State leads most disadvantaged list

Four Queensland indigenous communities have been named as the most disadvantaged areas in Australia by a new release of census results.  Picture: Eddie Safarik Source: The Australian

FOUR of the five most disadvantaged local government areas in Australia can be found in Queensland.

The third release of the 2011 census this morning revealed that Yarrabah, an indigenous community south of Cairns and Cherbourg in the South Burnett region, were the most disadvantaged local government areas in the nation.

Aurukun, south of Weipa on Cape York and Woorabinda, southwest of Rockhampton, also rank in the bottom five.

The latest census release paints a picture of the socio-economic characteristics of communities according to "people's access to material and social resources, and their ability to participate in society".

The figures also revealed that Brisbane was the most advantaged local government area in Queensland.

The data split the state into population groups of about 10,000 people, called statistical areas.

In Brisbane, the western suburbs ranked highly, claiming four of the five spots for most advantaged statistical areas.

Pinjarra Hills-Pullenvale, which has a usual resident population of 5360, came out on top.

It was followed by Fig Tree Pocket, Brookfield-Kenmore Hills, Chapel Hill and Wakerley.

The statistics also revealed that Riverview, a suburb of Ipswich, was the most disadvantaged.

Inala-Richlands, Wacol, Logan Central and Woodridge completed the bottom five.

Analytical Services Branch director Dr Phillip Gould, said it was important to remember that indexes were "assigned to geographic areas, not to individuals".

"For example, it's possible for a relatively advantaged person to reside in an area which may have a low score on some or all of the indexes," he said.

"It's also not uncommon to see a local government area that has pockets of advantage and disadvantage."

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Payroll inquiry leads to focus on one man

The Queensland Health payroll inquiry is investigating how a simple $6.19 million payroll contract, signed in 2007, led to a $1.2 billion bill for Queensland taxpayers.
  Source: The Courier-Mail

AFTER two weeks of evidence, the narrative emerging from the Queensland Health Payroll Inquiry has developed a strong focus on one man - Terry Burns.

The inquiry wrapped up its first two-week session at lunchtime yesterday, after 10 days poring over the lead-up to the worst deal Queensland ever negotiated.

The inquiry, led by retired Supreme Court Judge Richard Chesterman, QC, is investigating how a simple $6.19 million payroll contract, signed in 2007, led to a $1.2 billion bill for the Queensland taxpayer.

Mr Chesterman had described the accepted facts of the deal as "notorious", noting the payment to successful contractor IBM jumped to $37 million by the time the system was implemented, while government costs ballooned to $64 million.

Premier Campbell Newman has estimated the cost of the entire exercise which left thousands of Queensland Health workers under and over paid will cost the state $1.2 billion.

Counsel Assisting Peter Flanagan, SC, who has led the meticulous cross-examinations of most of the 18 witnesses, has broken the complex history of the deal into four components.

First is the government's initial request for a proposal; then specific tender invitation itself on September 12, 2007; then an analysis of the companies which responded and, last, the role of individuals involved.

The inquiry has heard strong evidence something needed to be done in 2007 as the state struggled to provide IT services via an agency inside the Queensland Treasury - CorpTech.

Several reviews were commissioned to determine the best path ahead, some of them partially authored by Mr Burns, who recommended the creation of positions he later came to fill.

In 2007, Mr Burns had only recently arrived in Brisbane and his role was the first work he had done in Australia, yet he was soon playing a key role in evaluating whether his old employer should win a multi-million dollar contract.

Mr Flanagan noted Mr Burns had an impressive CV, having worked in senior roles in IBM in South Africa as its top man, "as he describes it".

A key piece of evidence to emerge this week was an email written by an IBM executive, which revealed that Mr Burns was having off-the-record and on-the-record meetings with his old employer.

"Terry is almost at a stage that he is coaching us, and is already strongly recommending the position we should take in some areas," the executive says.

More revelations contained in 35 volumes of documents are expected to emerge on April 8 when the inquiry resumes with four more witnesses to be cross examined on the tender process.

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'Shake on a plane' dance leads to probe

THE latest craze to sweep the internet is bringing university students the wrong kind of attention - from the US Federal Aviation Administration.

During a flight from Colorado Springs to San Diego, a group of students started the Harlem Shake, a dance to a song of the same name.

In the suddenly popular YouTube videos, one person starts dancing, then the video cuts to a large group of people dancing, many in costume (skip to 15 seconds into the video to see this bizarre part).

Matt Zelin, a sophomore, told the Colorado College newspaper, The Catalyst, he asked a flight attendant for permission beforehand.

FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said they're looking at what phase the flight was in during the dance in the aisles.

Frontier Airlines says the seatbelt sign was off and safety measures were followed. 

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