Queensland taxpayers fund Amalfi Coast trip

Queenslander taxpayers have spent thousands to send Brisbane judges to a conference on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.

Nine of the twelve speakers at the Europe Asia Legal conference travelled 16,000 kilometers from Australia at the height of the Mediterranean tourist season.

The eight-day conference included four days without any formal activity.

It is one of many international conferences that cost Queensland taxpayers more than $230,000 dollars last year.

Report reveals wage theft rampant across Queensland

A report released today reveals almost one in five Queensland workers experience wage theft.

It is estimated 23 per cent of the Queensland workforce are likely to have been underpaid superannuation, or not paid superannuation at all, amounting to more than $1.1 billion in foregone super each year.

McKell Institute executive director Marianna O'Gorman says there have been few attempts to quantify the economic impact of wage theft in Australia and none to date in Queensland.

Search for Lion Air flight victims concludes

Indonesian authorities say they will stop their search for the 189 victims of the Lion Air flight that crashed on October 29.

The search ends after 196 body bags containing human remains were found and 77 victims were identified.

Authorities say they will continue looking for the Lion Air flight's second black box which is critical to understanding the cause of the crash.

 

 

World leaders set to attend the Asia Pacific Economy Co-Operation Summit

Political leaders, including Australia’s Scott Morrison, will arrive in Papau New Guinea for the Asia Pacific Economy Co-Operation Summit this week.

APEC accounts for approximately two billion people, with 21 countries being involved in 180 meetings. The summit aims to improve international relations and to forge new foreign policy with neighbouring countries.

Papau New Guinea intends to spend $330 million dollars over three years paying for the event, with significant funds going towards new infrastructure.

Australian students strike for political inaction against climate change

Hundreds of Australian students will stage a nationwide strike this month, walking out of class to protest political inaction against climate change.

 

The strike aims to encourage politicians to treat global warming as an environmental emergency.

 

Fort Street high school student Jean Hinchcliff says students are concerned about their future if politicians continue to stall policy change.

World War I veterans ride 'troop train' to commemorate ANZAC soldiers

More than 300 veterans joined a commemorative "troop train" from Brisbane CBD to Cleveland in honour of more than 62,000 Australians who lost their lives in World War I.

 

Transport Minister Mark Bailey says he was honoured to join service personnel, including soldiers from the Gallipoli Barracks and the Light Horse Brigade, plus members of Redlands RSL and staff from Queensland Rail, for the ride on board the specially chartered train, and listen to their stories.

 

Two dramatic car chases in Brisbane south-west end in arrests

Police have arrested five people involved in two dramatic car chases in Brisbane’s south-west suburb of Inala.

 

The pursuits began at Inala in Brisbane's south-west where police located two stolen luxury cars driving through the area, which were taken from a house at suburban Westlake on Sunday night.

 

The offenders are also wanted for questioning over a spate of recent robberies and ram-raids across south-east Queensland.

 

President Trump criticised for Remembrance Day inattendance

American President Donald Trump faces scrutiny after a controversial weekend in France for Remembrance Day.

Trump tweeted the French President, Emmanuel Macron saying he was insulted by prior comments made by Macron and questioned France’s involvement in NATO. The tweet was eventually deleted.

President Trump received further criticism after failing to attend the memorial event at Belleau due to rain.

Philippines press freedom under attack

Press freedom in the Philippines is under attack as the government threatens to file tax evasion charges against online news outlets.

The Committee to Protect Journalists say major news site, The Rappler, is the victim of intimidation and harassment from the Philippines government.

The Rappler is internationally acclaimed for its investigative reporting on president Rodrigo Duterte and the impact of his crackdown on illegal drugs.

Former Socceroo calls out racist spectator

Former Socceroo Archie Thompson is calling for a lifetime ban for a spectator ejected from an A-League game in Mudgee for racially abusing Brisbane goalkeeper Jamie Young.

The incident occurred at Glen Willow Sports Stadium in the New South Wales country town, where Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar drew 2-2 on Saturday.

Young, who is of Sri Lankan and Scottish descent, is believed to have responded to the remark, which is reported to have been made by a Wanderers supporter.