its fossil-fuel power stations running longer and creating new hurdles for renewable projects and mine objections, while expanding state approval powers.

The approaches by the state’s richest man came as he rekindled ties with the Nationals – one half of the formally merged state LNP, which now faces a threat from One Nation, and once competed against Palmer’s own political projects.

Crisafulli’s deputy, the Sunshine Coast-based Jarrod Bleijie, has also on several occasions met with Australia’s richest person, One Nation-backer Gina Rinehart – who lobbied him directly for Olympic rowing to be held in Rockhampton.

The message released to this masthead this week, the exact dates of which are not disclosed, appears to show a representative of Palmer apologising to a Crisafulli staffer for a late call attempting to set up a meeting between the pair.

A section then appearing to explain the reason for the request is redacted under provisions relating to matters deemed by the Right to Information officer to be “contrary to the public interest”, with a suggestion the meeting happen at Crisafulli’s Broadwater electorate office.

The Paradise Point shopfront is just a five-minute drive from some of Palmer’s extensive, multimillion-dollar property holdings on the nearby man-made Sovereign Islands.

“Feel free to call tomorrow or Clive directly,” the message signs off. A morning meeting then appeared to be confirmed for Parliament House in Brisbane instead.

In explaining the redaction, the departmental officer acknowledged disclosure of the information may promote further open discussion and “enhance government accountability”.

But this was overshadowed by the weight applied to the impact this detail being made public would have on “the business’ competitive position and, consequently, its business and commercial affairs”.

“A small amount of the information relates to a matter of commercial significance, which relates to non-public information about the status and progression of business and commercial activities,” the decision letter read.

“Disclosure would make that information available to competitors and other commercial participants.”
Both Crisafulli and Palmer have previously failed to respond to this masthead’s questions about their meetings, which were categorised as “portfolio matters” and only on one occasion were said to also feature staff. Neither have yet responded to follow-up approaches this week.

No correspondence between Palmer and the premier directly, or between representatives of the two, or documents relating to the three diarised meetings were located in Right to Information searches within either the premier’s office or the department.

Along with the state’s fossil fuel-friendly stance and pursuit of critical mineral projects, the government has also secured a Commonwealth carve-out for fossil fuel projects to power data centres the government is also chasing as a major economic opportunity.

Crisafulli told News24 earlier this month his government would support a new coal-fired power station to underpin the Claude-maker Anthropic-backed mega data centre near Dalby, about 250 kilometres west of Brisbane.

He also hinted that more AI data centre development proposals may be on the horizon.

Proposals from Palmer’s Waratah Coal – now called Energy A – for a coal-fired power station near Alpha, west of Rockhampton, state’s largest coal mine nearby were knocked back under the former Labor government.

Disclosures in the state’s lobbying register by Palmer’s lobbyist Malcolm Cole and the diary of Crisafulli’s chief of staff, Richard Ferrett, have described two related interactions by that pair as “commercial-in-confidence”.

One entry by Ferrett in August was described as “discussion regarding Energy A’s proposed coal mining operations in Queensland”. Cole’s said the talks related to the resources, energy and state development portfolios.

Palmer’s Mineralogy also made a rare foray back into state political donations this year, tipping $3800 into LNP coffers for an event ticket on a date aligning with the party’s “Delivering for Queensland Industry Update” at which one property developer paid $50,000 for a lunch with Bleijie.

Energy A also handed Queensland Labor $5000 on August 10 for tickets to a “fundraising event”, which Palmer was said to have not attended.

My 9 year old dog is living his best life in north Queensland. If you're out there and you're struggling and like dogs - here's some pictures of life I never could have imagined for us. It's a better life here than he had in the NT. Even though there are still crocs in my backyard!

Where have you moved to in Queensland and why do you love it?

At least the funding for legal advice to young people will be. How quaint. As per the article:

"It has had state government funding for the scheme for 20 years, she said. Its $3m allocation will instead go to Anglicare."

