An Australian council of trade unions report found workers withdrew over 36 billion dollars from their super in response to COVID-19 last year. Around 3.5 million workers relied on their superannuation savings during the pandemic, with many sectors including aviation, childcare and university workers excluded from JobKeeper support. Over 700,000 workers were forced to empty their superannuation accounts, with 80 per cent being below the age of 35.

Gold Coast beaches are back open this week following a spate of recent drowning deaths. Lifeguards closed beaches from Burley to the Gold Coast Seaway over the weekend due to dangerous conditions that have now claimed three lives in two weeks. The red and yellow flags might be up, but lifeguards are still urging beach-goers to exercise caution as the strong and unpredictable currents persist. 

Brisbane LNP Councillor James Mackay has come under fire for putting stickers with his name and council logo on footpaths near a Taringa school. Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy says the LNP was hijacking the footpaths with advertising. Following this statement, Councillor Mackay was seen removing his name from the stickers on the footpaths.

A refugee is being held at Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation and being refused medical attention and appropriate accommodation. Amin Afravi has endured many traumas and permanent injuries over the last 8 years as a refugee detained by the Australian Government. Despite his pleas Amin hasn’t had a shower in 3 months and requires urgent medical treatment. 

An investigation has found nearly half of Luxembourg’s registered corporations are shell companies used for tax avoidance and a range of financial crimes.

The fifty five thousand companies have a combined value of over ten trillion dollars, yet have no offices or paid employees.

The investigation implicates criminal organisations such as Italy’s Ndrangheta mafia, and throws into question the effectiveness of Luxembourg’s new financial fair play laws.

Three people have been injured and one left dead after a car crash yesterday afternoon in North Queensland.

The driver  from Mareeba was airlifted to hospital where she remains in serious condition, while a male passenger in his twenties died at the scene.

Two other male passengers were transported to hospital with minor injuries.

Demand for domestic courses has nearly doubled across Australian universities due to a lack of international students.

Central Queensland University’s HELP fee loans have jumped from an estimated 10.5 million to 20.5 million for this year.

Factors for this surge in demand are mostly to COVID restrictions, with students returning home due to the recession and international students not allowed in the country.

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan says he will ‘cross the aisle’ if the government legislates its plans to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

Canavan is the latest Nationals member to criticise the plans following Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack’s calls yesterday to make the agriculture industry exempt from the mid-century target.

The Liberal National coalition has been under both domestic and international pressure to step up their efforts in the fight against climate change.

Congestion levels on Brisbane roads are worse than pre-COVID as people are hesitant to use public transport.

RACQ reports that so far in February 2021 Brisbane roads are seeing ninety percent more congestion than the last 2 years.

Experts hope public transport drivers will be first to receive a COVID vaccine to ensure the public's safety and instill confidence