Disability Royal Commission faces confidentiality issues
After one year of hearings at The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disabilities, lack of privacy, protection and remuneration are stopping people from sharing their stories. It has been found most people giving evidence to the commission are experts and carers, and not people living with disabilities. Witnesses are currently able to request confidentiality for the duration of the inquiry, but this does not extend to after the commission hands down its report in April 2022.
Labor claims victory in ACT election
The Labor party has claimed victory in the ACT state election, expected to form a minority government with the Greens party. The Labor party has won 10 seats, with two still undecided. This is the ACT Labor party’s sixth consecutive term, having governed the territory for the past 19 years.
COVID restrictions ease further
Queensland’s COVID-19 restrictions have eased over the weekend, announced by Deputy Premier Steven Miles late Friday afternoon. People can now gather in groups of 40 in homes, can dance at school formals and weddings, and aged care residents are permitted to go on excursions. The Deputy Premier said they would wait until the end of the month before making any decisions on easing border restrictions.
Early voting opens across Queensland
Early voting has open across the state this morning, in anticipation of the upcoming state election on October 31. The Queensland Electoral Commission predicts around 2 million Queenslanders will cast their votes early due to coronavirus safety fears. From today until October 30, there will be 200 early polling booths open across the state.
Live music venues in the time of a pandemic
With many venues having to shut their doors due to Coronavirus, ongoing government support is needed now more than ever.
4ZZZ reporter Samantha Caldwell spoke with Dave Sleswick, Creative Director of Brisbane's loved live music venue The Tivoli, about the impact of COVID and government support for the arts.
A Coldy During COVID
In recent months, Coronavirus restrictions saw many craft breweries pouring their kegs down the drain due to the closure of brewing venues and beer-drinking festivals.
4ZZZ reporter Samantha Caldwell spoke with Jon Foochs, head brewer of Sea Legs Brewing about the realities of running a craft brewing business during these trying times.
12PM Zedlines - October 16
By 4ZZZ reporters Grace Nakamura and Lily-Rose Davies.
Twelve-year-old Canadian boy discovers rare dinosaur fossils
A 12-year-old Canadian boy Nathan Hrushkin discovered fossils which scientists say belonged to the hadrosaur, also known as the ‘duck-billed dinosaur’.
Nathan has been commended for his handling of the discovery which led to a conservation team uncovering 30-50 more bones in the same canyon.
Scientists believe the discovery could help fill in knowledge on how dinosaurs evolved 69 million years ago.
YouTube joins social media crackdown on QAnon
YouTube has joined Twitter and Facebook in banning material from QAnon, a baseless conspiracy theory that has gained traction on social media.
YouTube says it has already removed tens of thousands of conspiracy theory videos that could potentially incite real world violence.
Twitter announced its crackdown on QAnon in July and Facebook followed suit last week.
Kevin Rudd's petition for a Royal Commission into News Corp gains traction
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s petition for a royal commission into Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has gained over 200 000 signatures within a week.
Mr Rudd called News Corp a ‘cancer on democracy’ and cited concerns of its power to shift public opinion for its own agenda.
News Corp currently owns almost 70 per cent of print readership in Australia.