Greens Candidate Quits over Social Media Posts

Greens candidate Joanna Nilson has quit after social media posts made “in jest” about shoplifting.

 

The comments were made in a private Facebook group called “Bad Girls Club” and included tips about shoplifting and derogatory comments about a liberal senator.

 

Nilson deactivated her Facebook account after being questioned about the posts.

 

She decided to withdraw from the election as she did not want her comments holding back the Greens.

Rubella officially eradicated from Australia

Rubella, the contagious disease which can cause miscarriages, stillbirth, or serious birth defects, has been officially eradicated in Australia.

 

The World Health Organisation confirmed this news on Wednesday, The viral infection was eradicated and it’s been suggested Rubella was eradicated thanks to Australia's vaccination program.

 

Health Minister, Greg Hunt, says this confirmation from WHO sends a powerful message that vaccinations save lives.

 

Melbourne Uni predicts Brisbane’s Criminal’s future

Melbourne University Analysts are using historical crime stats, location app data and weather conditions to predict where our cities criminals will commit crimes in the future.

 

The analysts used Artificial intelligence to make an algorithm based on location check-ins from app ‘Foursquare’ and other historical brisbane information.

 

Brisbane was selected due to the cities detailed crime stats which were readily available, with accurate timestamps of when crime happened.

Paid Parking Goes Digital

A new parking scheme will be rolled out across 21 areas of Brisbane city, allowing drivers to use digital permits instead of paper ones.

Drivers will no longer have to display permits on their dashboard; instead, council enforcement officers will use vehicle number plates to check them.

Brisbane City Council’s infrastructure chairman, Amanda Coopers, says the digital system would enhance the permit application and renewal process by offering smoother and faster service for residents.

Battered Wife Fish Shop controversy

The owner of the “Battered Wife Fish and Chip Shop” in far north QLD has spoken out against backlash surrounding the name.

 

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said she was appalled by the shop's name after a domestic violence incident in the area.

 

A huge online backlash has come as well, labelling the shop as “insensitive” and “crass”  in its “trivialisation” of domestic violence.

 

Trash reporting causes Trash results in NT

The Northern Territory is unable to determine whether the scheme which encouraged the trading of recyclables for money is working due to inconsistent data collection and reporting.

 

The program ‘Cash for Containers’ allowed people in the Northern Territory to exchange their glass, plastic or aluminum cans for a 10 cent refund, however a 5 year review was unable to determine it success.  

 

Ice Crisis in Rural Victoria

In the last year alone, more than 6000 people were caught using Ice by Victorian Police.

 

"It is everywhere," said Janice Ablett, the manager and founder of the rehabilitation program, the Ice Meltdown Project, “it's destructive, it's demonic, it'll rip their family apart, it'll rip anyone apart."

 

Rural Victorian towns are taking the brunt of this pandemic drug use, and there is a serious lack of publicly available rehabilitation beds, all with months-long wait lists.

Freddie Mercury Biopic “Censored”

After a troubled production, the film “Bohemian Rhapsody”, a Freddie Mercury biopic, appears to have glossed over much of the sex and drugs, and focussed solely on the rock and roll.

 

It skips over Freddie Mercury’s childhood, his drug abuse and glosses over his sexuality and eventual death due to aids.

 

The film’s musical scenes are apparently fabulous however, even if the film has had a slightly too high dose of moralising.

Surgical Implant Allowing Paraplegic Patients to Walk Again

Three patients with severe spinal cord injuries are now walking again, thanks to a surgically implanted stimulator that delivers electrical pulses to the spinal cord.

 

Two studies, released yesterday in the journals Nature and Nature Neuroscience, show how this technology and intense physical rehabilitation enabled these paraplegic patients to recover leg movement.