ABC Faces Job Cuts, Content Disruption if LNP Win Election

The ABC’s new managing director has warned the national broadcaster will inevitably face job cuts and disruption to content if the LNP retain government at the upcoming election.

In his first interview since being appointed into the roll permanently, David Anderson told Radio National that he was preparing for two possible budget scenarios, one for a Coalition government and one for a Labor government.

He says they will face an $84Mn budget reduction over the next three years under the Coalition scenario.

Police in Mount Isa Accused of Racially Profiling Indigenous Youth

Police in Mount Isa have been accused of strip searching, taunting and photographing an innocent Indigenous youth.

Mount Isa Neighbourhood Centre manager Chris Connors alleged police were racially profiling Indigenous youth, claiming she has received “many” reports of police “pushing them face-down on the ground, stripping them, taunting them and only turning on body-cams when they react.”

A spokesman for the Queensland Police Service claimed allegations of inappropriate activities by police had already been fully investigated.

Russian Aircraft May Have Been Struck by Lightning

Survivors of Sunday’s Russian airline crash have claimed the aircraft was struck by lightning.

The plane burst into flames during an emergency landing at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, killing 41 of the 78 passengers on board.

The pilot claims the aircraft was struck shortly after take-off, and that the lightning cut off all radio communications, forcing an emergency landing.   

Satellite Captures North Korean Missile Launch

A satellite has caught the one-in-a-million shot of when North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile on Saturday.

The launch was the first since 2017 and comes after diplomatic breakdowns aimed at providing sanction relief in return for nuclear disarmament.

The image was captured by satellite company Planet Labs at 10:54am local time and shows the smoke trail of the missile launch.

 

Moreton Bay Regional Council Under Fire Upon Return of Bee Gee’s Barry Gibb

Moreton Bay Regional Council is under fire for deliberately sweeping dealings between an events company and the Bee Gee’s Barry Gibb in the lead up to his homecoming visit to Redcliffe in 2015.

Councillors were warned not to publicly comment on or debate the $100,000 in funding provided for the event by The Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism group.

Record Turnout for Brisbane's Labour Day Parade

An estimated 40,000 people marched through the CBD on Monday as part of the largest Labour Day parade in Brisbane’s history.

The 128-year-old celebrations aim to fight for penalty rates, secure jobs and fair pay increases, and culminated at the RNA Showgrounds.

In addition to the Brisbane marchers representing 30 different organisations, 30,000 people across Queensland joined in on the celebrations.

Muslims in Australia Targeted More than Any Other Faith by Individual Violence

A four-year study into faith communities in Australia has determined that Muslims are the victims of more individual acts of violence than any other religious group.

Adelaide was identified as the most distressing city in terms of attitudes towards Muslims, with study director Professor Hickey-Moody claiming the city lacks the the kind of cosmopolitan consciousness that requires understanding social difference.

ALP Maintains Lead in Guardian Essential Poll

The Australian Labor Party has held its lead at 52-48 in the latest Guardian Essential poll despite both major parties suffering losses in their primary.

Minor parties have picked up the slack including the Greens at 12% up from 9% a week ago, and One Nation up from 6% to 7%.

The majority of voters believe the upcoming election will fall to Labor but the LNP’s Scott Morrison remains the preferred prime minister over Labor’s Bill Shorten.

China Claims US Responsible for Guided-Missile Destroyers in South China Sea

China has claimed that the US has sent two guided-missile destroyers within 12 nautical miles of the Spratly Islands.

The islands lie within the highly disputed South China Sea, which six other south-east Asian countries have also vocalised a claim to.

The US military maintains that its operations are carried out all over the world, regardless of political considerations.