Secret Thailand Rescue
It has been revealed that four more workers have been ‘secretly’ rescued from Thailand’s Tham Luang cave rescue.
The workers were employees of Thailand’s water company, was made public by rescuing divers Richard Harris.
This came a week before the Wild Boars soccer team were rescued, where Harris admitted he thought the mission had ‘zero chance’ of success.
Addressing a conference in the UK revealed he found the four men on June 28 after navigating the cave’s treacherous high water levels.
States seek public education support after Catholic school deal
The Federal government has announced a $4.6 billion deal with Catholic and independent school system last week.
State and territory governments will use the deal to argue funding agreements in the public sector, with Gonski 2.0 being reviewed.
This has prompted state education ministers to debate concessions with the $23.5 billion deal agreed on in 2017. The scheme insists that 75% of public school resources are raised by 2023.
Suicide Rates seen to heavily increase in 2017
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released new data that indicates a 9.1 per cent increase in suicide amongst Australians in 2017.
The statistics show over 3000 people died as a result of ‘intentional self-harm, up over 300 since 2016.
Three out of four people who take their own lives are men.
This comes as the federal government announced $36 million in funding to 15 suicide prevention organisations.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14
Push for Higher Buildings
A Gold Coast architect has revealed that unreleased documents show that councils are pushing for even taller buildings across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
The council study, not fully released to the public, looks at possible changes in building height allowances throughout the city and is being cited in development applications.
Officials believe however that it is too early to confirm the report’s suggestions, as it is yet to pass a public interest test.
Lego Caravan
Queensland caravan group ‘Top Parks’ has claimed the Guinness World Record for recreating a life-size replica of a 1973 Viscount Royal caravan with nearly 300,000 Bricks.
The project was built from the ground up with a team of 20 and took over 5 months and more than 530 man-hours to construct the caravan using 70 litres of glue
Review: En Masse
“The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born.”
11am Zedlines
This has been Erin and Paris with your 11am Zedlines.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Drought affected Queensland families able to claim more money
Queensland families affected by the drought will now be able to receive more relief money from the State Government.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says drought affected families will now be able to claim $7,500, up from the initial $5,000 dollar cap
The Queensland Drought Appeal now sits at $2.8 million.
Motion passed for North Sydney smoking ban
North Sydney smokers may soon be banned from lighting up in the CBD in what may be a national-first smoking ban.
The council has passed a motion to ban smoking in every public space in North Sydney, which would make it the first smoke-free municipality.
Mayor Jilly Gibson is confident it will be backed by residents and says the ban will be enforced through encouragement rather than fines.
Labor questions delay in hiring new Race Discrimination Commissioner
The Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is warning the Government not to let the position of Race Discrimination Commissioner sit vacant after Tim Soutphommasane’s departure last month.
Mr Dreyfus says there are some conservatives within the Morrison Government who wanted to scrap the role.
The Institute of Public Affairs, an influential free-market think-tank with strong links to the Coalition, has recommended the position be axed for “promoting division”.