Matt Dennien
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mattdennien.bsky.social
Matt Dennien
@mattdennien.bsky.social
1.3K followers 560 following 740 posts
State political reporter at Brisbane Times・Qld media president of MEAA・Ex-4ZZZ・On Yuggera Ugarapul country・Secure msg: Signal (@mattdennien.15) & mattdennien@proton.me・mattdennien.com
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mattdennien.bsky.social
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli this morning on that election vow for a yearly ambulance ramping target

More in the blog: www.brisbanetimes.co...
October 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
From Julius Dennis today on govt board changes: Dr Aysin Dedekorkut-Howes, who served just a year of her Qld Reconstruction Authority board term, is worried about its lack of expertise after she & renowned disaster risk reduction expert Dr Robert Glasser were cut. More here www.brisbanetimes.co...
October 28, 2025 at 6:25 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
Qld's $20m royal-commission style inquiry into the CFMEU has, without fanfare, launched its website and public submissions – almost two-months into its slated 12-month probe

Still no date for an opening hearing, but these will be public "wherever possible". More in the blog: www.brisbanetimes.co...
September 23, 2025 at 11:11 PM
mattdennien.bsky.social
missed the last couple days of parli bc of sickness, but the most significant moves (banning pill testing without public scrutiny, despite pleas from key groups & the parents of a young man who lost his life) came after 8pm last night anyway...

more in BT's daily blog here: www.brisbanetimes.co...
September 19, 2025 at 3:47 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
Finalists for the 30th year of the Qld Clarion Awards are now live! As usual, there’s much great work from some amazing colleagues

Which makes being on the list myself, for something a tad different & kinda returning to my journalism roots (best metropolitan news photo), that much more of an honour
September 16, 2025 at 9:54 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
and the view of it from Nick McKenzie amid new reporting of allegations against a major construction contractor and calls for an “apolitical” federal probe to look at organised and financial crime across the building sector www.brisbanetimes.co...
September 7, 2025 at 9:54 PM
mattdennien.bsky.social
a reminder that these comments from Crisafulli were, ah, one week ago
August 31, 2025 at 12:20 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
Breaking: Social services sector say Qld’s Youth Justice Department has agreed to consult and review contract clauses, first reported by BT, which community leaders had warned would gag frontline organisations from speaking to media under risk of funding loss. Groups met w dept this afternoon.
August 29, 2025 at 5:46 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
A statement now this afternoon from reporter Josh Bavas and Nine's executive director of news and current affairs.
August 28, 2025 at 6:20 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
one of the biggest recent protest turnouts in Brisbane by my count marching for Palestine with others across the country today, incl a strong @withmeaa contingent w the message:

stop the killings. stop killing journalists
August 24, 2025 at 3:24 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
Tim Nicholls popped up in Longreach today for his first presser since the CHO recruitment story emerged. But the Health Minister only echoed Saturday's comments from the Premier and did not answer key questions about the matter.
August 20, 2025 at 5:11 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
Catherine Strohfeldt is on the ground for BT as striking state school teachers prepare to march on parliament – follow along in the blog here www.brisbanetimes.co...
August 6, 2025 at 1:29 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
two snippets from estimates today: Labor questioning political links of Justice DG, who later confirmed State Development DG John Sosso was the only public sector chief name recommended for the relevant Qld Redistribution Commission position.

that & more in the BT blog: www.brisbanetimes.co...
August 5, 2025 at 3:53 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
From the Deputy Premier today:
• Borrowed Trump slogans (“build, baby, build”)
• Terms of reference (incl some v broad scope) for the CFMEU Commission of Inquiry
www.brisbanetimes.co...
July 30, 2025 at 10:34 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
Have neglected to post today, but we learned a bit via state parliament (in estimates and otherwise). Here’s two snippets from the blog:

1 - www.brisbanetimes.co...
2 - www.brisbanetimes.co...
July 30, 2025 at 10:05 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
pt of Crisafulli's response under line of estimates Qs by Michael Berkman re any discussion about a ban on new gender-affirming care for kids in a meeting w Health dept DG (w power to make direction) one week before announcement: was "a decision taken by cabinet".
July 29, 2025 at 2:12 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
The Qld govt's new crime victim dataset has landed today after David Crisafulli's big election pledge to reduce the total number or resign

