Backlash over Abbott's new role

Scott Morrison is facing backlash from indigenous leaders after appointing Tony Abbott as special envoy for Indigenous Affairs.

Senator Patrick Dodson has criticised this appointment, calling Mr Abbott’s track record on indigenous issues “ignorant, hopeless and frankly offensive.’

Mr Abbott has faced similar criticism in the past for cutting over $500 million from Indigenous programs in the 2014 federal budget.

Victoria Police corruption

A retired fraud squad detective has accused Victoria’s armed robbery squad of stocking weapons to plant on suspects, and bullying him to keep quiet about the death of a convicted bank robber in 1988.

A sworn affidavit by Bill Nash obtained by the ABC alleges Graeme Jensen was fatally shot by police, who then presented false evidence at the inquest into his death after planting a gun on him.

Jensen’s family are calling for a Royal Commission into his death, further fuelling the investigation into Victoria Police by the State’s corruption watchdog.

United States and Mexico make historic trade deal

The United States and Mexico have made a historic trade deal after months of negotiation.

In light of this announcement, President Donald Trump says he wants to terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and change the name of the agreement.

President Trump has threatened Canada with auto tariffs if they fail to reach an agreement.

Cancer research in space

NASA Expedition 56 crew member, Auñón-Chancellor, will spend the next few months on the space station exploring new ways of studying blood cells. 

According to NASA, the weightless environment of a spacecraft allows cells to replicate the behaviour of blood vessels in a living organism on Earth.

Because the cells perform similarly to how they would inside the body, cancer researchers can more accurately test their response to chemotherapy treatments.

Brisbane Council reviews Jamboree bus services

The Brisbane City Council is set to start its staged review of Brisbane’s bus services in the Jamboree Ward and surrounding suburbs.

However, the assessment has been met with resistance from the state government and Translink has declined to jointly fund the review.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said negotiations with the council are still ongoing.

Far North Queensland wind farm now energised

The state’s largest wind farm in Far North Queensland is now exporting its first electricity into the power grid, with the new substation and switchyard now energised.

Queensland Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said this new substation is the critical link to transport power generated from Mount Emerald.

The facility is expected to provide enough power annually to run up to 75,000 homes, which is the equivalent to supplying a third of Far North Queensland’s energy needs.

Inquiry says transitioning veterans at higher risk to mental illness

A public hearing into the transition from military to civilian life has found that 1 in 5 veterans experienced suicidal thoughts after serving.

The inquiry held in Brisbane yesterday reported the Australian Defence Force had improved significantly in its support of veterans but there was still more to be done.

Veterans with no contact to the ADF after service were also found to be at higher risk of developing mental illness.

PM pressured to abandon Paris promises

Coalition backbencher George Christensen is pressuring Prime Minister Scott Morrison to abandon support for what he calls “costly green treaties” like the Paris Climate Agreement.

Reports allege Mr Morrison is reluctant to leave the international agreement and risk jeopardising an impending free-trade deal with the EU.

On his tour of regional Queensland yesterday, Mr Morrison acknowledged the effects of climate change but said debates around its cause were irrelevant.

Former Ethiopian President arrested

Police in Ethiopia have arrested the former president of the eastern Somali region, Abdi Mohamed Omar, on charges of human rights abuses.

The charges come after a series of deadly conflict in Ethiopia’s Somali region.

Maria Burnett, associate director for Human Rights Watch Africa, said the arrest of President Abdi will hopefully mark the start of justice for victims of serious crimes.

German protests turn violent

Protests in the German city of Chemnitz concerning the murder of a 35 year old man have resulted in several people injured, according to police.

Far-right activists clashed with anti-Nazi protesters as a Syrian and Iraqi remain under arrest in relation to the stabbing on Sunday.

In regards to the masked demonstrators throwing stones during the protest, German Chancellor Angela Merkel  warned “vigilante justice” will not be tolerated.