Come on now, the stench of fundamentalist MO is high with this one.

Say I wonder if they have a tender in for the boot camps.... Maybe I speak too soon, but there's a reason we moved away from all those orphanages, and there's even better reason the church run one's are so sorely... Stereotyped. Anyway that's getting a bit ahead of myself, but I'll be watching that space. Hard to imagine any success with that when the MO has more to do with rebuilding Rome than it does anything else.

Hey guys, I’ll try to keep it short but just wanting some advice from people who have used a traffic lawyer!

Recently I was pulled over for a SPER suspended license (I had no idea at the time unfortunately, no excuses - is what it is). It’s a non negotiable NTA at court now. Anyways, my concern with this is that the mandatory for a SS is disqualification for anywhere 1-6 maybe more months. Doing my research on Google and various other subreddits, I’ve seen you can’t get a work license, so I’m in a pickle as I need my license for work.

I was told to look at using a traffic lawyer to see if they can get the case lessened, or even plea for the lesser months suspension. They have a fixed price of 3k (the one I’m looking at going with anyways), and I just want opinions for people who have used one or self represented. Either way Im preparing that I’m going to be up for a disqual, but I don’t know if it’s worth getting a lawyer if I will most probably get the same outcome if I just turn up and plead guilty?

I dont know how it works, I’ve never been to court and haven’t had any previous traffic issues.

A gun buyback scheme for Queensland has again been ruled out by the premier, despite a weekend drive-by attack south of Brisbane where four people were shot, leaving a teenage girl fighting for life.

Police responded to reports of gunshots fired from a vehicle about 8.15pm on Saturday outside the Fitzys Loganholme centre on Bryants Road in Logan, where a boxing event was being held.

A 19-year-old Jimboomba woman, believed to be a bystander and not the intended target, was shot in the head and neck and rushed to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital in critical condition.

Three men – a 38-year-old from Browns Plains, a 37-year-old from Salisbury and 27-year-old from Cornubia – were also shot and taken to hospital.

All were stable by Sunday.

CCTV captured two men wearing balaclavas and gloves in the vehicle.

“Police are throwing absolutely everything at this, and seeking to bring those offenders to justice,” Premier David Crisafulli said on Monday.

“There aren’t too many Queenslanders who haven’t been rocked by it.”

Asked if a gun buyback – which Queensland did not take part in following the Bondi shooting – would be re-examined, he said:“No, absolutely not.”

Crisafulli added he “categorically” did not believe such schemes reduced gun crime.

“We have laws to make sure people who are crooks and terrorists are held accountable, and not innocent people,” the premier told reporters.

“In the case of this incident, there’s somebody who has allegedly done one of the most incredibly harmful and disgraceful actions ever, and that person is the one who deserves to be put behind bars for a long, long time. That’s where our focus is.”

He later added: “Good people should be able to have weapons. Bad people should have none. Terrorists and crooks should never have a gun.”
Crisafulli said the case would be a test for new gun laws passed by the state government earlier in the year, and included provisions to crack down on drive-by shootings.

The premier was speaking from the Redlands alongside senior ministers including Attorney-General Deb Frecklington and Police Minister Dan Purdie about new bail laws.

The legislation includes a new “high degree of confidence” test that requires police and courts to refuse bail unless satisfied an offender will not reoffend while on bail.

Those who commit serious offences while on bail would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment.

The bill would also remove the need for police to consider diversionary options such as administering a caution before commencing proceedings against youths.

We've recently had an 8 year old come live with us full time.

She's never really been on a proper holiday, we were wanting to take her somewhere with an amazing Kids Club.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Ideally in Qld (we are based on the GC). If it involves a plane ride that would be an added bonus too.

The Western Downs has hit the international stage, with U.S. news corp, CNN covering the proposed data centre in Kogan, QLD

Until he loses his majority due to cookers voting for Poorlean. Don’t believe a word the slimy bastard says.

