Friday, 14 May 2004
Thursday, 13 May 2004
Huge Holden recall, The Australian, 13 May, 2004.
Huge Holden recall: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 13 May 2004: 3.
Show highlighting
Abstract
It affects 115,000 V8 and V6 cars sold in Australia, 11,000 V8s exported to the Middle East and 8500 V8 and V6 vehicles shipped to New Zealand.
MORE than 135,000 Holden cars and utilities will be recalled to fix a potential problem with the power steering.
The recall, the biggest ever in Australia, involves refitting an $8 cooler hose. But it will cost Holden millions of dollars.
The embarrassing incident comes near the end of the life of the current model Commodore, Australia's best-selling passenger car for all but one month of the past five years.
The problem first came to light in tests by motoring writers.
If the problem occurs, drivers could experience a complete loss of steering assistance with no warning signs. It is caused by a cooler hose rupturing during cornering.
The recall will affect all VY Series 1 Commodores, including Calais and Crewman one-tonne and utility models, built between August 26, 2002 and September 2, 2003, and Statesman and Caprice models built between March 20, 2003 and September 2, 2003.
It affects 115,000 V8 and V6 cars sold in Australia, 11,000 V8s exported to the Middle East and 8500 V8 and V6 vehicles shipped to New Zealand.
Lawson Street, South Sydney Herald, 2004.
John Stapleton
RESIDENTS, homeowners, police, shopkeepers and the aboriginal
community of Lawson Street and the immediate surrounds have slammed
the Carr Government’s determination to place an unwanted $1.5 million
drug, alcohol and needle exchange service in a residential area to replace the
Redfern’s old “needle bus”. News, via an announcement from the Premier
Bob Carr, that the old Alleena Centre at the top of the street near Redfern
Station will become a needle exchange came as a shock to residents, who
had not been consulted on the move, and has been met with hostility from
almost everyone with a stake in the future of the area.
Half a dozen families with young children live within 50 metres of the front
door of the planned centre. One of the chief criticisms of the needle bus was
its location close to a park where children played. Organisations to come out
against the Lawson Street proposal include the Aboriginal Medical Service,
the Aboriginal Housing Company and the Police Association. Community
group REDWatch has criticised the complete lack of consultation. Residents
on the street have formed the Lawson Street Action Group and circulated a
widely supported petition calling on the NSW government to abandon the
scheme.
Sydney Lord Mayer Clover Moore said it was unfortunate “there was no
consultation about location and that key Aboriginal organisations such as
Aboriginal medical service and Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land
Council” did not feel part of the process.
But it is not just the aboriginal community that was not consulted. What is
remarkable about the blanket opposition to the proposal is that this is one of
the most leftwing precincts in Australia, where support for harm
minimization drug policies is strong.
The Carr government is already showing signs of ducking for cover on the
issue. A spokeswoman for Frank Sartor, responsible for the Redfern
Waterloo Authority, could offer no explanation as to why the street’s
residents, aboriginal health services and the police had not been consulted.
Although the issue clearly concerns child welfare a spokeswoman for the
Minister for Community Services Carmel Tebutt claimed it was not her
responsibility and refused to comment on whether placing a needle exchange
next to young children was appropriate.
In a glossy brochure distributed to households in the area the government
claimed the new community health facility would assist in responding to
needs identified in the Interim Report on the Inquiry into Issues relating to
Redfern-Waterloo and the Report on the Review of Human Services in
Redfern and Waterloo. Both reports noted the need for detoxification and
other drug and alcohol related services in the area. Neither report
recommended the creation of a facility in Lawson Street. The Interim Report
is clear in recommending that the Needle Exchange Bus be placed “away
from the residential area to a nearby industrial area.
The brochure said the service would include “treatment and care of drug
related injuries, provision of sterile injecting equipment, drug and alcohol
assessments and referrals” and specialist services would include “mental
health and sexual health services” and HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis screening.
The facility is scheduled for completion by the middle of 2005 and will cost
$1.5 million to establish and $550,000 annually. Bizarrely, the brochure also
claimed it would provide antenatal and post natal care, although there are no
examples of any centre in Australia which successfully combines a needle
exchange service with general health services for pregnant women or young
babies.
