BrisCon faces new test

BRISCONNECTIONS has withdrawn a fifth statutory demand for unpaid instalment fees, as lawyers for a man with a $1 million debt question whether their client owes the company any money at all.

BrisConnections in first-time payout

BRISCONNECTIONS unit holders will today finally get their first distribution payment - of .05 per stapled unit - 10 months after the company halted the payments to "preserve its capital".

BrisConnections wind-up bid fails

BRISCONNECTIONS unit holder Jim Byrnes has failed to have the company wound up in his attempt to block payment of the second instalment on its stapled units.

BrisCon after Bolton for $1.3m

INTERNET entrepreneur Nicholas Bolton is being pursed for $1.3million by BrisConnections which he owes for failing to pay the second instalment on the tollroad operator's partly-paid shares.

Industry Grows Around 'things We Don't Need'

MORE Australians are putting their possessions - or those they want to hide from spouses - in storage units, as the downsizing trend continues.

The Great Escape

GEORGE PALATHINGAL hangs out with brisbane's rising alt-rock stars at the MTV Snow Jam festival in New zealand.

Hospital Site Row Rages

A FIERY meeting between medical professionals and Queensland's Health Minister over plans to merge Brisbane's two children's hospitals has failed to agree on a location for the proposed $1.1 billion "centre for excellence".

Cash-tight City Pacific Again Delays Dividend

CITY PACIFIC has for the third time delayed the payment of its interim dividend to shareholders, fuelling fears the debt-laden Brisbane finance and property concern is running desperately low on cash.

Star Joins Fight To Stop Sale

ACTOR Geoffrey Rush has joined the fight to save historic Brisbane building Yungaba from becoming part of a gated community for millionaires.

Surging Rents Put State Top Of Nation

MELBOURNE has topped the nation for the steepest rise in rents for houses and units over the past year. It underlines the city's rental crisis, placing further pressure on governments to increase the supply. And the situation could get worse. About 1500 people a week are expected to move to Melbourne, with experts predicting the population will hit 6.2 million by 2020 - a decade earlier than forecast a few years ago.

Rio Tinto's Tower Mines Blue Skies

Rio Tinto has signed an agreement with DB RREEF property group to be a major tenant for its flagship CBD Brisbane offices to be built at 123 Albert Street.

Murray Will Be Cows' Question Mark To Jt's Exclamation Points

WHO'S NEW: Five-eighth Travis Burns (Manly), centre Ben Harris (Bradford Bulls), halfback Anthony Watts (Sharks), prop Dayne Weston (Cronulla), second row Daniel Backo (Mackay) winger John Williams (Roosters) and winger Anthony Perkins (Brisbane Norths).

A Swan Dive Into Reform

TWO of the Rudd Government's hardest working ministers are obviously going to be the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, and the Health Minister, Nicola Roxon. No issue is going to be more demanding than getting better delivery of front-line services in health, education, transport, water and infrastructure from our federal system of government. Yesterday's meeting in Brisbane between the ministers and their state and territory counterparts is but the start.

It's One On One On Southside

FOR property investors it's the most sought after precinct in Brisbane.

Wildfire Raging In The East

BRISBANE'S east is leading the surge in the city's frantic property market, with unprecedented demand resulting in record prices.

Home Units As Well As Casinos

First you set them up in a swanky apartment and then you take all their money at the tables.

Gold Standard

There's more to Queensland's apartment market than units at Surfers.

Kiwi Recruit To Bolster Hawks' Back Division

THEY remain light on forwards, but the Wollongong Hawks believe they will boast one of the NBL's deepest backcourt units in the 2007-08 season.

Townhouse, Unit Prices Booming

THE Brisbane unit and townhouse market is experiencing a "mini boom" with prices in some areas rising by more than $100,000 in less than 12 months.

S-e Queensland Back On The Boom

LEIGHTON Holdings' move this week to take a 40 per cent interest in the Brisbane home builder, Devine Ltd, comes at a time when the experts are predicting good times for Queensland.