Council to spend $20M each year on green spaces and bushland

In local news, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has announced that Brisbane City Council will spend up to $20 million each year from its “future fund” to buy bushland and create new parks.

The council’s City of Brisbane Investment Corporation began with $135 million in assets in 2008 and has now expanded to $273 million in a decade which provided $20 million in dividends to the council.

Labour promises Pat Rafter Arena upgrade

The Labour government is promising a $17 million dollar upgrade to Tennyson’s Pat Rafter Tennis Arena if it is elected.

An expansion to seat 7,500 people is planned, as shadow infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese says the tennis centre will struggle to grow due to the limitations of the facilities in place.

He noted events at the tennis centre inject $26 million into Queensland’s economy each year, highlighting the value of sports tourism.

Female mine workers surveyed about hygiene product use

Looking across the nation, female workers at central Queensland mine sites have been surveyed about their use of feminine hygiene products, being asked if they had used products including absorbent underpants, menstrual cups and a urination device known as a “she-wee”

Employer Anglo American says the survey is part of an audit of female equipment and facilities, but the miners’ union claims it was a move by the company to reduce toilet breaks.

School shooting near Columbine leaves 8 injured

In international news, a school shooting at a school near Columbine High School in Colorado has left eight students injured after being shot at and two schoolmates are in custody, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Tony Spurlock says the two suspects were students at a STEM school in Highlands Ranch, a charter school near Denver, and they got deep inside the school and engaged students in two separate locations.

Reuters journalist free after 500 days in Myanmar custody

Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar have been freed after over 500 days in custody.

The journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe OO, were jailed after being convicted of breaking the Official Secrets Act and sentenced to seven years in jail, which raised questions about Myanmar’s progress toward democracy, sparking an outcry from diplomats and human rights advocates.

Reuters’ editor-in-chief Stephen J Adler, released a statement saying the reporters have become symbols of the importance of press freedom around the world.

Bill Shorten slams The Daily Telegraph for "new low" story slandering his late mother

Bill Shorten has accused The Daily Telegraph of a “new low” for an article the newspaper has written about his mother.

Mr Shorten appeared on Q&A on Monday and spoke of his mother, Dr Ann Shorten, as his inspiration.

The publication accuses the Labor leader of omitting parts of his mother’s career while talking about the sacrifices she made to raise her children.

Mr Shorten wrote on twitter, “The Daily Telegraph has decided to use my mum’s life as a political attack on me, and on her memory”.

 

New sports facility plans for Windsor suburb

The Brisbane City Council has plans to buy and demolish four houses that are beside already council-owned land in the north Brisbane suburb of Windsor in order to build a new sports facility.

The properties are located in a flood-prone area close to Breakfast Creek and will be purchased using dividends from the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation which will lead to the acquisition of a total of 16,000-square-metres of land.

Mooloolaba fisherman missing in Sunshine Coast waters

A Mooloolaba fisherman has gone missing in calm waters off Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, and although an extensive search for the man continues, Police say there is a slim chance of finding him alive.

Luke Howard, who is 35, was fishing from a jet ski off Mudjimba with a friend when it began taking on water so he got into the water to try and fix it but was unable to climb back on.

His friend tried to tow him back to shore while clinging to the back of his jet ski when he disappeared.

Labour, LNP preference anti-vaxxer ahead of each other

Labour and LNP candidates have both placed independent Ray Karam, an anti-vaccination campaigner, above the other major party in their preferences sheet in the seat of Richmond.

The Greens also placed the LNP below Karam in their preferences.

The seat has one of the worst immunisation rates for children under five in the country.