Latest news with #QueenslandUniversityofTechnology
Sydney Morning Herald
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
QUT race debate not antisemitic, despite damaging fallout: review
A review into a satirical race debate at the Queensland University of Technology that sparked media outrage has cast a shadow over the future of one of the university's specialist research institutes. The review was commissioned in February to look into the anti-racism event organised by the Carumba Institute, which focuses on First Nations research and education at QUT's two Brisbane campuses. Under its six recommendations, released on Wednesday, the university's governing council was urged to 'consider and define the role and function and the leadership' of the institute, and more closely supervise its public events. The institute's January symposium on anti-racist research made headlines after one audience member leaked recordings and presentation slides from the satirical 'Greatest Race Debate'. While on stage, writer and artist Lorna Munro, a Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi woman, showed slides calling on the audience to 'throat punch a racist'. Loading Jewish Council of Australia chair Sarah Schwartz presented a checklist of characteristics that she said were being used to weaponise Jewish identity by political leaders, in a slide headlined 'Dutton's Jew'. The review found these slides and the speakers' remarks were not antisemitic or offensive 'to those actually present', and should be considered within the full context of the event. It found Munro's presentation, 'while provocative in tone, was clearly satirical in nature', while Schwartz's was intended as a criticism of certain political leaders, and not Jewish people themselves.
The Age
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
QUT race debate not antisemitic, despite damaging fallout: review
A review into a satirical race debate at the Queensland University of Technology that sparked media outrage has cast a shadow over the future of one of the university's specialist research institutes. The review was commissioned in February to look into the anti-racism event organised by the Carumba Institute, which focuses on First Nations research and education at QUT's two Brisbane campuses. Under its six recommendations, released on Wednesday, the university's governing council was urged to 'consider and define the role and function and the leadership' of the institute, and more closely supervise its public events. The institute's January symposium on anti-racist research made headlines after one audience member leaked recordings and presentation slides from the satirical 'Greatest Race Debate'. While on stage, writer and artist Lorna Munro, a Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi woman, showed slides calling on the audience to 'throat punch a racist'. Loading Jewish Council of Australia chair Sarah Schwartz presented a checklist of characteristics that she said were being used to weaponise Jewish identity by political leaders, in a slide headlined 'Dutton's Jew'. The review found these slides and the speakers' remarks were not antisemitic or offensive 'to those actually present', and should be considered within the full context of the event. It found Munro's presentation, 'while provocative in tone, was clearly satirical in nature', while Schwartz's was intended as a criticism of certain political leaders, and not Jewish people themselves.
Sky News AU
22-07-2025
- Sky News AU
Former school captain faces court over alleged Schoolies rape and sexual assault charges
A former captain of a prestigious Moreton Bay private school Grace Lutheran College is facing an array of rape and sexual assault charges after allegedly attacking a male during Schoolies of 2024. Lucas James Want, 18, faces two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The offences claimed to have happened across two days in November last year. He was not present at Gympie Magistrates Court on Friday where his lawyer asked for access to the complainant's Cellebrite phone download. The paramedic student has not entered a plea to the charges. He was appointed faith and service captain in Year 12. The 18-year-old is currently studying to be a paramedic at Queensland University of Technology and works as a part-time bartender at Redcliffe Leagues Club. Mr Want was arrested in Margate, just outside Redcliffe, on November 22, 2024. Ashton Marini, the solicitor for Mr Want, also requested Queensland Police Records and Information Management Exchange of police interactions with witnesses in the case. Mr Marini told the court the evidence was 'potentially relevant' to the allegations, the Courier Mail reports. Police Prosecutor Melissa Campbell strongly disagreed to the requests, labelling the defence as a 'fishing expedition'. 'What right does my friend have to see a conversation between a juvenile and their mother from five years ago?' she said. 'It's not relevant to this matter before the court.' Magistrate Ben Hughes denied the QPRIME documents and ordered the phone data to be provided by police. Mr Want's case was adjourned to October 13, 2025. The teenager will be excused from appearing in person at the next mention.