Ignoring local anger over the centre, Bob Carr said the area was a known
haven for drug dealers and users. “It will deliver a range of health services to
this disadvantaged area,” Mr Carr said. “Our goal is to clean up the area to
see that it functions better.’’
The Premier’s office, when asked by the South Sydney Herald if the Premier
personally condoned placed a needle exchange next door to where children
are living, responded that the NSW government is “committed to providing
health care services for the entire community.” When asked if the Premier
was personally aware that children were living next door to the proposed
methadone clinic and needle exchange his office sidestepped the question
and responded that the state government was proposing to establish a
“community health facility in Lawson Street that will provide primary health
care services for the entire community. This includes access to medical
services, nurses health care workers and health education workers. Needle
and syringe provision will be only one aspect of the health care services
provided.”
The Premier’s office went on to claim that in establishing the “health centre”
they were responding to needs identified in various inquiries that there was a
“high incidence of co-existing drug and alcohol and mental health issues in
key population groups”, people with mental health problems and “young
people with high unemployment levels and drug and alcohol issues”. These
issues do not exist amongst the actual residents on Lawson Street. Most of
the people who live on the street are fully employed and own their own
homes or are students renting accommodation close to Sydney University.
Local police described the plan to replace the Block’s needle van at The
Block with a needle exchange in the residential heart of Redfern as
“madness”. “Where you have a needle exchange, you get heroin addicts, and
where you get heroin addicts, you get an increase in crime,” Constable Paul
Huxtable said. “That is the simple reality of the situation. It's madness. It just
doesn't seem sensible at all and it flies in the face of the government inquiry
which said it should be built at the northern end of Redfern in an industrial
area.”
In a letter to the Premier Dr Naomi Watts, Chief Executive of Redfern’s
Aboriginal Medical Service, now housed in a spanking new centre nearby,
said no one consulted with them or any other aboriginal run organisation.
“To say that I am livid with rage would be an understatement. And let me
tell you I am not alone. There is universal anger amongst all the local
Aboriginal agencies. Once again we have a perfect example of a government
riding roughshod over agreed policy and established procedure. I sincerely
hope that you will reconsider your proposal and that your government will
honour the terms of the Aboriginal Partnership Agreement so that we can
sensibly progress the important issues in relation to drug and alcohol
problems locally.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Housing Company Mick Mundine
said: “Get rid of it. We don’t want it.” He dismissed the claims that the
centre would provide postnatal care for young mothers as nonsense: “You
can’t have children mixed up with giving out needles. It is sending the
message there are still drugs on the block. No one is going to take their
children to a needle exchange. No one wants it here. You are bringing
junkies right on to Lawson Street when we are trying to get drugs out of the
area. We have all had enough.”
Craig Ketnell, who lives literally next door to the proposed Centre with his
pregnant wife and young daughter, has formed the Lawson Street Action
Group. “This is not a harm minimisation debate, it is about the location of a
centre which will bring hundreds upon hundreds of people with serious
mental health and addiction problems on to our doorsteps,” he said. “In this
state you cannot build a brothel next door to where children are living, so
how can you build a needle exchange and methadone clinic?”
The petition he has organised to be presented to Bob Carr has received
almost universal support.
“In conjunction with the aboriginal community a lot of good has been done
in this area in minimising the drug problem since
RESIDENTS, homeowners, police, shopkeepers and the aboriginal
community of Lawson Street and the immediate surrounds have slammed
the Carr Government’s determination to place an unwanted $1.5 million
drug, alcohol and needle exchange service in a residential area to replace the
Redfern’s old “needle bus”. News, via an announcement from the Premier
Bob Carr, that the old Alleena Centre at the top of the street near Redfern
Station will become a needle exchange came as a shock to residents, who
had not been consulted on the move, and has been met with hostility from
almost everyone with a stake in the future of the area.
Half a dozen families with young children live within 50 metres of the front
door of the planned centre. One of the chief criticisms of the needle bus was
its location close to a park where children played. Organisations to come out
against the Lawson Street proposal include the Aboriginal Medical Service,
the Aboriginal Housing Company and the Police Association. Community
group REDWatch has criticised the complete lack of consultation. Residents
on the street have formed the Lawson Street Action Group and circulated a
widely supported petition calling on the NSW government to abandon the
scheme.
