Fears of human trafficking as record number of asylum seekers arrive by plane
New statistics revealed by the Federal Opposition, show that more than 95,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Australia by plane over the past five years, triggering fears over exploitation and slavery.
Labor's home affairs spokeswoman, Kristina Keneally accused the Government of mismanaging the borders, and said that people smugglers have shifted their business model from boats to planes.
Queensland outback receives record number of tourists
Tourist spending in the Queensland outback has surpassed record levels, as the region welcomed over a million visitors from interstate and overseas for the first time.
State Tourism Minister Kate Jones hailed the announcement, attributing it to the Queensland Government’s marketing campaign
Breakthrough in cervical cancer treatment, lead researcher credits student
Queensland researchers are hailing a world-first breakthrough in for cervical cancer treatment, having killed off tumours in mice using CRISPR gene-editing technology.
Scientists say all the treated mice had a 100 per cent survival rate with help from the technology, which changes the sequence of DNA to help correct gene mutations.
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Foreign Minister "will not intervene" to save Australians trapped in Syria.
The withdrawal of US troops from northeast Syria has caused panic and confusion among the 66 Australian women and children who are stuck in refugee camps in the region.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds confirmed that the Australian government is in no rush to bring them back, telling reporters on Tuesday that they “will not be endangering the lives of other Australians.”
White House says no cooperation with Democratic impeachment inquiry
The White House has slammed the door in a letter on Tuesday on any cooperation by President Donald Trump's administration with the Democrats' impeachment probe, calling it "constitutionally invalid."
The eight page letter to Democratic leaders, rejected the entire process underway in the House of Representatives, which is examining whether Trump abused his office by seeking a corruption probe in Ukraine of 2020 election rival Joe Biden.
Cyber-security speeches cancelled after suspected Government intevention
A whistleblower and an academic have said pressure from the Australian government’s top cyber security agency led to their speeches being cancelled at a conference in Melbourne.
Former NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake, and Melbourne University academic Dr Suelette Dreyfus were both due to speak at the Australian Cyber Conference in Melbourne this week, but were told by officials that their speeches had been cancelled.
Government defends Newstart payments
The Morrison government has defended Newstart allowance as affordable and well targeted, as it faces criticism sparked by research showing it is one of the lowest unemployment benefit schemes in the developed world.
Analysis provided by the Australia Institute said Newstart was also the third-lowest unemployment benefit in the OECD for a newly unemployed minimum wage worker.
One home destroyed, as fire crews extinguish Laidley blaze
A home in Laidley, west of Brisbane has been destroyed by flames due to the hot and windy weather in Lockyer Valley, which reached 41 degrees on Tuesday as westerly winds fuelled the bushfire.
The fire flared shortly before 3:00pm on Tuesday, with authorities quickly issuing an emergency warning for residents to seek shelter.
Cashless welfare trialists feel "humiliated" by scheme
A cashless welfare card trial that restricts people’s spending on gambling and alcohol has made the Bundaberg-Hervey Bay community in Queensland feel humiliated, according to residents on the scheme
There are 6000 people on the card trial in the area and 80% of their spending is scrutinized in the scheme.
Despite the inconvenience to residents, the president of the Burrum District Community Centre, Fay Whiffen, says the scheme has proved useful in helping people control their budgets.