Insurance providers have hit back in the dispute over the responsibility for a string of major building defects around Australia. 

The Insurance Council of Australia, a body responsible for construction policy, has said that the blame must be shifted to governments and the building and construction sector as reforms are urgently needed to ensure the quality of construction.

The council ensures the sector that a solution to the impending issue that would unify the industry would be found at a meeting on Tuesday

Heart disease remains Australia’s primary cause of death with dementia continuing to edge higher into second place, despite a drop in the rate of overall deaths. 

Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, released today, show death rates have decreased by over 70% since 1907, however rates increase according to how remote a person’s location is, with premature and potentially avoidable deaths higher in the country than the city. 

South-East Asian nations such as Thailand have been a popular alternative for Western Nations to send their plastic and e-waste to following China’s tough new import restrictions on this type of waste.

This rapid shift in global markets has had significant environmental effects on communities who now deal with issues like exposure to toxic chemicals and gases as well as physical waste contaminating their communities.

Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen has been approved by the European parliament to become the first female European Commission president. 

The former German Defence Minister secured the backing of socialist and liberal lawmakers, as well as fellow conservatives in the parliament, receiving 383 votes in favour to 327 against. 

Ms von der Leyen’s plans include making Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world by 2050, launching a Green Deal for Europe within her first 100 days in office and the introduction of a Carbon Border Tax.

The number of koalas hospitalised at the RSPCA’s Brisbane headquarters has almost doubled in a year to a record 690. 

Many of the koalas killed were hit by cars or attacked by dogs in a small area dubbed the ‘triangle of death” from the Eastern Brisbane suburb of Cannon Hill.

The threatened species are cornered in islands of bushlands surrounded by urban developments causing their run-ins with cars and dogs.   

According to the latest Deloitte Access Economics report, Queensland’s economy is in the middle of a slump which has been exacerbated by recent natural disasters. 

The state government has already announced $1.3 billion of economic damages caused by the summer of draughts and floods, however the Deloitte report estimates the figure is closer to $6 billion.

On Sunday the Queensland government outlined the first round of projects funded through its $38 million Queensland Disaster Resilience Fund.

Australia’s health system depends on the federal government’s approach to private health insurance after findings in a recent according to a Grattan Institute report.

An “unhappy mix” of partially public and partially privatised healthcare in Australia has led to a system “riddled with inconsistencies and perverse incentives” according to a report released on Tuesday.

Data showed all age groups over 65 were increasing their insurance while the remaining Australians were reducing their coverage.

Australia’s defence department contracted the company Lock N Climb, a US firm blacklisted for corruption and bribery, providing them with tens of thousands of dollars of work.
 

The four Democratic congresswomen attacked by US President Donald Trump in ‘racist’ tweets have collectively retaliated in a press conference, vowing they will ‘not be silenced’ and accusing the President of promoting a ‘white nationalist agenda’.

It comes after President Trump defended the tweets, saying he was not concerned if people thought they were racist and accusing the politicians of hating America.