Moreton Bay council orders external review of the organisation
Moreton Bay Regional Council has voted for an external review of the organisation, days after allegations of widespread bullying and intimidation were published online.
Mayor Allan Sutherland said the council is determining the terms of reference and contractual arrangements for the review.
The council has declined to say whether it will publicly reveal any findings of the investigation.
Qld government under fire over proposed rifle range expansion
The decision to clear five hectares of protected Brisbane koala habitat to expand a rifle range in Belmont is expected to be raised this morning when Queensland’s new Koala Advisory Council is set to meet.
The managers of the Belmont Shooting Complex have already cleared two hectares of bushland, habitat to endangered wildlife and flora, to accommodate their expansion.
One-in-ten opt-out of electronic medical record system
Image source: Joel Carrett
MAGA teen sues Washington Post for millions for ‘falsely accusing’ him of racist acts
US teenager, Nick Sandmann, who features in a viral video confrontation with a Native American elder, is now suing the Washington Post for $349 million for defamation.
The lawsuit claims that the newspaper “wrongfully targeted and bullied” the teen to advance its “bias” against President Donald Trump because Mr Sandmann is a white Catholic who wore a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat.
The Washington Post's communications vice-president Kristine Coratti Kelly said the paper is "reviewing plans to mount "a vigorous defence".
India’s vigilante cow protectors reportedly killing dozens of people
Vigilante cow-protection groups in India have reportedly killed at least 44 people in the past four years.
A report released by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that there have been over 100 attacks across 20 Indian states between May 2015 and December 2018.
The human rights agency said these crimes go unpunished due to the support of law enforcement and by members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to spur a violent vigilante campaign against eating beef.
ACT politicians considering legalising recreational marijuana
Canberra politicians are debating legalising marijuana for recreational use.
The law has been proposed by Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson and would allow Canberra residents to carry, use, and grow small amounts of cannabis.
The sale of marijuana would still be illegal, but residents would be allowed to carry up to 50 grams of the drug and grow two plants.
Prison officer charged with sexual assault of female inmates
A NSW prison officer has been charged with ongoing sexual abuse of female prisoners at a prison in Berkshire Park in western Sydney.
The crime was uncovered following police investigating prisons as part of Strike Force Nautilus in October 2018 after receiving reports that prisoners were being sexually assaulted.
The 62-year-old man will face court today on six counts of aggravated sexual assault.
Miner dies in underground collision in Qld mine
A miner has died, and at least four others are injured, after an underground collision in a central Queensland mine.
Paramedics were called to the site about 4pm on Wednesday after an incident involving a grader and personnel carrier.
Ten other employees who were inside the personnel carrier also received medical treatment, with four treated for possible spinal injuries.
The cause of the incident is not clear and an investigation will be conducted by Anglo American – the company which operates the site.
Qld audit into stone industry reveals health epidemic
An audit into Queensland’s manufacturing stone industry has revealed 98 workers have contracted the potentially deadly lung disease silicosis, with 15 cases deemed terminal.
Across the state, almost 800 stonemasons have been referred for lung testing in a situation which health experts are calling a major epidemic.
The Queensland Government said it is not aware of any workers who have yet died from the incurable disease but said many will need lung transplants to survive.