Sydney Lord Mayer Clover Moore said it was unfortunate “there was no
consultation about location and that key Aboriginal organisations such as
Aboriginal medical service and Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land
Council” did not feel part of the process.
But it is not just the aboriginal community that was not consulted. What is
remarkable about the blanket opposition to the proposal is that this is one of
the most leftwing precincts in Australia, where support for harm
minimization drug policies is strong.
The Carr government is already showing signs of ducking for cover on the
issue. A spokeswoman for Frank Sartor, responsible for the Redfern
Waterloo Authority, could offer no explanation as to why the street’s
residents, aboriginal health services and the police had not been consulted.
Although the issue clearly concerns child welfare a spokeswoman for the
Minister for Community Services Carmel Tebutt claimed it was not her
responsibility and refused to comment on whether placing a needle exchange
next to young children was appropriate.
In a glossy brochure distributed to households in the area the government
claimed the new community health facility would assist in responding to
needs identified in the Interim Report on the Inquiry into Issues relating to
Redfern-Waterloo and the Report on the Review of Human Services in
Redfern and Waterloo. Both reports noted the need for detoxification and
other drug and alcohol related services in the area. Neither report
recommended the creation of a facility in Lawson Street. The Interim Report
is clear in recommending that the Needle Exchange Bus be placed “away
from the residential area to a nearby industrial area.
The brochure said the service would include “treatment and care of drug
related injuries, provision of sterile injecting equipment, drug and alcohol
assessments and referrals” and specialist services would include “mental
health and sexual health services” and HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis screening.
The facility is scheduled for completion by the middle of 2005 and will cost
$1.5 million to establish and $550,000 annually. Bizarrely, the brochure also
claimed it would provide antenatal and post natal care, although there are no
examples of any centre in Australia which successfully combines a needle
exchange service with general health services for pregnant women or young
babies.
Ignoring local anger over the centre, Bob Carr said the area was a known
haven for drug dealers and users. “It will deliver a range of health services to
this disadvantaged area,” Mr Carr said. “Our goal is to clean up the area to
see that it functions better.’’
The Premier’s office, when asked by the South Sydney Herald if the Premier
personally condoned placed a needle exchange next door to where children
are living, responded that the NSW government is “committed to providing
health care services for the entire community.” When asked if the Premier
was personally aware that children were living next door to the proposed
methadone clinic and needle exchange his office sidestepped the question
and responded that the state government was proposing to establish a
“community health facility in Lawson Street that will provide primary health
care services for the entire community. This includes access to medical
services, nurses health care workers and health education workers. Needle
and syringe provision will be only one aspect of the health care services
provided.”
The Premier’s office went on to claim that in establishing the “health centre”
they were responding to needs identified in various inquiries that there was a
“high incidence of co-existing drug and alcohol and mental health issues in
key population groups”, people with mental health problems and “young
people with high unemployment levels and drug and alcohol issues”. These
issues do not exist amongst the actual residents on Lawson Street. Most of
the people who live on the street are fully employed and own their own
homes or are students renting accommodation close to Sydney University.
Local police described the plan to replace the Block’s needle van at The
Block with a needle exchange in the residential heart of Redfern as
“madness”. “Where you have a needle exchange, you get heroin addicts, and
where you get heroin addicts, you get an increase in crime,” Constable Paul
Huxtable said. “That is the simple reality of the situation. It's madness. It just
doesn't seem sensible at all and it flies in the face of the government inquiry
which said it should be built at the northern end of Redfern in an industrial
area.”
In a letter to the Premier Dr Naomi Watts, Chief Executive of Redfern’s
Aboriginal Medical Service, now housed in a spanking new centre nearby,
said no one consulted with them or any other aboriginal run organisation.
“To say that I am livid with rage would be an understatement. And let me
tell you I am not alone. There is universal anger amongst all the local
Aboriginal agencies. Once again we have a perfect example of a government
riding roughshod over agreed policy and established procedure. I sincerely
hope that you will reconsider your proposal and that your government will
honour the terms of the Aboriginal Partnership Agreement so that we can
sensibly progress the important issues in relation to drug and alcohol
problems locally.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Housing Company Mick Mundine
said: “Get rid of it. We don’t want it.” He dismissed the claims that the
centre would provide postnatal care for young mothers as nonsense: “You
can’t have children mixed up with giving out needles. It is sending the
message there are still drugs on the block. No one is going to take their
children to a needle exchange. No one wants it here. You are bringing
junkies right on to Lawson Street when we are trying to get drugs out of the
area. We have all had enough.”
