Child adaption rates declined in Australia over the last decade
Adoption rates in Queensland have decreased over decades and only 34 children have found home over the past year.
According to the data released by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, while the adoption rate has declined over all, known-child adoption increased over the past decade from 124 in 2010 to 249 in 2019, which accounts to 75% of all finalised adoptions in Australia.
Emergency alert is issued around Sapphire amid a torrential rain
People living in the central Queensland township of Sapphire have been told to evacuate after severe storms hit the area early this morning causing a torrential downpour in the town’s creek catchment.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued an emergency alert before 5 am warning that Retreat Creek was rising rapidly and major flooding was expected.
Emergency Services said a person has been rescued from the top of their car, however believe no injuries have been reported.
People aged 70 are able to book COVID-19 vaccine
Coronavirus vaccines are now available to all Australians aged 70, in the phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Appointments will be available starting next monday, with Roughly 1,000 GP clinics able to start vaccinations.
Vaccination bookings can be made online through the vaccine eligibility checker on the health.gov.au website
Protesters in Myanmar set barricades on fire
Group of protesters demonstrating against military rule in Myanmar have thrown petrol bombs on a bridge in the city of Yangon, setting barricades on fire.
Local media has reported Myanmar's security forces killed at least 20 people taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations on Monday, and the number added up to the total of 183 people who lost their lives during the protest.
As the tension rises, a court postponed the hearing of the elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi because of the internet outage.
Dust storm covered Beijing
A massive dust storm has descended on Beijing with meteorologists declaring it the worst in ten years.
The sandstorm is caused by strong winds blowing in from the Gobi Desert and increasing deforestation in Northern China which previously acted as a barrier.
The official air quality index in Beijing reached 500 on Monday. This is 10 times the air quality range which is considered healthy.
QUT expert recommends a woman-only police station
Queensland University of Technology’s professor Kerry Carrington believes a woman-only police station, adopted from Argentina, could help lower levels of domestic abuse.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll says she would need more evidence before a trial would be considered in the state, because of the different demographics.
Department paid $13 million over recommended value for water buyback
The Australian government is being criticized for paying almost thirteen million dollars over recommended value to secure water from two Queensland farms in 2017.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources made an eighty million dollar closed tender deal made by then water minister Barnaby Joyce.
The Government bought the water from businesses owned by Eastern Australian Irrigation, which has its headquarters in the Cayman Islands.
Cairns tourism operators will receive the extended financial support
The Palaszczuk government has announced it will extend financial support for tourism businesses in Cairns.
Tourism operators have not had to pay fees to berth at Cairns Marlin Marina since February last year and are currently receiving rebates of 50% on ticket prices.
Member for Cairns, Michael Healy, says international travel is unlikely to resume “in any significant capacity” until 2022 and tourism operators had been depending on international visitors until the COVID pandemic.
About 4,000 years old tool is found in SA
A rare bone tool has been discovered in an archeological excavation on Ngarrindjeri Country in South Australia.
It is unclear what the tool was specifically used for, however, researchers believe its point was used to puncture softer materials.
The tool, estimated to be between 3,800 to almost 5,000 years old is considered rare because a tool made of bone has not been found in the area since the 1970’s.
Australia stand by the AstraZeneca vaccines amid the EU countries suspension
Australia's medicines regulator is insisting there's "no evidence" the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is the cause of blood clots.
Several leading European nations, including Germany and France have suspended the use of the vaccine due to reports of blood clots in people following vaccinations.
The European Medicines Agency says the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks.