Dear neighbours,

We’re certainly living through a lot right now. In just the past few weeks, Brisbane narrowly missed being hit by a cyclone, western Queensland has been devastated by some of the worst flooding in a generation, and Trump’s tariff threats have once again shaken the global economy. All the while, the cost of living—especially groceries and housing—continues to spiral out of control.

I know I’m not the only one feeling uneasy about what lies ahead. But it’s in moments like these that community matters more than ever. When governments continue to prioritise billionaires and big corporations over people, it’s our relationships with each other—our neighbours, friends, and local networks—that will carry us through.

We've been through tough times before, and we’ve made it through by sticking together. We’ll do it again.

If you’re feeling a bit disconnected, then a great place to start is one of our incredible local community gardens: Kurilpa Commons, Jane Street Community Garden, Plot 2 (Dutton Park), Kangaroo Point Growing Forward, Kurilpa Community Orchard (Highgate Hill), Gabba Hill Community Garden, Paradise Street Community Garden, Gloucester Street Community Garden. Not only are community gardens a great way to meet new people, they are also dependable local sources of food during volatile times.

Another great option is to join a local organisation that does regular community meals:

• Community Friends (3pm Wednesdays @ Bunyapa Park)
• West End Community House (7am Thursdays @ 4 Norfolk St, South Brisbane).
• Drug ARM (9am Fridays @ People's Park Kiosk)
• Anti-Poverty Network (6:30pm Fridays @ Musgrave Park)
• Community Union Defence League (6pm Sundays @ Musgrave Park)

Sharing a meal has long been one of the simplest and most powerful ways to connect across cultures. It’s a chance to slow down, come together, and build something stronger with our neighbours. Whether you’re giving back or just showing up with an open heart, breaking bread together is a beautiful reminder that community care starts with small, meaningful moments.

Read on to learn more about:

• Story Bridge Footpath Closure Update
• We saved East Brisbane SS & Raymond Park!
• 100 Day Olympic Review: What does it mean for 4102 and 4169?
• 100 Day Olympic Review: What does it mean for 4101?
• Backing Max Chandler-Mather for Griffith
• Cruel Lord Mayor keeps punching down
• Spread the Warmth - support mums fleeing domestic violence
• Two Souls Co - a conversation around early pregnancy loss
• Community Announcements
• Tree Removals
• Community Events

Story Bridge Footpath Closure Update

The Story Bridge footpaths have been closed since 5 March 2025, when they were shut down ahead of Ex-cyclone Alfred. That was over a month ago—and they’re still closed. Since then, Council has offered no timeline, no transparency, and no real explanation—just vague claims about “damage” and “ongoing investigations.”

Here’s what I’ve uncovered.

Disaster recovery funds from State and Federal governments are broken down into four categories. Two of those categories include pre-approved payments, and one of them can cover repairs to critical active transport infrastructure—like these footpaths.

We also know that the LNP-led Council has already mishandled the $80 million Story Bridge restoration. They’ve burned through funding and even received another $4.3 million from the Federal Government just to develop yet another business case for the same project.

Let’s call this what it is: a cost-shifting exercise. Instead of owning up and being upfront with residents, Council appears to be trying to claw back costs through disaster recovery funds—while completely neglecting the 6,000+ daily users who rely on this vital link.

People are being forced into lengthy, unsafe detours. Residents on both sides of the bridge are left in the dark. This isn’t just poor planning—it’s a failure of leadership. 

At the time of writing it appears that the footpaths will remain closed for some time. So I have written to the Council Chairs for Transport and Infrastructure requesting that a more suitable detour be put in place. You can read my letter in full here.

Building on calls from the community, I have suggested that Council temporarily reallocate one vehicle lane to active transport, with a protective barrier, to provide a safe and time-efficient detour. A similar setup was successfully implemented along Coronation Drive following the 2022 flood event that closed the Bicentennial Bikeway.

It would really help my advocacy if you could write to Cr Murphy ([email protected]) and Cr Wines ([email protected]) to show your support for the proposal.

We saved East Brisbane SS & Raymond Park!

It’s finally official: our beloved East Brisbane State School and Raymond Park are safe!