Craig Ketnell, who lives literally next door to the proposed Centre with his
pregnant wife and young daughter, has formed the Lawson Street Action
Group. “This is not a harm minimisation debate, it is about the location of a
centre which will bring hundreds upon hundreds of people with serious
mental health and addiction problems on to our doorsteps,” he said. “In this
state you cannot build a brothel next door to where children are living, so
how can you build a needle exchange and methadone clinic?”
The petition he has organised to be presented to Bob Carr has received
almost universal support.
“In conjunction with the aboriginal community a lot of good has been done
in this area in minimising the drug problem since
Tuesday, 11 May 2004
24th gangland killing? The Australian, 11 May, 2004.
24th gangland killing?: [3 All-round Metro Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 11 May 2004: 3.
Show highlighting
Abstract
A MAN shot and dumped in a Melbourne street could be the 24th victim of Melbourne's underworld killings with detectives from thePurana gangland taskforce called in to investigate.
A MAN shot and dumped in a Melbourne street could be the 24th victim of Melbourne's underworld killings with detectives from thePurana gangland taskforce called in to investigate.
The 40-year-old, whose body was found on Saturday night, was killed and then dumped in Brunswick.
The man is said to have been a close associate of underworld figure Mick Gatto, 48, who was recently charged with the murder of Andrew "Benji" Veniamin, the bodyguard to alleged crime figure Carl Williams.
Gatto claims to have acted in self defence.
The latest casualty, whose name has not been released, is thought to be the 24th victim in a battle that began six years ago between factions of Melbourne's underworld.
He is reported to have been a convicted killer as well as having a close association with Melbourne's crime families.
Initial reports indicated he might have died from stab wounds, but a post-mortem examination revealed he was shot, police said.
This recent death follows that of crime patriarch Lewis Moran on March 31.
Monday, 10 May 2004
This is what a Cabcharge looked like, Nationwide News, 10 May, 2004.
Cabcharges were a a vital part of every working day, procuring them, using them, trying to store up an extra one or two for emergencies, justifying to the bosses why you needed them.
The company would have periodic crackdowns on Cabcharges, only to realise that reporters needed to be able to get to jobs one way or another, and asking them to use Sydney's antiquated public transport system wasn't in the end all that practical.
This is what they looked like:
The company would have periodic crackdowns on Cabcharges, only to realise that reporters needed to be able to get to jobs one way or another, and asking them to use Sydney's antiquated public transport system wasn't in the end all that practical.
This is what they looked like:
Saturday, 8 May 2004
Most see no hope for democratic Iraq - Voter's Choice, Weekend Australian, 8 May, 2004 Additional Reporting
Most see no hope for democratic Iraq - VOTER'S VOICE: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Bachelard, Michael. Weekend Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 08 May 2004: 29.
Show highlighting
Abstract
Take Wanda Harris, 43, a management consultant from the marginal seat of Brisbane. She was "absolutely unequivocally against thewar in Iraq", saying it was contrary to international law and the UN, and the "worst thing [the Government] could have done" in terms of winning her vote. But should Australia follow [Mark Latham]'s prescription and pull the troops out before Christmas? No. "We're now an invading country ... and we have an obligation to help them get back on their feet," she says.
Warren Trezise, from [Deakin], proffers a refreshingly honest reason to wage war: "Not from any starry-eyed dream or humanitarian point of view but to shore up the supplies of oil." But those who oppose Australia's involvement say the war was wrong, illegal and immoral. Some say Australia was dragged into a war over a George W. Bush vendetta. "I think it was Bush's own personal little revenge attack for his father," says Suzanne Hargreaves from Brisbane.
A few want UN intervention. Jason Markwick, in Parramatta in NSW, says the war was illegitimate but: "If the UN was to intervene ... then we should be a part of that." The views of some have changed with the ebb and flow of the campaign. Gillian Gordon from thenorth Queensland seat of Herbert originally opposed our involvement, then came to believe it was necessary to stamp out terrorism. But after recent developments in Iraq, including the torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners, she has again changed her mind. "That it's gone on for so long concerns me -- and that there's no clear way out." Latham's policy of quitting Iraq has split our cohort down themiddle, as it has Australia generally. Those who want the troops back say Iraq is a quagmire. Others say the absence of weapons of mass destruction makes the whole project futile.
