QLD Digital Health Project Blow Out
Parliament have found the budget for Queensland’s multi-million dollar project to digitalise the state’s hospital has been blown out.
The $600 million integrated electronic medical record (ieMR) project has proven not of value for the money provided, with the draft business care from the department said to require another $256 million.
The project coordinated by eHealth Queensland aims to digitise all patients medical records to make it easier for clinicians to access, reduce costs, lower patient days spent in hospital and improve clinical care.
Brisbane Scooters Hailed A Success
Since the roll out of Lime Scooters across Brisbane two weeks ago, more than 50,000 trips have been taken, exceeding expectations and creating a demand for growth beyond the inner city suburbs.
Hundreds of scooters have been distributed around the CBD, South Bank, Fortitude Valley and other inner-city suburbs and were quickly adopted by residents, with a 251 per cent increase in daily trips since Friday.
Highest Earning YouTuber Revealed
According to Forbes, 7-year-old primary school student, Ryan ToysReview has made $29.8 million in reviewing children’s toys on YouTube this year.
Launching his channel in March of 2015, Ryan now has over 17.3 million subscribers and 25 billion views, with his video content showing him reviewing and unboxing new toys.
Ryan tops the list of this year's top YouTube earners overtaking YouTube stars such as brothers Jake and Logan Paul as well as Jeffree Star.
Brexit Legal Advice Ruling
The British Government has been found in contempt of court for the first time ever, after refusing to release the full legal advice underpinning its Brexit deal.
Theresa May’s government lost the vote 311 to 293 just hours after May had told Cabinet the “candid” legal advice given to ministers must remain confidential.
The opposition Labour Party’s spokesperson, Keir Starmer, said the defeat is a “badge of shame” for the government, and the decision had huge constitutional and political significance.
8AM ZEDLINES
Good morning this is Alex and Mel with your 8 am Zedlines.
Push for Australians to Have Digital ID
Australia’s three tiers of government should be connected online, a new report has recommended, with all citizens issued a unique digital ID to easily access services online.
The report, published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, has detailed a vision for a digitally connected future, which could significantly cut costs and improve communication between the three levels of government.
Despite scepticism regarding its privacy, the plan has already been successfully introduced in Estonia, with strong privacy controls for citizens.
QLD Renters Living in Squalor
A new survey has revealed almost half of Queensland tenants are living in homes in need of repair and nearly two-thirds fear a repair request will result in a rent rise.
The report, conducted by the National Associations of Tenant Organisations, lays out alarming figures, with 8% of tenants being evicted at least once without explanation.
Tenants Queensland are calling for a restriction to rent increases to once a year, saying too many tenants are living in substandard housing.
France Backflips on Fuel Tax
The French Government has backflipped on fuel tax increases following weeks of violent protests, suspending three proposed increases over a six month period.
The so-called “yellow vests protests”, which started on November 17, were prompted by French President Emmanuel Macron’s taxes on diesel, but have since evolved into a more general anti-Macron uprising.
It is unlikely the suspension of tax increases will quell the demonstrations, with protestors continuing to block several fuel depots and insist the fight is not over.
Italian Government Sacks Top Medical Panel
Italy’s vaccine-sceptic health minister sacked every member of the country’s top panel of health advisors on Monday, saying that she wanted to give “space to the new.”
Health Minister Giulia Grillo, a member of the vaccine-sceptic Five Star Movement, fired all 30 members of the Higher Health Council, which is responsible for advising the government on health policy.
CSIRO Cybertongue Licensed to Start Today
The CSIRO’s next-generation diagnostic cyber-tongue, used to detect lactose and spoilt milk has been licensed to a Canberra startup company.
With 4% of Australians lactose intolerant and 65% of the world affected by it, the market for the product is set to grow to over $15 billion over the next 6 years.