While we should never have had to have this fight, it’s been incredible to see how it brought our community together. I’m so proud of the connections we forged between all the different parts of our community. This is what real solidarity looks like. We are stronger together.

A huge thank you to the thousands of people who took part in our campaign over the years. Especially to the incredible work done by Rethink the Gabba, Friends of Raymond Park, and East Brisbane SS P&C. Thanks also to Max Chandler-Mather MP, former Councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan, and former state MP Amy MacMahon.

I wish this news meant we could organise a celebration about the power of our community; how we took on the major parties and won against all odds. But the threat to our community has not yet passed.

100 Day Olympic Review: What does it mean for 4102 and 4169?

The new LNP government wants to demolish the Gabba Stadium after the 2032 Olympics and sell off the land to private developers. Every indication is that these will be hyperdense 40+ story luxury skyrises with no affordable or social housing.

The promised 50% open space and new library on the Cross River Rail site are also in limbo, with the LNP planning to potentially gift private developers public land to build a massive arena. If the mega casino in the city is anything to go by, this will be yet another public asset sale by stealth.

The old Woolloongabba Priority Development Area (PDA) will need to be amended to accommodate the removal of the Gabba. So keep an eye out for any changes to the Gabba PDA, or even the announcement of a new PDA. 

Last week I organised a snap town hall meeting to share information on the 100 Day Review. You can download a copy of the presentation here. Please let me know if you have any questions or would be interested in another town hall. 

100 Day Olympic Review: What does it mean for 4101?

With the media focussed on stadiums and arenas, no one has been talking about what the 100 Day Review means for the Kurilpa Peninsula - in particular the opportunities it presents for new parkland.

In April 2022, the state government bought the Visy site on Montague Road. The plan was to use it as a temporary International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and turn it into parkland after the games. Brisbane City Council has also proposed building an indoor sports centre on the site. Visy covers a huge 7ha area which could fit slightly over 9 football fields.

The 100 Day Review found that it was hard to repurpose such a niche facility like an IBC and suggested the government seek alternative locations. This gives us an opportunity to advocate for the site to be turned into parkland well before 2032.

Max Chandler-Mather and I are co-organising a community meeting to discuss how we pressure Council and the State Government to act. Come along if you would like to see more parkland on the Kurilpa Peninsula.

Date: Thursday 22 May
Time: 6pm to 7:30pm
Location: The Nest Creative Space, 31 Ferry Rd, West End

Backing Max Chandler-Mather for Griffith

As anyone who’s spoken to me since the state election knows—things have gotten a whole lot tougher without Amy MacMahon in State Parliament.

I usually keep these newsletters focused on the work we’re doing locally, but there’s too much at stake right now to stay quiet. The truth is, a huge amount of what my office is able to achieve is made possible by the collaboration, resources, and support we receive from our State and Federal Greens colleagues.

Max’s office, in particular, has been an incredible backbone—whether it’s helping navigate federal processes, unlocking funding opportunities, or coordinating volunteers on the ground. Max played a critical role in getting the federal government to withdraw its funding for the Gabba stadium demolition, which was absolutely vital in saving East Brisbane State School and Raymond Park.

It’s a clear reminder that when we’re aligned across all levels of government, we can deliver real wins for our communities.

Our independent Greens MPs have shown time and again that they get results—often achieving more from the crossbench than major party backbenchers do from government.

By electing Greens to Parliament, we’ve been able to push the major parties to deliver real, tangible wins—like 50c public transport across Queensland. Under sustained Greens pressure, Labor has also adopted key Greens policies: banning supermarket price gouging, and tripling the bulk billing incentive so more people can see a GP for free.

If we want to keep Dutton out and keep the pressure on Labor to actually deliver for our communities, voting Green is the most powerful thing we can do. That’s why, on May 3, I’m asking you to vote [1] Max Chandler-Mather for Griffith—because strong, independent Greens voices in Parliament make all the difference.

Cruel Lord Mayor keeps punching down

Not wanting to be outdone by our very own Temu Trump (Peter Dutton), the cruel Lord Mayor has been busy bringing American-style culture wars to Brisbane.

