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Matt Dennien

Matt Dennien

Matt Dennien is a reporter at Brisbane Times covering state politics and the public service. He has previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15

Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Debbie Platz APM in her Brisbane office during her first month in the role.

Watchdog’s silence on controversial government bill sparks alarm

New human rights boss Debbie Platz declined to publicly weigh in on the LNP’s proposed drug crackdown and new police power expansion.

  • Matt Dennien

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A reverse vending machine where clean containers are sorted and vouchers are issued.

The one recommendation Queensland won’t adopt after 10¢ container refund inquiry

A damning inquiry last year outlined bullying claims and failures “baked into” the scheme, and put forward fixes. The government has now revealed its plans.

  • Matt Dennien
Queensland parliament in full flight during a February 2025 sitting.

Queensland politics LIVE updates: Crisafulli to use national cabinet to call for consistent federal fuel information

Follow our live politics blog for the latest in Queensland parliament.

  • Matt Dennien
Premier David Crisafulli.

Queensland politics as it happened: Parliament on Wednesday, March 25

State-care abuse and oil refineries were among the day’s major topics in Queensland parliament.

  • Matt Dennien
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli says the state has “threaded the needle” on climate and energy issues.

Queensland politics: Parliament resumes, with WorkCover review coming, teachers underpaid

Follow our live politics blog for the latest.

  • Matt Dennien
The staffer’s workload increased, on average, 65 per cent.

‘Morale’s terrible’: When does a vacancy management plan become a hiring freeze?

This week in our Queensland public sector column, Public Circus takes a look at staff morale at Transport and Main Roads as well as Government House up in Paddington.

  • James Hall, Matt Dennien and Julius Dennis
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Don Johnson, who held roles at CPB until early this year – including as executive general manager from 2018, along with chief operating officer from 2022 – appeared before the inquiry on Thursday.

State role ‘swayed the negotiating balance’ in Cross River Rail talks

Former CPB executive Don Johnson also told a Queensland inquiry the contractor “had to” hire CFMEU safety reps to end the union’s 2023 project lockdown.

  • Matt Dennien
Cross River Rail site on Roma Street, Brisbane.

CFMEU inquiry as it happened: Probe unearths details from key firm behind Cross River Rail

Welcome back for another day of our live coverage of the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU and Misconduct in the Construction Industry.

  • Matt Dennien
Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton gave during his day-and-a-half in the Queensland CFMEU inquiry witness box this week.

How the CFMEU tried to, and did, influence Qld’s biggest rail project

Cross River Rail boss Graeme Newton has told a state inquiry of the union’s extensive pressure campaign, including the early sidelining of a key internal critic.

  • Matt Dennien
The Cross River Rail project under construction.

CFMEU inquiry news updates: Spotlight turns to Cross River Rail, with bosses on stand

The commission of inquiry resumes this week at the Brisbane Magistrates Court and is set to turn its sights to the Cross River Rail project. Follow live.

  • Matt Dennien