Brisbane Businesses investigated for black economy activities
The Australian Taxation Office will be visiting 400 inner-north Brisbane businesses following a number of tip-offs from the community about engaging in black economy activities.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Holt said, “It’s been a few decades since wool was traded here but we’re aware that some dishonest businesses are still in the business of fleecing money from the community.”
Logan residents warned of drone noises
Logan residents have been warned of a new drone service ‘Wing’ that is set to launch this week.
The company was forced to delay its Queensland launch after the Civil Aviation Safety Authority grounded drones in the south-east as the state dealt with bushfires this month.
Bonython Against Drones convener Nev Sheather warned Logan residents to be prepared for the drones’ high-pitched noise, the possibility of privacy breaches and a loss of local land-based delivery jobs.
8AM ZEDLINES WITH ZORA AND MADI
Zora and Madi present your 8am Zedlines.
[Image: Alex Ellinghausen]
Transcript reveals Trump-Ukraine smear plan
The Trump administration has released the transcript of a phone call which reveals the US President asked the Ukrainian President to investigate former vice-president Joe Biden.
The release of the transcript follows House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that the Democrats would proceed with an official impeachment inquiry.
Many Democrats have accused Mr Trump of soliciting Ukraine’s help to smear Mr Biden before the 2020 election, which they believe is an impeachable offence.
Mr Trump says the inquiry would be a ‘favour’.
Multibillion-dollar airport opens in Beijing
The multibillion-dollar Daxing International Airport has opened in Beijing in the lead up to China’s National Day on October 1st.
The airport spent around 450bn yuan in the last five years and was formally opened by Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday.
The airport is said to be the world’s largest single-building airport terminal and is expected to be able to handle 72 million passengers a year by 2025.
NSW decriminalises abortion
The NSW upper house passed a bill to decriminalise abortion overnight.
This debate lasted around 40 hours, which is the third-longest debate in the NSW upper house, and resulted in 26 votes to 14 in support of the bill.
Independent MP Alex Greenwich presented the bill to parliament in August.
“With the passage of this bill abortion will be decriminalised in NSW – I am sorry that has taken us so long,” Mr Greenwich said.
The bill also allows late-term abortion up to 22 weeks if two doctors agree.
Morrison attacks critics in UN speech
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has attacked critics of his government’s climate change policies in his address to the UN overnight.
Mr Morrison claimed internal and global critics were willing to ignore the work Australia has done to curb emissions.
Mr Morrison says the media is to blame for spreading false and misinformation and giving critics a prejudiced view.
"Australia is doing our bit on climate change and we reject any suggestion to the contrary,” Mr Morrison said.
Westside shoppers top Queensland recycling
Westside shoppers have collectively diverted more than nine tonnes of soft plastic last year from landfill through recycling at Coles supermarkets.
Customers of Coles Kenmore are the top recyclers in the state after diverting more than 2,500 kilograms of plastics bags, wrappings, and packets.
Coles chief property and export officer Thinus Keeve is proud of the community’s efforts.
“Customers should be commended for remembering to bring their soft plastics back to the store,” Mr Keeve said.
Tradies bare all for prostate cancer
A group of Brisbane tradies aged from 26 to 72 are baring almost all for a calendar to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
Group member Darren Patrick says the cause is personal for many of the men.
“Prostate cancer has affected a number of families both within our office and the tradies as well, so this is a cause close to our hearts,” Mr Patrick said.
All proceeds from the calendar will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Review: Queensland Theatre's Fangirls at Brisbane Festival 2019
Brilliantly written and executed, a must see!