Flooding class action waiting on court decision
Queensland flood victims are waiting on the Supreme Court Justice to make a decision on their almost nine-year class action against Seqwater and the Queensland Government.
The class action alleges that the Wivenhoe and Somerset dams were mismanaged before and during the 2011 floods to a degree that worsened the damage caused by the flood.
Scout group gets funding for conservation management plan
The Kurilpa Scout Group in Yeronga has just received $5,000 from the Queensland Government to create a conservation management plan for the community hall they host their meetings in.
The Baden Powell Memorial Hall is located in the Yeronga Memorial Park, one of Brisbane’s oldest parks and a state heritage landscape since 2005.
The conservation management plan involves creating a planning and expenditure guide to lessen delays and study all undertakings when proposing changes to the heritage site.
Documents reveal abuse against children with disabilities in Aus schools
A disability advocate group has uncovered serious complaints about the abuse and mistreatment of children with a disability by teaching staff, after filing Freedom of Information requests in every Australian state.
Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) CEO Mary Sayers described the instances documented as “terrible”.
“There was a case where a child had their hair pulled, and was dragged across a classroom, and was told that they were a ‘stupid boy,’” she said.
Authorities fear African swine fever outbreak in Aus
A 60-year-old Vietnamese man has been deported from Australia after failing to declare almost four kilograms of pork products he carried with him to Sydney International Airport, sparking concerns of an African swine fever outbreak.
The disease has the power to wipe out pig herds across the world, and is expected to kill more than 200 million pigs this year in China alone.
China provides more access to Taiwanese companies
China announced a series of measures on Monday to further open up Taiwanese autonomous enterprises, including self-financing, to the market, because Taiwan warned its people not to take "temptation" actions before the presidential election in January.
Since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, China has claimed that Taiwan is a Taiwanese democracy and has put pressure on strategically located islands because she fears that she wants to promote its formal independence. This is Beijing's red line.
Vietnam arrest eight more people in relationship with Bristish Truck deaths
Official media said on Monday that Vietnamese police arrested eight people suspected of being linked to 39 deceased in a truck near London last month, all of whom were considered Vietnamese, bringing the total number of arrests in Vietnam to 10.
British police last week charged two men with manslaughter over the deaths of the group. Their bodies were found in a container of a truck on October 23.
8AM Zedlines
Kate and Jess present Tuesday's 8AM Zedlines
Image: The Sydney Morning Herald
Melbourne Cup protests ensue in WA
Animal rights activists are expected to join together today on Western Australia’s Ascot Racecourse in protest of the Melbourne Cup.
Event organiser James Sparrow said protestors want to stand up against the horse racing industry.
He said, “We want to gather together to show our disgust at this event and just demand the industry be thoroughly investigated… eventually we want this industry to be abolished that’s been corrupt and cruel.”
Protests began at the Melbourne Cup parade in Melbourne CBD yesterday.
Gastro outbreak at Tangalooma
More than 50 people have fallen ill with gastroenteritis at Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island, and investigators say the resort’s contaminated drinking water is to blame.
Metro South Health public health physician Dr Kari Jarvinen said people who have recently visited the resort should stay alert for symptoms and seek medical advice if necessary.
Dr Jarvinen said, “Gastro caused by bacteria can give you nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea … and fever.”
41 immigrants were found by Greek police on Monday
Officials said the Greek police found 41 immigrants on Monday, most of them Afghans, hiding in refrigerated trucks on highways in northern Greece.
The discovery was 10 days after the discovery of 39 bodies believed to be all Vietnamese immigrants behind a refrigerated truck near London. The deceased were charged two in the UK and eight in Vietnam.
Greek police officials said that the refrigeration system on the trucks that found immigrants in northern Greece did not open, and although some immigrants demanded medical assistance, there was no injured immigrant.