Federal Government proposing to cover cost of stillbirth autopsies

The Federal Government is seeking advice on covering the cost of stillbirth autopsies in an attempt to prevent further deaths

 

Australia’s stillbirth rate has not dropped in two decades and the government is discussing the possibility of adding stillbirth autopsies as a new Medicare item, providing $4,000 per autopsy.

 

The funding could provide an answer for up to 50 per cent of cases involving stillbirth or congenital abnormalities leading to death. 

Blacktown City Council workers on strike

More than 500 workers at Blacktown City Council in Sydney have stopped work and have begun to strike after union officials claimed they were told that if they refused to use weedkiller they would be forced out of their jobs.

More than 10,000 bins were left uncollected yesterday and workers are meeting this morning to decide whether to continue the strike. 

Logan councillors lose appeal to delay civil case

Eight former Logan councillors have lost their appeal to delay a civil case while they face criminal charges over their alleged plot to sack their chief executive.

 

Former CEO Sharon Kelsey is suing the group after she was let go in February last year and the councillors are also facing criminal charges over the same allegations.

 

Combustible cladding banned from Queensland buildings

Potentially deadly combustible cladding will be banned from all new Queensland buildings.

 

The combustible cladding ban includes all aluminium composite panels with a polyethylene core of more than 30 per cent and will restrict usage across all buildings in Queensland.

 

The ban will protect Queenslanders but Housing Minister Mick de Brenni is calling on the federal government to protect all Australians by introducing an importation ban on all aluminium composite panels with a PE core.

Air Strike hits detention centre in Lybian captial of Tripoli

An air strike has hit a detention centre for migrants in the Lybian capital,Tripoli, killing at least 40 people and wounding 80 others.

The centre which held migrants mainly from African countries was located next to a military camp.

A Libyian National Army official denied his force had hit the detention centre, and said militias allied to Tripoli had shelled it after a precision airstrike by the LNA on  the camp.

Malaysian Government vents their concerns about Australia's immigration policies

According to the Malaysian Government, Australia's immigration policies have contributed to a rise of Malaysians rorting in  the local visa system.

Deputy Foreign Minister, Marzuki Yahya, said that Malaysians are encouraged to manipulate Australia’s visa system because they only receive ‘light punishment’ and are even given free flights home when they overstay their visa. 

Mr Yahya said Malaysians are visiting Australia on tourist visas and then getting protection visas as an excuse to stay longer in Australia before being flown home for free. 

Australian climber Ruth McCance body has been found

Australian woman, Ruth McCance, has been formally identified as one of the  8 victims who has died while climbing India’s second tallest mountain, the Nanda Devi.

The 8 climbers,  four from Britain, two from the United States and one each from India and Australia went missing on the 31st of May, after they failed to return to base. 

Vijay Kumar Jogdande, an Indian district official explained,  seven dead bodies were brought from base camp to the Pithoragarh district.

 

Why is an Adelaide hospital is using hotel rooms instead of hospital beds?

One of Adelaide’s public hospitals,Modbury Hospital, is using hotel rooms instead of hospital beds for some of its patients to reduce overcrowding and to provide better care for Amputees.

Clinical Manager, Felicity Jenkinson said there was an urgent need for creative ways to offer solutions to patients and hotel room was one option.

Under the new arrangements, patients are housed in a nearby hotel’s wheelchair-accessible room with more cooking facilities than a regular hotel room.

Union representatives agree to a deal for Queensland teachers

Union representatives have agreed on a three-year pay and allowance deal for  Queensland teachers.

On Wednesday morning, the Queensland Teachers' Union endorsed the state government's wages offer for 46,000 teachers.

The deal offers a 2.5 per cent wage increase and includes a one off $1250 sign-on bonus, and a $1000 incentive for teachers beginning their career in regional Queensland.