Queensland asylum seekers face deportation
The Australian Government turned away refugees who fled a sinking boat off the coast of Queensland’s crocodile country.
Refugee advocates confirmed fifteen people, believed to be from Vietnam, sailed into the Indian Ocean earlier this week.
The group arrived on Christmas Island yesterday, following a two-day manhunt near the mouth of the Daintree River.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has already declared swift deportation of the group at the first available opportunity.
Interpol: Marauder
- Venerable alt-rockers Interpol have released their sixth LP, Marauder, but do not ignore what your calendar says, it isn’t the early 2000’s again. Gaining prominence in New York City alongside The Strokes shortly after the turn of the century, Interpol earned themselves a loyal following on the backbone of their off-kilter indie rock. Although their sound hasn’t changed, their music hasn’t grown stale. This is probably due to the fact that they are almost incomparable to other bands.
White Denim: Performance
- When White Denim first emerged from Austin, TX some twelve years ago, it began a career of off-kilter music which combined progressive and psychedelic influences with the Southern rock elements of their native Texas. This has culminated in their eighth full-lengther Performance, which is one of the band’s more straightforward rock & roll records – but keep in mind “straightforward” for White Denim is still pretty out there in places!
Swiss company wins funding for technology to help limit global warming
Swiss company Climeworks has won over $40 million of funding for a new technology they hope will help to slow climate change.
High-tech fans and filters are used to suck carbon dioxide out of the air, which the company then sells to greenhouses as an airbourne fertiliser.
The awarded funds are being used for cost reductions as the technology is extremely costly, at $US600 per tonne.
German far-right and counter protesters clash in Chemnitz
A second night of violence has erupted in German city, Chemnitz, with right wing protests leading to several people sustaining injuries and a country dismayed over images of rioting.
The protests were described as reminiscent of civil war and Nazi programs- with mobs hunting foreigners through the city streets.
The premier of the state, Michael Kretschmer, said the riots were tasteless and upsetting and called upon Chemnitzers to stand by their foreign fellow citizens.
School funding looms for new minister
Education Minister Dan Tehan’s first day on the job is likely to be focused on a new education funding model.
Proposed by former education minister Simon Birmingham, the needs-based education funding aims to rejig how funding for schools is calculated.
According to former PM Malcolm Turnbull, the deal is the biggest-ever education funding reform and boosts schools funding to $23.5 billion over the next decade.
However the National Catholic Education Commission says Catholic schools are worse-off under the new deal.
New Migrant Workers Centre helping to tackle exploitation of migrant workers
The New Migrant Workers Centre was launched by the Victorian Trades Hall Council and aims to end the exploitation of migrant workers.
Finding employment in a new country can be very confusing and many employers have been found to take advantage of unsuspecting workers.
Director of the Centre, Matt Kunkel, said a centre like this was long overdue and that he wanted it to be a place where workers on temporary and permanent visas can go to learn about their rights.
Koala rescued from busy Gold Coast intersection
A koala has been rescued from a busy Gold Coast intersection, sparking concerns about the species’ rapidly diminishing habitat.
The koala was found clinging to a traffic pole on Olsen Avenue at Southport, outside the Gold Coast University Hospital.
Wildcare Australia president Karen Scott said the rescue was quick, and that it’s not unusual to find koalas up power poles or in small hedges this time of year.
The koala, now named Jack, was taken to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital and will be released into a suitable habitat in the next two weeks.
Tamil asylum seeker dies in Logan Hospital
A Tamil asylum seeker from Sri Lanka has died at Logan Hospital, south of Brisbane, after attempting to take his own life.
The 45 year old reportedly fell into a deep depression several weeks ago after his asylum application was initially rejected.
A subsequent attempt left him brain dead, with his life support switched off on Sunday.
For those affected by mental illness, you always can call lifeline on 13 11 14.
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