Joyce to be boon for North
QUEENSLAND senator Matt Canavan said he was confident Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce would “take like a duck to water” after it was announced he would act as Minister for Resources and Northern Australia.
Senator Canavan resigned from Cabinet last month after it was revealed he had a dual citizenship with Italy.
The Senate yesterday referred Senator Canavan to the High Court to establish whether he could keep his job but the process could take months.
Senator Canavan said yesterday that he was confident the North would be looked after.
“Barnaby ( Joyce) is right on the agenda of building things,” he said.
“He will take like a duck to water to building more things across the North. “It’s what he’s about.” Senator Canavan said being a Deputy Prime Minister, he had a “few more strings” he could pull.
“It’s not a bad pick for the North,” he said. A HAY shed has gone up in flames, destroying bales and a tractor in an intense fire off Herveys Range Rd.
The fire erupted about 2.30pm yesterday, quickly engulfing the shed and was well alight by the time firefighters arrived.
Thick black smoke from the blaze could be seen from as far away as the city.
Investigations are continuing into how the blaze started. A FORMER Townsville man was allegedly murdered in the toilets of a Gold Coast hospital emergency department after a row over waiting lists.
John Francis Imber, 53, who had been homeless, died after sustaining head injuries following an incident in the Gold Coast University Hospital ED toilets about 8am last Friday.
Police yesterday charged Woodridge man Paul John Conoley, 38, with Mr Imber’s murder.
It will be alleged Mr Imber and another patient had an argument after one of them tried to “jump the queue” at the busy ED.
Mr Imber, who suffered from seizures, had been discharged but was sleeping in the waiting room.
Police claim two security guards found a man standing over Mr Imber in the toilets in a pool of blood. It is understood medical staff noted that Mr Imber’s injuries were possibly caused by a seizure and a fall.
But on Sunday a police officer became aware an assault had allegedly occurred and an investigation was launched by senior detectives.
Police declined to comment last night because the matter was before the court.
Sources close to the investigation said Mr Conoley was attending the hospital as a patient for a non- life threatening medical condition and discharged later on Friday.
The lawyer for Mr Conoley, Jon Ide, yesterday appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court over the murder charge.
Mr Conoley was not required to be present for the brief mention.
His matter was adjourned until August 31 for mention.
Outside court, Mr Ide said Mr Conoley intended to plead not guilty to the charge.
Mr Imber is believed to have previously worked at The Kenmore Tavern in Brisbane.
He lived on the Gold Coast after leaving Townsville about 18 months ago.
His social media profile shows he was homeless and in trouble with the law for several years before his death.
In several social media posts Mr Imber speaks of seeking help from the Salvation Army.
A spokesman for The Salvation Army in Townsville confirmed the man was known to them.
In other Facebook posts, Mr Imber discusses rehab, alcoholism, court appearances and God.
Mr Imber had a criminal history littered with offences throughout Queensland including being charged with possession of a knife and public nuisance.
In January, he was sentenced to nine months probation in the Southport Magistrates Court after being charged with going armed to cause fear.