Peter Dutton citizenship advice

The Solicitor-General has released advice that potential Prime Minister Peter Dutton is eligible to stand as a member of parliament.

However, the Solicitor-General says it’s impossible to state Mr Dutton’s eligibility with certainty as there is no High Court precedent.

The decision means Mr Dutton will contest the Liberal Party leadership, which is expected to be decided this afternoon.

Russian Tesla Competitor

Russian firearms manufacturer Kalashnikov, best known for developing the AK-47, is taking aim at CEO of Tesla Motors Elon Musk, with an electric supercar to rival Tesla.

The weapons manufacturer has previously attempted to expand into clothing and even umbrellas, but it’s latest move would see it’s Soviet era-inspired hatchback supercar hit international markets.

According to Kalashnikov’s press office, the CV-1 can travel up to 350 kilometers on one charge.

 

Ancient Sea Ice Disappearing

Researchers and ice scientists have been shocked by the rapid retreat of some of the Arctic’s oldest ice, off the coast of northern Greenland.

Recent satellite imagery shows kilometres of open water in place of ancient sea ice; a region scientists had expected to withstand the immediate impacts of climate change and retain ice-cover all-year-round.

As sea ice melts, less sunlight is reflected back into space and is instead absorbed by the dark blue of the ocean, increasing temperatures in the water and the surrounding atmosphere.

Teacher unions calls for increased funding

Teacher unions are calling for increased public school funding across the country following further cuts to the sector in the 2018-19 Federal Budget.

Almost 11,000 people have signed an open letter to the Federal Government, which the Australian Education Union claims almost $2 billion is being cut from the sector.

Unionists yesterday unfurled a banner outside Parliament House which revealed the 11,000 signatures calling for a funding boost.

Former Tasmanian Ministers against relaxing gun laws

Tasmanian Liberals have joined calls urging the State Government against relaxing gun laws following notice a new parliamentary inquiry into firearms regulation will be established.

Former Tasmanian Liberal Attorney-General Ron Cornish, who helped establish the National Firearms Agreement following the Port Arthur Massacre, says he is relieved the Government is halting reforms in lieu of an inquiry.

The proposed changes would have included increased access to silencers and category-C firearms and extending some licence periods.

Teens seriously injured in high school rugby

A Toowoomba Grammar School Student who dislocated his spine playing rugby union earlier this year has been discharged from hospital.

Year 12 student Ollie Bierhoff was one of four teens seriously injured during the opening weeks of the Queensland schoolboy rugby season.

Ollie is aiming to return to school in Term 4 to complete his final year.

Townsville Robots

Townsville Hospital is home to a trial of the first humanoid social robot in an Australian acute clinical setting.

The robot, that goes by the name of Pepper, provides information about the hospital to patients, freeing up time of other health professionals.

The aim of the trial is to gain further insights into how robots can be integrated into hospitals, particularly the viability of digital interactions between patients and visitors.

Italy set to copy Australian asylum seeker policy

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister says he is hoping to replicate Australia’s zero tolerance policy towards asylum seekers arriving by boat.

Prime Minister Salvini made the comments after refusing to allow the Italian Coast Guard to disembark migrants it had rescued at sea.

Mr Salvini has since allowed 27 children off the vessel, but says the remaining 150 adult migrants cannot disembark until other European countries agree to take them.