Gunner Government to Release Report to Combat NT Financial Crisis
Executive jobs in the Northern Territory public service will be cut by 10 per cent in the next year in an attempt to save the region away from its current financial crisis.
The Gunner Government plans to unveil its plan today after months of delays, and will officially respond to 76 recommendations made by former WA under-treasurer John Langoulant.
52 positions are expected to be cut over the next year, affording the territory an annual saving of $13 million dollars
Droughts Cause Iced Coffee Shortage in SA
Droughts in South Australia have placed serious strain on the dairy industry, resulting in shelves of Farmers Union Iced Coffee being left bare.
A spokeswoman for Lion Dairy and Drinks has noted that extreme weather conditions - including drought, together with significant cost increases across water, feed and energy - have contributed to the challenges facing dairy production in Australia.
No word yet on when consumers can expect shelves to be restocked.
Computer Scientist Responsible for Black Hole Image Targeted by Trolls
One of the computer scientists responsible for the construction of the image of a black hole has been targeted by social media trolls claiming she is trying to take all of the credit for the project.
A photo of Katie Bouman’s reaction to the black hole image went viral after it was copied and tweeted from MIT’s social media account.
Colleagues have rushed to her defence, claiming she was not to blame for the misleading information shared online.
Japan Undertaking Nuclear Pool Clean-up
Japan has begun a massive nuclear pool clean-up after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The operator of the affected nuclear plant has begun the enormous task of removing fuel from a cooling pool at one of the three reactors that melted down in the disaster.
The work is expected to be completed in March 2021, but a spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Co has made it clear that safety is their first priority.
10am Zedlines
Good morning, this is Victoria and Rebecca with your 10am Zedlines.
Petition Launched to Retain the Indigenous Legal Assistance Program
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services has partnered with Change the Record to launch a petition for the government to retain the Indigenous Legal Assistance Program
The Program is the only national program that addresses the disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the justice system. However, the recent Federal Budget revealed the government's intent to combine the ILAP into a single mechanism, with Legal Aid Commissions and Community Legal Centres.
Nickel Company Employees Reimbursed
Clive Palmer has agreed to pay entitlements to workers from his Queensland Nickel company, three years after the refinery was shut down.
Hundreds of workers and taxpayers were owed some $70Mn after Queensland Nickel went into liquidation in 2016.
Despite continuing to refuse responsibility for the dismissal of the workers, Palmer has agreed to pay the $7.16Mn in worker entitlements that were left outstanding by liquidators. It remains unclear whether he will also agree to cover the remaining $66Mn owed to taxpayers.
Two Million Dollars Promised For Bulk Billing Incentives
The ALP has promised $200Mn to bulk-up bulk billing incentives for select pathology services as part of its $2.3Bn cancer fund.
The money will be targeted at reducing out-of-pocket costs and waiting lists for elderly Australians and cancer patients.
The LNP government has spent the first days of the campaign doubling down on its tax incentive rhetoric but has not ruled out matching Labor’s $2.3Bn cancer package.
Stress on Electoral Roll
Australians have until the end of the week to make sure they are enrolled and up to date on the electoral roll.
The Australian Electoral Commission says about half a million Australians are missing from the roll and expect several hundred thousand more to be updating their details before rolls close.
They warn that you may be excluded from voting and potentially face fines for failing to enroll or for not updating crucial information like your address.
Sudan Celebrates Dictatorship End
The Sudanese are celebrating the end of President Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year dictatorship by singing and dancing to loud music well into the early hours of the morning.
Until last week, residents required a permit to play loud music late at night, but the tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the military headquarters aren’t planning on leaving anytime soon.