Lack of staff leads to chemical sedation of patients in aged care facilities, royal commission hears
The Royal Commission into Aged Care has heard that a lack of staff is resulting in the chemical sedation of patients in aged care facilities.
A panel of three nurses and one diversional therapist gave evidence on Wednesday, saying aged care facilities are understaffed and they often had to work unpaid overtime.
When asked why chemical restraints are used, one nurse said that it shouldn’t be happening at all but is often used because there aren’t enough staff.
ACCC warns of rising costs of goods after Court decision to allow $205 million freight terminal sale
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has said the Federal Court’s decision to allow freight operator Pacific National to buy an Acacia Ridge rail freight terminal gives the company a monopoly on rail freight and will leave Australians paying more for goods.
The Commission lost its case in the Federal Court trying to prevent rail freight operator Aurizon from selling the Acacia Ridge terminal where rail freight is transferred between New South Wales and Queensland.
Reports on heritage-listed School of Arts building commissioned ahead of restoration work
Brisbane City Council has commissioned auditor reports on the status of the heritage-listed School of Arts building on Ann street ahead of restoration.
The building was closed to the public several years ago due to public safety concerns but is to be restored after the council pledged last year to begin the refurbishment.
Last year’s budget allocated almost $9 million for the refurbishment over three years, with council to go out to tender for appropriate contractors to begin the restoration work in the future.
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UK drinkers get drunk more often, new survey shows
A global drug survey has shown that UK drinkers get drunk more often than anywhere else in the world.
The results showed that English-speaking countries were in the lead for how often their citizens get drunk, as the US, Canada and Australia also found themselves at the top of the global rankings.
Researchers based in London conducted the survey last year, claiming it to be the largest in the world, and said while fewer people are drinking, those who consume alcohol are doing so in a potentially harmful way.
Abortions banned in almost every circumstance under new Alabama law
The Senate in the US state of Alabama has passed strict new abortion laws that ban the procedure in almost every circumstance.
If the republican governor signs the measure, abortions in Alabama will only be permitted in cases where the mother’s life is at risk.
Under the measure, abortions in cases of incest and rape will be banned, as sixteen other US states seek to impose further restrictions on the procedure.
Western Australia school assistant principal returning to work after restraining student in brawl
An assistant principal at a Western Australian school will return to work after video showing he restrained a student during a school brawl left him suspended by the education department.
The local school community rallied behind Mr Grant Walton of Eaton Community College, 145 kilometres south of Perth, after video emerged of him grabbing a student by the arms and tackling him to the ground during a scuffle.
QANTAS refuses to let Sydney author fly with service dog, says dog not sufficiently trained
Qantas has refused to let an acclaimed writer travel to the Northern Territory Writers’ Festival on Friday aboard a Sydney flight bound for Alice Springs, claiming evidence that her disability support dog is properly qualified was insufficient.
Acclaimed Sydney writer and critic Fiona Wright completed paperwork so her support dog Virginia who helps her with mental health conditions including anxiety, showing the dog followed an educational syllabus under properly qualified dog trainers and passed a public test.
Indigenous ‘stolen wages’ case in Queensland could expand
A "stolen wages" class action against the state of Queensland for unpaid wages led by Hans Pearson involving approximately 10,000 Indigenous workers in Queensland could be expanded to include more people.
The trial date could also be postponed until next year following a hearing in the Federal Court in Brisbane on Monday.
For decades leading up to the 1970s, the wages of Indigenous workers in Queensland were not paid directly to them and instead paid to the state under so-called "Protection Acts" that deprived workers of wages they earned.
Queensland councils face $5.4 billion debt
Auditor-general Brendan Worrall has warned long-term financial sustainability is a major and increasing risk for many Queensland councils as the sector deals with a $5.4 billion debt.
After examining the books of 76 of Queensland's 77 councils for 2017 and 2018, the Queensland Audit Office report that was tabled in parliament on Wednesday warned the five-year average operating surplus ratio continued to deteriorate as the sector was still spending more than it earned.