India surpasses 5 million cases of coronavirus.

India has now officially recorded more than 5 million coronavirus cases, with the country's health ministry reporting over 90,000 cases in a 24 hour period.

India’s total number of cases is predicted to surpass the United States total of 6.6million in a matter of weeks, with health experts warning of a possible spike in fatalities.

The ministry has also confirmed that 0.35 percent of India’s nearly 1.4billion is or has been infected with the virus. 

New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro survives no-confidence motion.

New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro has survived a no-confidence motion filed against him in parliament yesterday following a clash with the labor party.

In response to questioning from opposition leader Jodi McKay, Mr Barilaro promised to continue his hard work for the people of New South Wales, but did not guarantee he would keep the coalition intact.

The Labor party’s vote of no confidence against Mr Barilaro was voted down in parliament 48 to 40, and he has described the labor parties move as a political stunt. 

JobKeeper cuts predicted to cost the economy billions.

Cuts to JobKeeper wage subsidies are predicted to cost the Australian economy up to 9.9billion in losses by Christmas time.

The McKell institute released a report predicting the massive loss after the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned against budget cuts in a time where economies are fragile.

Labor party shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers says that ongoing support will be required from the government in order to position Australia for economic recovery. 

Queensland government considers HECS discounts for students who take regional fruit picking jobs.

The Queensland government is considering offering HECS debt repayment discounts to students who take jobs picking fruit in regional areas.

The plan has been proposed to make up for a shortage of backpackers due to travel restrictions, and may mean that students on welfare could keep JobKeeper payments while earning a wage.

The number of backpackers in Australia on working holiday VISAs has almost halved in the wake of coronavirus, and Richard Shannon from GowCom says they need to be replaced by Queenslanders. 

Queensland government lifts ban on residential evictions.

From the 30th of September the Queensland Government will lift bans on the eviction of residential tenants who have had their income affected by COVID-19. 

Advocacy group Tenants Queensland have called on the government to offer tenant protections until at least the end of the year, but Queensland housing minister Mick de Brenni said it is the right time to end the ban.

Mr de Brenni says that the reason the government is confident in lifting the bans is because of Queensland’s strong health response to the virus, and says the state economy is primed for recovery.

Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands is on fire

 

Brazil’s Pantanal, the world's largest wetlands, is on fire and threatens thousands of the most biodiverse species including jaguars, anteaters, and caimans.

 

NASA satellites show the fire is quadruple the size of the largest fires in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest which threatens 36 species on the verge of extinction.

 

This is unusual for the Pantanal, the world's largest floodplain is meant to fill with water during the rainy season from November to April.

 

Rising sea levels causing coastal villages to relocate

 

Whilst the Pacific island nation of Fiji produces less than 1% of the globe's carbon emissions, the impact of climate change is urgently felt by the nation.

 

 

Vunidogola locals relocated 2km inland in 2017, one local expressed the dire situation stating " The sea levels are rising  …we were born here, we were raised here, all of the crops were destroyed".

 

Since then, there have been over 80 coastal communities in Fiji forced to relocate.

 

Federal Government draft legislation to share personal data

The Federal Government has drafted a bill to allow more data sharing, the Data Availability and Transparency Bill would allow government bodies to collect more personal data.

 

Digital rights advocacy group Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) is worried there is no way for the public to argue the decision to share data across the public sector.

 

Parks Australia under fire after alleged construction on sacred site

 

The Northern Territory Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority is alleging Parks Australia of illegal walkway construction on a sacred site near Gunlom Falls in Kakadu National Park.

 

 

The AAPA has filed charges under the Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act (1998) as the track is situated close to a ceremonial area which is restricted according to the local Indigenous traditions.

 

If found guilty, Parks Australia could face a maximum penalty of up to  $314,000.