‘No confidence' cloud hangs over Devils
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ABC News
24 minutes ago
- ABC News
Cairns bids to be Hawthorn's second home once Tasmania enters the AFL
Cairns is pitching itself as a potential second home for AFL powerhouse Hawthorn, should the Hawks' long-standing deal with the Tasmanian government end in two years. Football powerbrokers in Far North Queensland want to lock in regular AFL men's premiership matches, which Cairns last hosted in 2022. AFL Cairns and the Queensland government already have a three-year deal with Hawthorn, whose AFLW side will play a third home game in as many years at Cazalys Stadium next month. AFL Cairns and Cazalys Stadium general manager Craig Lees said he made the case for more elite men's football when AFL chief Andrew Dillon visited Far North Queensland last month. Mr Lees said Cairns wanted to replace Launceston as the Hawks' interstate base once the Tasmania Devils entered the AFL — a move which could bring up to four home-and-away matches a year to the far north from 2028. "That is our focus, to try and see if we can unlock those destination games," he said. Hawthorn has publicly declared its desire to continue hosting matches in Tasmania even after the Devils enter the competition, despite opposition from Devils CEO Brendon Gale. The Hawks have been contacted for comment. Cairns is also exploring the idea of teaming up with the Northern Territory, which intends to bid for a licence to become the AFL's 20th team should the code continue to expand. Mr Lees confirmed he had already had discussions with AFLNT. "I don't think a one-out 20th licence in Cairns works," he said. "However, we are happy to play our role in what that may look like in the future." Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, who also met with Mr Dillon, is a former Territorian and has backed a partnership with the NT. "One of the things we pitched to Andrew Dillon was maybe a northern Gather Round, where we share it with Darwin," she said. "We are quite regional in that sense, and if we can produce world-class events and do it together, then it just cements both of our successes in the future." Cazalys Stadium is hosting a Twenty20 cricket series decider between Australia and South Africa on Saturday night, ahead of a one-day international on Tuesday. Mr Lees said another goal was to secure Olympic cricket if the sport was added to the 2032 games program. Assistant state tourism minister Bree James said the government was "unashamedly chasing sporting events" to bring to Queensland. "I think all options are on the table and I think our minister for sport will be looking at any negotiations he can that improves the sport we have in our state," she said. One of the Barron River MP's constituents, 12-year-old Ollie Hourigan, has launched an online petition to bring an AFL team to Cairns. "I've been putting that on my social media for him, so I'm very supportive of having an elite team like that here in Far North Queensland," Ms James said.
ABC News
24 minutes ago
- ABC News
Queensland chief health officer appointment scrapped for second time
The Queensland government says it wasn't "confident" a doctor was suitable to be the state's chief health officer, despite him being offered the position a second time. Dr Krispin Hajkowicz was appointed to the job in 2021 but resigned shortly after, citing "personal reasons". Sources have confirmed to the ABC that he was recently offered the role again following a lengthy recruitment process. It's understood that a corporate head shot was arranged and a media release regarding the appointment was drafted by Queensland Health. The offer was then rescinded. A spokesperson for Queensland Health said a campaign to recruit for the role was undertaken, "however, no appointment was made". "A renewed campaign to recruit a permanent Chief Health Officer was launched on Friday 8 August." The international recruitment campaign advertises the role as earning up to $431,000 per annum. In a statement, a government spokesperson said the job "is a very forward-facing leadership role". "The government is not confident that the stability and longevity Queenslanders expect in this role has yet been met and the recruitment process is ongoing." Dr Hajkowicz declined to comment on questions from the ABC. Queensland has been without a permanent CHO since December, after Dr John Gerrard stepped down after three years. Dr Hajkowicz's wife, Dr Sarah Martin, made a submission to parliament over the Victoria Park Stadium and planning legislation, before his job offer. It related to laws that exempt 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure from major planning rules, to ensure projects aren't held up by potential legal challenges. In her submission, Dr Martin strongly opposed the legislation. "The Crisafulli government's plan to override the rights of the individual Queenslanders to make life easier for politicians and developers is right out of the Joh Bjelke-Petersen playbook. "Exempting this development from public scrutiny and removing the right of Queenslanders to protest via the courts is a very concerning proposition and makes the risk of corruption very likely." She went on to allege that the Bill proposed to remove "the right to protest this development in the courts" and was "out of the fascist playbook". The government said it was not aware of the submission during the recruitment process. Deputy opposition leader Cameron Dick said the government had "questions to answer" over the recruitment.. "I think this whole process stinks," he said. "This is so opaque, lacking in clarity, lacking in transparency, that every Queenslander should be deeply concerned about what the process was. "What has happened, and why has an eminently qualified medical specialist who ticked all the boxes been rubbed out by the LNP for a very important job, particularly as we go through one of the worst flu seasons in recent history?" Mr Dick said the opposition was considering further steps it could take regarding independent investigations into the matter.
News.com.au
24 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Defender Luke Beecken set to make AFL debut for Lions against Dockers
Luke Beecken will make his AFL debut on Friday night against Fremantle in one of four changes to the Brisbane Lions team beaten by Sydney last weekend. Selected by Brisbane in last year's mid-season draft from SANFL club Woodville West Torrens, Beecken has been rewarded for his good form in the Lions' VFL team. The 24-year-old rebounding defender joins fit-again pair Ryan Lester and Brandon Starcevich, and recalled forward Sam Day as inclusions in a Brisbane side still needing a win to guarantee itself a finals berth. The quartet replace defender Tom Doedee, who has knee soreness, and omitted trio Henry Smith, Will McLachlan and Dev Robertson. Lester's return from concussion for the clash at Optus Stadium was expected, while fellow defender Starcevich did enough at training this week to prove he had recovered from hamstring injury that led to him being a late withdrawal from the Lions side that lost by two points to the Swans at the Gabba. Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale (quad) and forward Kai Lohmann (calf) remain on sidelined. Neale's ongoing absence will give teenager Levi Ashcroft another opportunity to spend more time in the heart of the Lions midfield alongside his older brother Will. 'Before the game (against Sydney) I knew I'd be playing a little bit of midfield so I went up to him and had a little chat about that,' the younger Ashcroft said. 'We thought that was pretty cool. It was a bit of a dream of ours to be able to start in the middle together at some stoppages and centre-bounces. 'It's a really cool feeling and I can't wait to do it (on Friday night) again. 'I've been on the wing and playing half-forward, but I'm definitely looking forward to playing in the midfield with some of the more experienced guys, and showing what I can do in there.' Ashcroft said the reigning premiers were 'looking forward to bouncing back' against the Dockers. 'We're feeling really good,' he said. 'We had a bit of a tough week last week. I thought we did really well in the contest and a few other things, so we were a bit unlucky there. 'We didn't play poorly. We just had a few bad moments or bad quarters, but we've just got to stay connected, play together and continue to play our way because we know our best can beat the best and beat any team in this competition.'