Additional reporting for the series by Laura Costello, Nicolas Rothwell, Duncan Macfarlane, Amanda Hodge, John Stapleton, Drew Warne-Smith, Daniel Hoare, Carol Altmann, Andrew McGarry.
Australians' attitudes on Iraq are developing with the flow of events, says Michael Bachelard
IF John Howard or Mark Latham think Australian voters are swayed by slogans on the question of Australia's involvement in Iraq, they are in for a rude shock.
Take Wanda Harris, 43, a management consultant from the marginal seat of Brisbane. She was "absolutely unequivocally against thewar in Iraq", saying it was contrary to international law and the UN, and the "worst thing [the Government] could have done" in terms of winning her vote. But should Australia follow Latham's prescription and pull the troops out before Christmas? No. "We're now an invading country ... and we have an obligation to help them get back on their feet," she says.
Cheryle Irvin, from the West Australian seat of Hasluck, is also strongly anti-war. But the Opposition Leader's Christmas withdrawal policy makes her doubt his credibility. "His home policies are fantastic and he's very much in touch with the voters. But in his foreign policy he's not as skilled as Howard," she says.
But others take the opposite view -- in support of the war but keen to get the troops out by Christmas. Matt Donat, 18, from theMelbourne seat of Deakin, is voting in his first election and will most likely vote Liberal. He believes it was worth going to war in Iraq, but says the troops must be brought home. "We need them here," he says, echoing Latham's policy word for word.
This complex set of views fleshes out the raw figures from Newspoll this week, which show for the first time most Australiansbelieve it was not worth going to war in Iraq -- 50 per cent opposing the war and 40 per cent in support. But asked if the troops should be home by Christmas, the numbers were much closer -- 47 per cent for Latham and 45 per cent for Howard.
These views are reflected in the opinions of the 120 voters taking part in The Weekend Australian's series, Voters' Voice. While it cannot be considered scientific, it shows many voters are thinking deeply about these issues and resolutely making up their minds ahead of the election expected this year.
Those who support the war, such as Paul Langham, a mortgage consultant from the seat of Brisbane, do so because they think it was right to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and right to help our ally, the US, to do it.
Warren Trezise, from Deakin, proffers a refreshingly honest reason to wage war: "Not from any starry-eyed dream or humanitarian point of view but to shore up the supplies of oil." But those who oppose Australia's involvement say the war was wrong, illegal and immoral. Some say Australia was dragged into a war over a George W. Bush vendetta. "I think it was Bush's own personal little revenge attack for his father," says Suzanne Hargreaves from Brisbane.
A few want UN intervention. Jason Markwick, in Parramatta in NSW, says the war was illegitimate but: "If the UN was to intervene ... then we should be a part of that." The views of some have changed with the ebb and flow of the campaign. Gillian Gordon from thenorth Queensland seat of Herbert originally opposed our involvement, then came to believe it was necessary to stamp out terrorism. But after recent developments in Iraq, including the torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners, she has again changed her mind. "That it's gone on for so long concerns me -- and that there's no clear way out." Latham's policy of quitting Iraq has split our cohort down themiddle, as it has Australia generally. Those who want the troops back say Iraq is a quagmire. Others say the absence of weapons of mass destruction makes the whole project futile.
"They haven't discovered anything that they went there for and they have captured their man, so what more do they need to be there for?" asks Jan Norwell in the WA seat of Hasluck.
But among those who want the troops to stay, "seeing it through" is an overwhelmingly common theme.
Malcolm Hocking, in Deakin, says leaving now would create a failed state. Rocky Porcaro in the WA seat of Canning, says withdrawal would be a red rag to terrorists wanting to pressure Australia.
Thomas Sudall, 41, a student from Brisbane, says he has contempt for Latham's "provincial populism".
But even those who want to see it through doubt the ultimate goal is achievable. This is one of two questions that unites almost all those we surveyed. Democracy, says Regina Hinz, from Parramatta, is a "pipe dream"; it's a purely Western construct, "not their culture", says Kath Rose, in Brisbane, in a typical response.