Heading to QLD early march for a two part trip
My little boy is 3, there will be 4 adults
First part wanting to go to SeaWorld - wanting accomodation recommendations, ideally kinda quiet and bonus if kids activities/restaurants at the resort.

Second part Australia zoo!
Again looking for recommendations on accomodation.

And also things to do/see. Not too fussed on too many activities at the accomodation if we are close to other entertainment, beaches etc

Thanks 🤩

Hello all! My partner and I just booked a short holiday to Airlie Beach in early December (yes, I know it’ll probably be hellishly hot & the weather is unlikely to be in our favour, but that’s beside the point of what this post is about)

We just would like some advice from locals or more experienced people about what it’s like to go snorkeling at that time of year. I’ve been looking at a boat tour that goes to Hill Inlet, Whitehaven beach, and then out for some snorkelling. I’ve never been snorkelling before and would love to go, but obviously it’s stinger season. They still offer these tours, have stinger suits, and the tours are actually pretty booked out for the dates we’re there so it seems people aren’t too concerned. My problem is that what I can see of the stinger suits, there are still parts of your body like your hands and face exposed, which makes me feel less confident (I know it probably sounds stupid to get stung in the face, but I could see myself messing up like that).

Point of my post is basically that myself and my partner are a little nervous about it, and seeking advice from people to figure out whether or not our worries are legitimate. I’d still love to go on some sort of boat tour of the Whitsundays, just trying to determine is snorkelling is worth it.

Whatever you do, don't go to the website

https://whatsholdingyouback.com.au

And tell her what you really think, she would hate that

Approaching the halfway milestone of Queensland’s four-year electoral cycle, Premier David Crisafulli has spent the past week doing plenty of talking – in speech after set-piece speech.

He has spent it talking about what his government has done, and what it’s yet to do. The latter involves fixing the more nebulous “crises” he rode to power vowing to address.

“The big four issues that I spoke about before the election remain the big four issues and the big four challenges,” Crisafulli said at his 2026 CEDA State of the State address on Monday.

“And on all of them [health, housing, crime and cost of living], we are making progress after a long period of time where the numbers went in the wrong direction.”

While Crisafulli can cite numbers heading in a better direction – and did, across several other major speeches this week, including to the property and local government sectors – more than anyone else, he should know the limits of relying on statistics.

During a Queensland Media Club appearance on Wednesday billed as featuring a “significant policy announcement” in the law and order space, no such thing came, beyond confirmation the parliament will pass a government bill next week. Nor was there anything new in any other area.

This is the bind in which the government now finds itself: a list of concrete election platform items already all-but ticked off, leaving them either pushing ahead with new policy efforts in areas plaguing governments across the country and globe, or hoping its “let us cook” line finds sympathy.

Advertisements are still running for the work of the “new Queensland government”, but frustrations over this positioning are beginning to emerge – particularly on crime, where the LNP set the terms of the debate while in opposition, yet admits that public dissatisfaction remains, two years on.

Crisafulli himself seemed to acknowledge that on Wednesday. Asked when his team would shed the “new” and just become the Queensland government, Crisafulli said: “well, I hope we did that today”.

New policy is where the carefully crafted moderate pre-election image, dutifully maintained with its “calm and methodical” tagline since, most threatens to come unstuck. (Newman, anyone?)

The view under that layer, seemingly peeling back with each month this year, looks a little different. Political speech has been criminalised, objecting to mining projects has been made harder, major planning and land use powers expanded, and the state’s bail regime tightened, despite warnings about adverse impacts on the rule of law, court system, and community safety.

Then there’s the foray into a serious rebalancing of the state’s industrial relations system after a bruising set of negotiations with major public service workforces that spilled over into industrial action in schools, railways, hospitals, youth detention centres and child safety offices.

Crisafulli and his strategists seem to believe these glimpses beyond the pre-election picture they painted are too minor to spook a wider population wary of action that’s too swift or extreme.

