Hospital workers to walk off the job

Thousands of hospital workers across Queensland will walk off the job for at least two hours today as part of an ongoing wages dispute with the State Government.

Admin and clinical staff from at least ten major facilities including the Royal Brisbane and Womens' Hospitals and Princess Alexandra and Prince Charles will take part in the stoppage.

Queensland Public Sector Union spokesman Alex Scott says they have been forced into taking the drastic step.

"We are a minute from midnight in terms of a significant crisis because the Government is refusing to listen," he said.

Mr Scott says emergency cases will still be seen and some staff will remain at work.

The Premier Anna Bligh has warned public servants will be taken to the Industrial Commission if the strike is too disruptive.

"I don't expect we'll see any significant disruptions to services," Ms Bligh said.

The stoppage is due to begin at 11:30am AEST with workers to attend rallies around the state.

Robinson good behaviour bond and fine

Mr Robinson..."I will be appealing that this matter if necessary will go all the way to the High Court of Australia."

A jury has found former ATSIC commissioner Ray Robinson guilty of using his position for an improper purpose.

The charges relate to the sale of vehicles belonging to Aboriginal organisations in the Charleville area three years ago.

The prosecution alleged Robinson had used part of the proceeds from the sale to pay for his defence on another legal matter.

The verdict was handed down in the Toowoomba District Court last night after the jury deliberated for several hours.

Robinson was released on a good behaviour bond and ordered to repay $45,000 to the Commonwealth.

Mr Robinson says he was convicted on circumstantial evidence and will fight the decision in a higher court.

"I will be appealing that this matter if necessary will go all the way to the High Court of Australia, I will be appealing," he said.

"Indigenous people haven't got a good record with juries in Toowoomba; I am devastated that this was shifted from Charleville to Toowoomba."

He believes the judge gave him a lighter sentence because he was not entirely convinced of his guilt.

"I can give you a guarantee now that I will be appealing against this case and I will be appealing immediately," he said.

"I am innocent of these charges and I will appeal, and this jury has convicted me on circumstantial evidence."

Related:

Call for new indigenous body
Former ATSIC Commissioner Klynton Wanganeen says he will raise the idea of a new national body to represent indigenous communities at the 2020 Summit.

Man fined for killing kitten

A man has been fined more than $3,000 for killing a kitten in Toowoomba earlier this year.

The 27-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court this morning on charges of animal cruelty.

The court heard that the man kicked the kitten during a domestic dispute, killing the animal.

The magistrate did not record a conviction against the man.