Paul Langham strongly supported the war and wants the troops to stay because the job's "worth doing well". But he says democracy is unlikely because there is "nobody over there that could do the job".
The second issue that unites us is a series of views but is consistent -- and it should concern Howard. While almost all support theidea of a strong alliance with the US, almost to a person they are worried that the Man of Steel has taken us too close.
"It's too one-way. When it comes to major issues, like a war, it's: `You're in, we're in,"' says Marita Bardenhagen, from Bass.
Many, like Ross Buchanan in McEwen, test the alliance by reversing the situation: "If North Korea wants to invade us, there's not a lotthe Americans will do," he says.
Latham's attitude to the US has won wide support in our group -- and few think his relatively independent stance will damage an otherwise robust relationship.
"I would prefer Latham's tie-up with the US rather than Howard's. It's not real anti-Americanism, it's just holding back a bit," says Ray Watson, a Liberal voter in McEwen.
Additional reporting for the series by Laura Costello, Nicolas Rothwell, Duncan Macfarlane, Amanda Hodge, John Stapleton, Drew Warne-Smith, Daniel Hoare, Carol Altmann, Andrew McGarry.
Wednesday, 5 May 2004
Woman killed as train hits car on crossing, The Australian, 5 May, 2004.
Woman killed as train hits car on crossing: [2 All-round First Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian; Canberra, A.C.T. [Canberra, A.C.T] 05 May 2004: 3.
Show highlighting
Abstract
A NSW ambulance spokesman said several passengers in the front carriage received minor injuries. Countrylink spokesman Helen Willoughby said the train was a two-carriage Xplorer passenger service operating between Sydney and Moree.
ONE woman died and four people were trapped for up to two hours when a train ploughed into a car on an outback NSW rail crossing late yesterday.
The front carriage of the CountryLink train derailed as it slammed into the car on the Kamilaroi Highway at the tiny town of Baan Baa, north of Gunnedah, about 5pm. The car's driver, a 50-year- old local woman, was killed.
Rescue teams worked for two hours to free one of the passengers trapped in the derailed carriage.
A NSW ambulance spokesman said several passengers in the front carriage received minor injuries. Countrylink spokesman Helen Willoughby said the train was a two-carriage Xplorer passenger service operating between Sydney and Moree.
"The level crossing had stop signs and a crossing sign, but it's one of those crossings that did not have signals or boom gates because of the very low volume of traffic," she said.
There were believed to be 38 people on the train, 34 of whom were passengers.
Uninjured passengers were transported to their destinations by coach, while Countrylink staff at Narrabri and Moree contacted relatives of the passengers.
Tuesday, 4 May 2004
Monday, 3 May 2004
Who wants to be a Big brother millionaire? The Australian, 3 May, 2004.
Who wants to be a Big Brother millionaire?: [7 NSW First Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 03 May 2004: 5.
Show highlighting
Abstract
This year's series, once again to be hosted by Gretel Killeen, is believed to cost $26 million, features 36 cameras, 66 microphones and 24-hour web streaming.The contestants include Aphrodite, 26, a professional belly dancer; Catherine, 33, a single mother of two and Ashalea, 19, who works in a bar but wants to become a flight attendant.
AUSTRALIAN reality TV has taken the next inevitable step -- upped the financial stakes.
The fourth Big Brother series unveiled its 14 "housemates" last night and revealed -- albeit to the viewers and not the contestants - - the prizemoney would quadruple to $1 million.
The Ten Network has gone back to basics with the ratings winner after last year's more complicated -- and less popular -- version.
This year's series, once again to be hosted by Gretel Killeen, is believed to cost $26 million, features 36 cameras, 66 microphones and 24-hour web streaming.The contestants include Aphrodite, 26, a professional belly dancer; Catherine, 33, a single mother of two and Ashalea, 19, who works in a bar but wants to become a flight attendant.
The men include Kane, 20, an apprentice carpenter, Merlin, 24, a musician who grew up in an alternative community in Northern NSW and Ryan, 27, a retired AFL player.
Prior to last night's episode, the 14 contestants had been in so- called "lockdown" on the Gold Coast for four days, kept in isolation apart from a chaperone and one friend.
The contestants only got to meet each other at the doors of the Big Brother house.
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