British Defence Secretary fired following information leak

British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been fired after an information leak was revealed in an investigation.

The leaks investigated came from a secret government meeting about Chinese telecoms firm Huawei.

UK Prime Minister said she no longer had full confidence in Williamson following the investigation and that there was compelling evidence suggesting his responsibility for the unauthorised disclosure of the information.

 

NAB dividends slashed following royal commission

NAB has cut its dividends to shareholders in a bid to maintain a more sustainable financial situation.

The bank had previously been giving out almost 100 per cent of its earnings to its shareholders, whose 99 cents a share was cut by 16 per cent to 83 cents a share.

NAB chief executive Philip Chronician said the decision was difficult and the bank acknowledged that shareholders rely on dividends for income, but they need to ensure they have a strong bank.

State under pressure to reveal Gold Coast tram funding details

The Palaszczuk Government is under pressure to release its funding commitment for the next stage of the Gold Coast light rail project.

The focus remained on both the Morrison Government and Labor’s Gold Coast-based Senator Murray Watt after it was discovered the federal funding offers from both major parties was $45 million short.

Federal Labor has allegedly been refusing to fight for extra funding above the Commonwealth commitment of $112 million for the project, which will see the trams extended from Broadbeach to Burleigh.

LNP gun bill to give police right to search without warrant

A Bill aiming to tackle gun crime introduced into the Queensland Parliament will allow police to impose orders giving officers the right to search suspects without a warrant.

As part of the LNP’s gun reform proposal, opposition police spokesman Trevor Watts is introducing a private member’s bill that gives the police commissioner discretion to ban ‘high-risk’ Queenslanders from purchasing and operating  firearms if they are not, in the public interest, considered fit to possess a firearm.

Cheaper medicine and quicker access to medicine no matter who wins election

Australians will be able to get quicker access to free and affordable medicines regardless of who wins the federal election as a result of Labor matching a coalition promise.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the most substantial change to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme since 1986 on Thursday, giving more affordable and free medicine faster to 1.4 million Australians.

This policy, which costs $308 million, is set to save patients up to $80 per year.

New Queensland laws will give prisoners voting rights

The Queensland Government has introduced new laws into Parliament that will allow prisoners serving sentences of less than three years to vote in elections and referendums.

The Palaszczuk Government argued the bill will bring Queensland in line with a 2007 High Court decision, with Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath saying Queensland is the only state not allowing prisoners to vote.

AMP announces new chief financial officer

AMP announced its new Chief Financial Officer ahead of the financial services company’s Annual General Meeting in Sydney.

John Patrick Moorhead will replace Gordon Lefevre after he retires on June 1, following 5 years with the company, including what it described as a “challenging” 18 months.

AMP chief executive Francesco De Ferrari said Mr Moorhead’s international experience in leading finance will be valuable to the company.

 

Adelaide proposal to trial “uber buses” criticised by unions

An Uber-style bus proposal for Adelaide has been criticised by union officials.

The service involves passengers requesting a bus through an app and being picked up and taken to their location along an undesignated route, but the Transport Workers Union said the service will be unpredictable due to multiple pickups increasing travel time.

The South Australian government invited proposals to trial the “demand responsive” service in areas with lower bus use as a part of an overhaul of the public transport network.