LNP Chandler councillor Ryan Murphy has been criticised for spending more than $3000 of ratepayers’ money on a new drone. 

During question time on Tuesday, opposition leader Peter Cumming asked lord mayor Adrian Schrinner whether it is appropriate for councillor Murphy to spend ratepayers’ money on equipment that would be used for his own self-promotion. 

The Western Australian parliament will debate legislation allowing terminally ill people in severe pain and with less than six months to live to seek voluntary assisted dying. 

WA Health Minister Roger Cook says the proposed bill has 102 safeguards in place, and Labor MPs will be given a conscience vote following a debate on the issue scheduled for later this year. 

The Turkish Government has destroyed over 300,000 books in an attempt to remove anything linked to Fethullah Gulen, the US-based Muslim cleric accused by Turkey of instigating a failed military coup in 2016. 

Turkey’s education minister, Ziya Selçuk, says the books were subject to investigation because they were published by companies that were closed by the government following the attempted coup, with books removed from local offices, schools and libraries. 

Indian-administered Kashmir remains locked down a day after it was stripped of a status that gave it significant autonomy from the rest of India, including its own constitution, flag and the freedom to make laws. 

Telephone networks and the internet, which were cut off on Sunday evening, are yet to be restored and tens of thousands of troops are patrolling the streets amid concerns the decision to revoke autonomy could trigger large-scale protests in the region. .

Mining businessman Clive Palmer yesterday settled a large chunk of the $200 million lawsuit over the collapse of Queensland Nickel.

The deal announced in the Brisbane Supreme Court is understood to be around $110 million, including a $66 million repayment of the taxpayer funds used for workers entitlements when the Townsville refinery collapsed in 2016.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will stand down if the Crime and Corruption Commission decides to launch a formal investigation into the controversial purchase of a Woollongabba house.

Ms Trad has been under fire over the purchase of a property near a proposed Cross River Rail station development, a project for which she had ministerial responsibility, and failing to declare it on her register of members interests within the required time frame.

A formal review in the actions of a senior South Australian Police officer has launched after the officer offered a gift card as a prize for whichever officer handed out the most fines and cautions during a road safety blitz.

Police revealed the incident occurred ahead of a road safety blitz traffic campaign that runs from Monday until Friday.

The incentive offered was a gift card purchased by the manager from their own funds, such practice is not South Australlian Police policy and is not permitted.

A government proposal to tighten the character test will make it easier to deport up to tens of thousands of migrants who have been living in Australia long term.

Under the planned changes, visa-holders who have committed a crime that carries a maximum sentence of at least two years, such as common assault, will automatically fail the character test, even if they are not sentenced to jail.