The Labor opposition, led for now by Steven Miles, seems stuck on a small-target strategy, hoping that something – or an accumulation of things – will suddenly become too much for people to bear.

The resignation from cabinet of Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm may be the first bit of bark taken from Crisafulli that Labor would view as a win.

While Crisafulli’s LNP remain the clear favourites in this masthead’s regular Resolve Political Monitor, that polling also shows the broader mood has soured across a year that has thrown no shortage of extra problems at households and governments.

After significant improvement following the 2024 vote, the outlook for the next year or so among those surveyed for both their personal lives, and the state more broadly, has since returned to pre-election levels.

Almost more people think things will get worse in their lives than not change, and both cohorts are double the size of those who think it will get better. Compared to before the election, their view of the state’s future is now more pessimistic.

The tectonic plates long holding the two-party system in place appear their shakiest since Queensland saw Pauline Hanson’s best yet showing in an Australian parliament three decades ago. So two years could be a long time – for all involved.

How do you act, or give the appearance of acting, on fundamental social and economic problems in a way that makes people feel things have changed for the better, when you are also cautious of moving too fast or too far, let alone actually change things for the long-term good?

The Crisafulli government may have a swathe of state and national elections across the country to learn from before it has to face voters for the first time from office, but a bet on people’s willingness to wait to feel change while being told it is happening is no longer such a sure thing.

How on earth does the New Government generate statements like this with a straight face?

"Lower power prices under the Crisafulli Government’s Energy Roadmap Price Drop are flowing to homes and businesses in regional Queensland"

In South East Queensland, the decreases detailed in the Australian Energy Regulator’s Default Market Offer are between 7.2 and 10.7 per cent for households and between 10.4 and 14 per cent for small businesses. 

In contrast, in the first year after the former Labor Government released its Energy and Jobs Plan, regional families were hit with power price increases of almost 29 per cent. 

Nothing delivered, nothing achieved, but somehow higher prices in the past were ALP's fault? Interesting 'logic' there. The Queensland government owned power companies are still wanting to jack up the network costs (66% increase in capital and 19% increase in operational expenditure, with result being 25% increase in revenue), so not sure where the Premiere is going with this.

And the reason for the reduction in the Default Market Offer costs? The AER fact sheet states:

• Lower wholesale electricity costs driven by falling contract prices for 2026–27.
• Reduced spot price volatility since June 2025, with fewer and smaller high‑price events (when the spot price exceeds $5,000 per megawatt hour) than in recent years.
• Increased output from wind and battery generation, reducing reliance on more expensive gas and hydro generation during evening peaks.
• Lower retail operating costs reported by retailers, including reduced costs to serve customers, acquire and retain customers, and other shared retail costs.
• Lower environmental scheme costs, due to reductions in both the Australian Government’s Large‑scale Renewable Energy Target and Small‑scale Renewable Energy Scheme costs across all regions.

The Exec Summary to the DMO states:

Wholesale costs make up around 30% to 41% of the DMO prices and decreased by 2% to 14% from DMO 7 to DMO 8, depending on region. Lower wholesale costs result from decreasing contract prices for 2026–27, reflecting low spot price volatility. This is driven partly by increased output from wind and battery generators and less dependence on gas and hydro generation during evening demand peaks.

Doesn't sound like it's the actions of the LNP to me. Maybe they're claiming credit for not putting up network prices any more than they have? After all, Powerlink, Energex and Ergon are under the thumb of the state government. From the AER:

Network costs are a large component of DMO prices, comprising around 39% to 54% of DMO prices. In April 2026, the AER approved network tariff prices from each distribution network service provider (DNSP) for 2026–27. Compared with 2025–26, network charges have mostly increased due to the revenue paths, increasing transmission costs, inflation and the recovery of previously under-recovered revenue, as well as some state-specific drivers.

Can anyone make this make sense?

Unrelated? Oh well best carry on then.. 😳