In the days after Ex-Cyclone Alfred, tens of thousands of residents were without power and many others were battling creek flooding. Instead of helping with the recovery, the Lord Mayor was instead announcing his plans to criminalise homelessness in Brisbane. He doubled down on his position even after service providers disproved his claim that every unhoused person had been offered housing.

If the Lord Mayor was serious about ending homelessness he would increase BCC funding for essential services like Homelessness Connect, Public Space Liaison Officers, Community development teams and deliver a major investment in the Brisbane Housing Company.

While to my knowledge no one in the Gabba Ward has been moved on or issued fines yet, the threat has caused many rough sleepers to abandon their tents. With the recent rain we’re now experiencing a medical emergency, with people sleeping in wet clothes on wet bedding.

I am working with grassroots community organisations and on-the-ground service providers to support a coordinated response to the crisis.

In other news, the Lord Mayor has pulled all Council funding from the Queensland Music Awards after an award winner used her speech to stand against genocide. This follows a concerning trend of political censorship of artists and creative expression. You can read my statement about arts censorship and my support of a community organised statement here.

Spread the Warmth - support mums fleeing domestic violence

Mother’s Day is around the corner and my office is once again partnering with Micah Projects to be a drop off location for their annual Spread the Warmth campaign.

They are currently seeking donations of brand new, unwrapped robes which will be distributed to isolated mums living in crisis accommodation and domestic violence refuges this Mother's Day. You can drop donations into my office anytime up until Friday 2 May.

Two Souls Co - a conversation around early pregnancy loss (abridged version of this article)

After experiencing three pregnancy losses and witnessing the lack of resources available, Morningside resident Ms Isaac founded Two Souls Co. to support other women navigating the same heartbreak.

Recognising the need for a compassionate approach, Two Souls Co. developed the Soul Collection Kit—a resource designed for women experiencing early pregnancy loss through natural or medication-assisted management.

Two Souls Co. is not just about providing kits—it is about giving women a choice. The initiative empowers them to honour their loss in a meaningful way, whether through burial, cremation, or pathology testing.

You can purchase a kit or learn more about their services on their website.

Community Announcements

• The Immunisation Coalition is holding their annual Free Flu Vaccination Day in Brisbane on 29 April.  The free vaccine is available to people aged between 18 and 64, and no Medicare card is required. Book here.
• Council has initiated a waste bin changeover project to replace general waste bins with old lids (dark green or dark grey) with the standard red lids. Old bin lids will be melted down and used to create new bins. If you have an old bin lid, just put your bin out as usual and it will be changed. There is no cost to residents.
• The Community Support Category of the Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Grants is now open for applications and will close midnight on 12 May 2025. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for projects such as maintaining/improving community facilities or providing operational equipment among. More information available here.
• The skate park in Davies Park, West End will be closed for upgrades from 24/3/25 to 2/5/25 (weather permitting). This project is being delivered out of my Suburban Enhancement Fund.
• Council is in the process of replacing the old non-certified ring bolts on Kangaroo Point Cliffs with new ring bolts. Works should be completed by mid-May. Some footpath closures may be involved.
• Broken to Brilliant is a peer support organisation where domestic violence survivors mentor fellow survivors to recover, heal and rebuild their lives. They organise events, workshops, and social gatherings across South East Queensland.
• The Tour de Brisbane cycling event on Sunday 13 April 2025 will require a number of short term road closures across Brisbane including the Go Between Bridge between 5am and 9:30am.

Tree Removals

• 24 Walton St, Dutton Park - Council has approved the private removal of a Buckinghamia celcissima (Ivory Curl Flower). A driveway crossover will be built, with no replacement tree.
• 25 Ferry St, Kangaroo Point - Council has approved for a developer to remove a Xanthostemon chrysanthus (Golden Penda). A driveway crossover will be built and three replacement street trees are expected to be planted after the development is complete.
• Orleigh Park Dog Park - A well established Cordia Dichotoma tree had a large limb fail during Ex-Cyclone Alfred. The tree is now structurally compromised and poses a safety risk so must be removed. A replacement will be planted.