Government climate data withheld

The climate council is calling on the federal government to release its greenhouse gas emissions data after it failed to share the information with the Australian public last Friday.

 

Climate Council’s CEO Amanda McKenzie said the coalition government has a history of burying bad news on climate change and therefore concludes emissions are continuing to rise.

 

Tax crackdown on clothing and laundry claims

The tax office is planning to crackdown on Australians who are making false claims on laundry and clothing.

 

In 2018 a quarter of these claims were the minimum amount needed to claim without a receipt, costing the system $1.5 billion in tax return.

 

The assistant commissioner of the ATO said they use sophisticated tools to study each return and catch out of pattern claims compared to their industry and income.

Defective wings on Boeing aircraft

Boeing’s manufacturer has warned hundreds of its 737 planes, including 159 of its troubled 737 Max jets, may have faulty parts on their wings.

 

One batch of slat tracks, which are the moveable panels built into the planes wings to provide extra lift during takeoff and landing, were found to ‘have a potential non-conformance’.

 

Boeing warned all airlines that operate 737's to check their slats, and the Federal Aviation Administration will issue a directive to make Boeing’s jet checks mandatory.

Transgender woman seeking asylum in US custody dies after pleading for medical help

Johana Medina Leon, a transgender woman seeking asylum, died after pleading for medical help in US custody on Saturday.

 

The 25 year old from El Salvador died in hospital in El Paso, Texas after she complained about chest pains during her month-long detention.

 

The incident sparked renewed claims of medical neglect and human rights violations by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Review: Herbie Hancock at QPAC

Herbie Hancock is undoubtedly a legend. Whilst he may very well be an absolute force in an era of jazz music that spans decades, he also takes a second to recognise his band members on stage. You know Herbie Hancock is a humble, generous guy when he shakes his hands as if to say “it’s nothing” when the audience applauds him on stage and gives each of his band members due credit while they are all up on stage in the Brisbane Concert Hall at QPAC filled with people on all levels of seating.


 

Snowflakes spotted in Queensland

Snow falls in Queensland’s granite belt this morning as wind gusts lower the temperature.

 

Pictures of snowflakes falling near Stanthorpe on the Southern Downes have emerged after a wind chill caused the temperature at Toowoomba to fall to -5 degrees at 6:00am and -4.4 in Applethorpe at 6:30am.

 

Senior Forecaster Sam Campbell told the ABC possible wind gusts of up to 55km/h today will keep temperatures low in south-east Queensland.

Schrinner pledge of greener suburbs ‘nothing new’, Labor says

On Sunday, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner pledged to ‘green our suburbs’ as a part of council’s upcoming budget.

 

The budget is set to include $22.8 million on planting and maintaining trees across Brisbane, $107,000 on planting jacarandas in Bulimba, St Lucia and New Farm as well as $15.4 million to council’s bushland acquisition program.

 

However, Brisbane City Council’s opposition leader Peter Cumming dismissed the pledge as ‘nothing new’.

News Corp Australia axing journo jobs

News Corp Australia plans to implement a widespread round of targeted redundancies in the next few days, including 55 editorial positions.

 

Executive Chairman Michael Miller has publicly warned that long-term employees who lack digital skills in the newsroom would be leaving the company.

 

Management held meetings across departments yesterday following press interviews in which Mr Miller said the company would have to downsize to remain profitable and they were looking for ‘new skills’.

Peter Dutton visits Sri Lanka for asylum seeker prevention

Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, will visit Colombo in Sri Lanka today, with a bid to stop asylum seekers and people smuggling at the top of his agenda.

 

A spokesperson for Mr Dutton, said his purpose was to implement the interests of ‘Operation Sovereign Borders’ and to discuss counter terrorism matters.

 

It comes after a boat carrying 20 Sri Lankan asylum seekers was intercepted off Australia’s coast last week.