Giant Rabbit Art Installation Invades Brisbane

Artist Amanda Parer's Intrude installation featuring giant luminous rabbits that are two metres to seven metres tall is currently being showcased on Brisbane's riverfront at Eagle Street Pier.

The exhibition aims to put the spotlight on management of the pests in Australia and consequence our actions have on our environment.  

The free installation will be open from March 13-29 every day from noon to 9pm.

Australian Family Trapped in Wuhan China Has Centrelink Payments Cut

A Sydney family trapped in Wuhan amid the Coronavirus lockdown has had their Centrelink payments cut.

The family has been stuck in China for over two months now and say they are struggling to afford basic necessities like food after Centrelink cut off their welfare payments.

The payments were discontinued under the claim that the family has been outside the country for too long.

200mm of Rainfall in North Queensland ahead of expected cyclone

Towns in far north Queensland's have received more than 200 millimetres of rain in less than a day.

The strong winds and rainfall are expected to develop into a category 2 cyclone over the weekend and will continue on a path moving away from Queensland's coast.

Floodwater has already affected the Bruce Highway at a number of points throughout Mackay, Bowen and Townsville.

 

Global Financial Markets Continue to Tumble

The global financial markets have yet again tumbled after being spooked by intensified measures put in place by governments around the world scrambling to contain the spread of the Coronavirus.

Major European stock markets have fallen, with Italian stocks bearing the brunt of the shocks with the FTSE (Footsy) MIB nose diving by 17%, in the greatest loss in a single day ever.

Wall Street was also not spared, with stocks dropping by 10% causing a 15-minute suspension of trading making it the biggest drop since the 1987 Stock Market crash.

Brazilian Communications secretary Fabio Wajngarten tested positive for COVID-19

Fabio Wajngarten, Communications secretary and aid to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested for COVID-19, after travelling with the Brazilian President and other officials to a meeting with U.S President Donald Trump at his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday.

Wajngarten’s diagnosis was confirmed by Brazilian officials on Thursday upon his return to Brazil, causing concern as he was photographed in very close proximity to both Mr. Bolsonaro and Mr. Trump.  

Formula One Update: Officially Cancelled

The Formula One Grand Prix event has now been confirmed cancelled. 

Fans outside the gates at Albert Park were notified via social media before ground crew confirmed the news. 

The ground crew had earlier been using megaphones to inform the crowd that the event would go ahead without spectators and would have a delayed start. 

The cancellation comes after a team member of McLaren racing tested positive to coronavirus, prompting the team to withdraw from the race.

GP Clinic in Launceston Possible Coronavirus Victims During Business Hours

A GP clinic in Launceston, Tasmania, has refused to see any patients presenting typical cold symptoms during business hours, due to the rising coronavirus fears.  

Practice manager Kat Martyn said this decision aims to minimise the risk to staff and patients, particularly vulnerable members of the community.

The practice plans to implement a dedicated clinic for patients with symptoms showing symptoms that could be linked to the virus such as a fever, cough or sore throat.

Queensland Former Chief Scientist Facing Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to Fraud

Queensland's former chief scientist is possibly facing jail time for defrauding the government of about $75,000.

Suzanne Miller pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday to committing fraud during her time employed by the Queensland Museum between February 2014 and July 2017.

She was first charged in 2017, by the Crime and Corruption Commission with fraud valued about $45,000 relating to a false claim for private health insurance.

Palaszczuk Government Aims to Eradicate Single Use Plastic

Plastic straws, cutlery and plates may become a thing of the past in Queensland due to a planned ban of single use plastics by the Palaszczuk government.

The government is currently committed to speaking with businesses, industries and sectors that will be most affected by the ban such as the disability and aged care sectors. 

The Palaszczuk government is aiming to introduce these laws at the end of the year to come into effect in 2021.