The fine print? Victims of “other theft”, ft stealing frm homes, businesses, vehicles & other places (the largest chunk of youth offending) isn't there
July 29, 2025 at 12:25 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
some reaction today to the internal QPS watchhouse review which detailed exactly what you might imagine it would. more here from Cloe Read www.brisbanetimes.co...
July 11, 2025 at 3:19 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
back on deck at Brisbane Times this week after an extended period of time off with this little one as my sole priority. doesn't feel like hyperbole to describe them as the best months of my life (and something any parent who wants to should be able to access imo)
July 8, 2025 at 10:30 PM
mattdennien.bsky.social
two telling paragraphs about an action from the Queensland LNP government *before* today’s snap restrictions on hormone therapy for new young patients

and a quote from AusPATH’s Eloise Brook: “Hormone treatments for the small number of young people who need them are essential health care”
Brisbane times article screenshot which reads: The evaluation of the Queensland Children’s Gender Service heard patients and their families “reported the care is extremely comprehensive, considered, safe, and evidence-based,” and staff did not coerce or rush decisions. The incoming Queensland LNP government put a stop to work implementing the recommendations from the evaluation – which had highlighted “long waitlists and demands from consumers to access the service” – and the further expansion of the service.
January 28, 2025 at 7:09 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
best one yet 🥹🥰
close up picture of a baby’s hand on a tattooed arm
December 25, 2024 at 5:17 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
in the first full financial year of operation, Queensland’s bipartisan breach of bail offence for kids drove most of the increased finalised charges by courts, Childrens Court annual report tabled Friday arvo shows. and in quantity is second only to unlawful entry.
December 13, 2024 at 9:58 PM
mattdennien.bsky.social
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli asked in Townsville today about nuclear energy and Peter Dutton's announcement down in Brisbane (of which he says he had no heads up) www.brisbanetimes.co...
screenshot of a Brisbane Times blog post which reads: Crisafulli has previously said he would not support nuclear energy until there was federal bipartisanship – leaning on the line that it’s “not part of our plan” – even as his treasurer nudged the door open wider last week. Asked if he had spoken to Dutton about nuclear power since the election, and if there was any merit to the costing details released today, Crisafulli said his focus was driving down power prices and that “Canberra will have a debate on energy”. Then asked to confirm if he had spoken to Dutton about nuclear energy leading up to today’s announcement, Crisafulli said: “no”. On whether his position would change if Dutton were to win the federal election due within months? “My position hasn’t changed. It remains consistent … I’ll let you have the debate, and Canberra can have the debate, but my commitment is to doing what I said I was going to do for the people of Queensland,” he said.
December 13, 2024 at 3:31 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
Police Minister Dan Purdie today on the overdue Police Integrity Unit recommended by the 2022 Richards inquiry (and supported in principle by the then LNP opposition) www.brisbanetimes.co...
screenshot of a Brisbane Times blog post which reads: Asked at a media conference this morning whether the government still planned to progress with the unit, the minister Dan Purdie said it was “another conversation we’re having with the [police] commissioner”. Purdie noted the more than 70 recommendations from the inquiry, along with others relating to domestic violence from coronial inquests, and that “a lot of those are being progressed”. “I know that police are working tirelessly to consider all of those and implement the ones that are required.”
December 13, 2024 at 2:19 AM
mattdennien.bsky.social
Queensland Labor amendments to kick more than a dozen elements of the LNP's controversial youth justice bill back to a committee until early 2025 for "full & proper examination", reflecting stakeholder concerns, blocked by LNP & KAP after dinner last night

The Attorney-General's response:
screenshot of a Brisbane Times blog post which reads: Attorney-General Deb Frecklington accused Labor of simply trying to delay the laws and “laughing about victims … about the people of Queensland who want to be safe in their homes over Christmas”. “All they want to do with this amendment is say to the people of Queensland, ‘Be afraid over Christmas. Be afraid on Boxing Day.’” Debate resumes today, with the bill set to pass by 5.30pm on Thursday with what Frecklington described as “technical amendments”, yet to be detailed, she would introduce to “strengthen and clarify the bill”.
December 10, 2024 at 10:17 PM