Gold Coast's rental market becoming competitive on low vacancy rates
The Gold Coast’s rental market has become increasingly competitive with less than one per cent rental vacancy rates.
This is due to low housing supply and increased interstate migration as border restrictions have lifted. As more homeowners rent their homes over purchasing them, tenants can be asked to leave with no reason and no consequence to the homeowner.
Tenants Queensland CEO Penny Carr says we need to change laws to protect tenants from being unreasonably evicted in an unstable COVID environment.
Queensland Premier meets with key ministers to review Youth justice
The premier has called for a youth justice review after a number of recent incidents involving young people driving stolen cars.
Police say the targeted group are repeat offenders between the ages of 12 and 17.
This follows an incident last week where a minor crashed a stolen car in Brisbane, killing two people in the process.
Ms Palaszczuk will meet with youth justice minister Leanne Linard and police minister Mark Ryan over the matter this week.
Zedlines February 2 8am
Zedlines with Tom and Abbey
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Brisbane biotech firm receives $500 million from US military
A Brisbane biotech firm received from the United States military to increase COVID-NINETEEN home testing kit production this morning.
Ellume received five hundred million dollars for tests, which will be available for purchase in the US, but not in Australia as current Australian law prevents the sale of home COVID tests.
Senior white house advisor Andy Slavitt says Ellume will aim to send three million tests to the US by the end of March.
UQ discovers new research for alzheimers and dementia
A Queensland university has discovered a new potential cause of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
The University of Queensland’s brain institute has found a process known as ‘seeding’ where tangled neurons allow a toxic protein to leak into healthy brain cells.
Dr Juan Polanco says the findings will help scientists understand how non- inherited forms of alzheimers and dementia occur.
Queensland's first all-female executive horse racing club
Maxwelton, a town in north-west Queensland is now the state’s first horse racing club with an all female executive board.
Tammy Bailey who is the newly elected president of the club says the move was not done deliberately, only after being elected they realised they were all women.
Locals in Maxwelton have been racing horses since the 20th century and a Racing Queensland spokesperson says there is no record of another all-female executive in its history.
Australian political party donor sources largely unknown
Australian Electoral Commission data shows that 1 billion dollars worth of donations to political parties has come from unknown sources in the 2 decades since 1999.
The weak donation laws in Australia allow political parties to hide the origins of the dark money, which is about 35% of contributors.
This analysis also finds that 5 donors have contributed 25% of money given to political parties since 1999.
UN emergency meeting called in response to Myanmar raids
The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting this morning in response to the military coup in Myanmar.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says it is important that the international community speaks with one voice on the issue.
Key members of Myanmar’s democratically elected government were arrested yesterday as the military seized control of the country and declared a one year state of emergency.
Brisbane council finalises new transport corridor
The Brisbane City Council is finalising a ten million dollar business case to build a transport corridor in north west Brisbane.
The road, stretching from Everton Park to Carseldine, will alleviate pressure on the congested route servicing North West Brisbane, Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast.
The move follows a report saying that congestion in the area will cost Brisbane’s economy eight hundred and fifty nine million dollars by 2041.
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4ZZZ reported by Kathleen Housego, Chun Ting Yip (Justin), and Bronte Nelson.
Image credit: AGRI LABOUR AUS.