The cost of private health insurance is on the rise, and researchers at the Grattan Institute say “greedy” doctors, unnecessary care and inefficient private hospitals are to blame. 

“Private health insurance will continue its death spiral unless excessive private health costs and specialist bills are reined in,” said a report released today.

Researcher Stephen Duckett said premiums could be reduced by 2 billion dollars per year if doctors focus on treating patients, rather than keeping them longer than necessary.

Over the past week, on the Pacific island of Samoa, measles-related deaths (mostly among children) have more than tripled to 20 people. The government has announced eight days after the outbreak entered a state of emergency.

The island nation is only 200,000, located south of the equator, between Hawaii and New Zealand, and a measles epidemic was announced in late October after the first death.

Spain's far-right Vaux Party on Monday's refusal to sign a party-wide declaration condemning violence against women has sparked outrage among civil rights groups and embarrassed allies of the Conservative Party.

Vox's refusal to sign a statement from the Madrid City Council means that for the first time since a landmark gender violence law in 2004, local authorities in the Spanish capital were unable to issue a joint statement.

The state government is fast-tracking $50 million in school air-conditioning funding to provide 300 schools across southern Queensland a cooler learning environment.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says “For our students and teachers, the classroom is where they spend most of their day… We want all Queensland students to learn in a comfortable and cool environment.”

The premier adds that “By fast-tracking this funding, work that had been planned in future years can begin now, providing a valuable boost to our economy.”

The Mackay Conservation Group has presented a 1300 signature petition to Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert, asking for the government not to fund the Adani coal mine with public money as Saturday’s royalty agreement deadline approaches.

The Queensland Government made an election promise not to use public money for the mine, but they are currently negotiating a royalty holiday allowing Adani to defer government payments for up to 10 years.

This would provide them with hundreds of millions of dollars to fund the Carmichael mine.

Severe thunderstorms hit the New South Wales coast yesterday afternoon, delaying dozens of flights at the Sydney Airport. 

Severe lightning strikes and strong winds also meant around 37 flights were cancelled across the domestic terminal yesterday, and four international flights were delayed until this morning. 

More storms are expected this afternoon, and passengers travelling today are being warned to expect delays. 

The Australian Greens party are calling for separate glass bins in the state of Victoria, after finding more than 40 per cent of glass used by people of the state ends up in landfill due to contamination. 

Victorian Greens environment spokeswoman Ellen Sandell has spoken out, saying offering a separate bin would help reduce contamination and allow for recycling. 

“New Zealand has separate glass-only bins for people’s homes, and it’s led to a huge increase in glass being recycled,” said Ms Sandell.

$1 million is being put into a feasibility study for a water pipeline that would link Wivenhoe Dam with Warwick’s Leslie Dam as severe drought continues in South-East Queensland.

The 87km pipeline would top up the drinking water supply for people in and around Warwick, at a cost of up to $90 million.

Seqwater will lead the study and report back to the government with a preferred option around April next year.