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Distinguished professor returning to Otago
Distinguished Prof Greg Cook is returning to the University of Otago to take up the vacated deputy vice-chancellor research and innovation role. Prof Cook is coming back to Dunedin from Australia to take up the position at the end of the academic year. He replaces Prof Richard Blaikie, who retired in May after 14 years in the role. In a statement, the university said Prof Cook would be a familiar face to many at Otago, as he was an inaugural sesquicentennial distinguished professor and head of the department of microbiology and immunology from 2019-24. He left New Zealand last year to become the Queensland University of Technology's Biomedical Sciences Head of School and Translational Research Institute Principal Investigator. Prof Cook said he was honoured and excited to return to Otago for the new position, which he felt compelled to apply for as an opportunity to build on the university's legacy of delivering world-leading research with a real-world impact. "It is a privilege to lead Otago's outstanding research community as we shape the future of discovery, impact, and excellence together. I know that we have the people, the culture, and the commitment to research excellence needed to embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead," he said. "I am particularly eager to engage with our Māori researchers and communities and to help advance Otago's growing international leadership at the interface of Indigenous and Western knowledge systems." He said his immediate focus would be on advancing applied and commercial research, with a stronger local and international emphasis on translating innovation and entrepreneurship into new ventures. "Engaging more deeply with our alumni and the private sector will be essential in bridging the gap between research and commercial application. "Developing robust commercialisation strategies in collaboration with these stakeholders will be a vital step towards this goal. I see this as crucial to driving the university's future success in research, innovation, and impact." Prof Cook also intended to build on the university's legacy of world-leading postgraduate research engine, while fostering a more entrepreneurial environment that equips graduates with real-world experience in commercialisation and innovation. Vice-chancellor Grant Robertson was pleased to have secured someone of Prof Cook's calibre. "Not only does he have a distinguished academic record, in both research and teaching, but he has played significant roles in Aotearoa's research ecosystem. "He has international and commercial experience, having worked in a variety of world-leading academic institutions and for global pharmaceutical companies." Distinguished career • Prof Greg Cook is a microbiologist whose research is focused on bacterial physiology and energetics, antimicrobial resistance and drug discovery and development. • He was director of the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, a Centre of Research Excellence for biomedical research in New Zealand, and co-director of the China-New Zealand Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, a joint initiative between Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedical and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Maurice Wilkins Centre. • He is a Fellow of the Royal Society New Zealand Te Apārangi (2013), and held positions as a James Cook Fellow, (2012-14), 8th Sir William Dunn and Sidney Sussex College Fellow (Cambridge UK, 2009) and held invited visiting Professor positions at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH-Zurich, Switzerland (2001 and 2005). • Prof Cook has received the University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal, the University of Otago's highest distinction (2014), University of Otago Early Career Award for Distinction in Research (2004) Commercialisation researcher award (2023), and his group received the University of Otago Research Group Award in 2017. — APL
Sky News AU
09-07-2025
- Sky News AU
Aussie lawyer Christopher Saines, 43, found dead in massage parlour on Thai holiday island Koh Samui
A Brisbane lawyer has been found dead at a massage parlour on the same popular Thai holiday island where cricket legend Shane Warne died. Christopher Saines, 43, the CEO of GLG Legal, a commercial and property law firm in Brisbane, was found not breathing when staff at the Siam Touch Massage parlour tried to wake him up after his massage, according to local media. Police arrived at the parlour, located in the Bo Phut subdistrict of Koh Samui, at about 7am on Monday. The island is the same holiday spot where legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne died of a heart attack on 2022. According to initial investigations, Mr Saines left his hotel where he was staying with his wife, around midnight before paying for a one-hour traditional oil massage. Bo Phut Police Station Police Lieutenant Colonel Phumaret Inkong said a ziplock bag of white powder was found in the lawyer's pants pocket but that it needs to be sent for lab analysis. Lieutenant Colonel Inkong said the death was not being treated as suspicious. "There were no signs of physical struggle. The masseuse had no injuries either. The massage proceeded normally," he said. "Right now we are waiting for the results of the drug test and the autopsy report, which may take several days depending on the case, but we will try to expedite it as quickly as possible." After Mr Saines paid for the massage, he chose to rest on the massage bed so the masseuse continued to serve other customers. The 43-year-old was found sleeping and was later heard snoring at about 4am, so the staff member decided not to wake the customer. At about 6.20am he was found unconscious when the woman attempted to wake him up. When an ambulance arrived, they located Mr Saines dead at the scene. Mr Saines graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a law degree in 2006. He started out as a solicitor at a private practice before becoming a senior associate at a boutique native title and corporate/commercial law practice. He spent two years as a management committee member for Basic Rights Queensland and was an advisory board member for Aged Care Reviews from 2015. In 2014, he became the CEO of GLG Legal. More to come.
