Domestic violence should not solely rely on GPS trackers

The Queensland Palaszczuk Government has found that the issue of domestic violence should not solely rely on GPS trackers.

Trackers send out life alerts when the offender is approaching the victim and authorities. 

However, reports have found that their efficiency is limited because only a quarter of breaches are detected.

Brisbane vacant carparks turned to shelters for the homeless

Non-profit organization, Beddown, has introduced a trial where vacant carparks are turned into pop-up accommodation for homeless people in the Brisbane 

The initiative was started by Norman McGillivray, who has been previously impacted by homelessness, noticed this potential to help more homeless people.

Services provided include toilets, takeaways and dental services, 15 homeless people are sleeping in the carpark every night.

Typhoon death toll increases in Japan

The death toll caused by typhoon Hagibis in Japan has increased to 66 as rescue work continues.

More than 200 people were injured from the heavy storm, which made landfall on Saturday night, causing landslides and burst river banks.

Close to 14,000 households are still running out of water while approximately 24,000 homes are lacking electricity.

 

Female workers report harassment in Bangladesh

Female factory workers have reported receiving verbal and physical abuse while working at activewear company Lululemon in Bangladesh.

Complainants have reported feeling humiliated at work with sexual slurs allegedly directed at them by their managers.

In response, Lululemon has conducted in-house audits, however, these have been criticised by Human Rights Watch, which says that these women are not safe enough to disclose their abuse in a  mixed-gender environment.

 

Australian released from Bulgarian prison

The Bulgarian government has released Australian Jock Palfreeman, who was convicted of murder in 2009, from an immigration detention centre more than three weeks after the court granted him parole.

Palfreeman is not allowed to leave the country, but his release has still sparked political controversy in Bulgaria and abroad.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne has said she is pleased that Palfreeman has been released from detention, but has expressed her concern that he is being denied the right to return back to Australia. 

Girl survives fall off Uluru summit

A 12 year-old South Australian girl has fallen at least 20 metres down a descent on the Uluru Summit, after losing her footing on the lower section of the climb.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service, who were initially very concerned about the potential injuries given the nature of the accident, transported the girl to Alice Springs Hospital, where she is in a stable condition.

Off-leash dogs allowed on Brisbane beaches in year-long trial

Three of Brisbane’s foreshores are now open for dogs to run off-leash, after a year-long trial began on the weekend.

The three foreshore areas at Sandgate, Nudgee Beach and Manly will be open for the trial, after research conducted by the University of Queensland identified these areas as having low value for shorebird habitat.

Researchers will monitor the three sites throughout the year to observe any potential impacts on migratory birds.

 

Brisbane factory worker has severed hand reattached after surgery

A Queensland man has become the focus of widespread medical attention after his severed hand was successfully reattached by surgeons two months ago.

Brisbane factory worker Lawrence Cooper was operating a meat slicer when his hand was cut off below the thumb in August.

Surgeons say the extraordinary operation wouldn’t have been possible without the quick-thinking actions of a fellow worker, who immediately plunged the hand into a bucket of ice and applied a tourniquet to his arm.