An auditor-general’s report in Queensland has revealed that rape investigators are being hampered by a lack of qualified forensic staff.

According to the report rape victims are being left for hours in hospital waiting rooms wearing the same clothes that they were assaulted in. 

Di Macleod from the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence backed the auditor general’s suggestion that the insufficient staff could have contributed to rape cases being dropped.

Queensland drivers who use their mobile phone behind the wheel may soon be hit with a hefty on the spot fine.

The Queensland government’s planned crackdown on distracted drivers would introduce a $1000 penalty, more than double the current $400 fine.

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the measures are necessary to deal with the epidemic of distracted driving and is confident it will deter dangerous behaviour.

The fate of coral reefs under climate change could improve if management efforts take evolution and adaptation into account, according to an international study.
 

The University of Queensland’s Professor Peter Mumby contributed to the pioneering Coral Reef Alliance study which aimed to find ways to save the world’s reefs.

According to Professor Mumby, the study has revealed that by making smart decisions now, conservation managers can generate the conditions that can help corals adapt to rising temperatures.

Personal data from mobile phones, apps and GPS devices could be gathered by the Victorian Government as part of a bid to monitor travel times and track demand and punctuality of the state’s public network.

The information would be used to track where people are travelling to and from, including mode of travel, purpose and time as well as measure delays across all modes of transport.

Turkish police used tear gas to break up a banned Pride march in Istanbul which was calling for rights for gay and transgender people.

Istanbul pride organisers said they would continue to fight to get sexual orientation and gender identity recognised in Turkish laws.

Amnesty International say authorities rejected all the suggested locations for the pride rally deeming the LGBT+ community as socially objectionable.

Co-founder of Wikipedia online encyclopaedia Dr Larry Sanger has called for people to go on a 48-hour social media strike.

Dr Sanger urges people to stop using social media for up to 48 hours later this week in an effort to force networks into restoring control of personal data users.

The strike is in the hopes that it will prompt changes at the large social media networks, which will then grant people more control over their data

The University of Queensland academic board has voted to endorse the Ramsay centre’s proposed new major Western Civilisation in twenty-twenty. 

The major now only needs to pass the University’s peak governing body, the UQ Senate.

UQ Union President Georgia Millroy says the result was a disappointment, stating she hoped the university would have considered the views of the 500 students who came to the student general meeting and voted against the Ramsay centre’s presence on campus. 

Prime minister Scott Morrison supports South East Queensland in hosting the 2032 Olympic games.

The Prime Minister has made his support very clear after committing to the Olympic games bid financially.

Hosting the games is feasible as sporting infrastructure still exists from last years Gold Coast Commonwealth games, the push is being made by a group of South East Queensland mayors.