Euthanasia debate will continue in Parliament
The debate over whether to allow territories to legalise euthanasia will continue today in federal parliament.
Senators shared stories of the deaths of their terminally ill loved ones during the hearing yesterday which has divided politicians.
Senator David Leyonhjelm’s private bill to lift the ban on the legalisation of euthanasia in the ACT and Northern Territory will be top of the agenda again today.
Terminally ill prisoner had parole unnecessarily deferred
A terminally ill women who died at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre in 2016, was unable to see her family before she passed away because her parole application was delayed.
The state coroner’s inquiry into her death found she would have seen her family, but her parole application was unnecessarily deferred from the Parole Board to get a specialist opinion.
The inquiry found the application process is flawed and a spokesperson for Queensland Corrective Services says the coroner’s recommendations are being considered to make improvements.
Local governments under investigation by Crime and Corruption Commission
Four of south-east Queensland’s largest metropolitan local governments are now under investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
The Moreton Bay Regional Council is the latest to be under investigation, regarding a multimillion dollar contract given to a major political donor.
Conflict of interest and lack of transparency are key issues as the donor and local business owner is a friend of mayor Allan Sutherland and other councillors.
10am Zedlines
This has been Phoebe and Libby with your 10am Zedlines.
A surge of break-ins, vandalism, and assaults in the Kimberley by children has caused frustration and racial tension in Broome and Kununurra.
Car thefts and burglaries have increased significantly in the past 8 years and the crime surge has prompted residents to express their anger and threats of retaliation on social media.
Local police say the majority of the crimes are being committed by a relatively small group of boys aged between 10 and 16.
RNA Showgrounds revitalised as one of Brisbane's largest inner-city projects
The RNA Showgrounds are almost finished work on a $2.9 billion revamp project, making it one of Brisbane’s largest inner city projects.
Machinery and King Streets are the final areas to be completed, with construction expected to finish by the end of the year.
Today the showgrounds will host People’s Day at the Ekka, with 60,000 people expected to be in attendance.
Labour and Greens back cashless welfare cards
Federal plans to introduce cashless welfare cards to Queensland has been backed by Labor and the Greens.
A report found some residents in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay spend up to 80% of their welfare money on alcohol and gambling.
However, there is still concern about the efficacy of the scheme which is already operating in Western and South Australia.
Study reveals Google monitors user locations for corporate practices
Google is still recording your whereabouts even when you turn off location on your Apple or Android apps, according to a new study from the Associated Press.
Google Maps monitors when you open the app, pinpoints user location via automatic weather updates and identifies precise longitude and latitude. This data mining of personal information can be used by Google for corporate practices.
To stop your location being saved and shared, phone users need to switch off a default setting called Web and App Activity.
Israeli Broadcasting Corporation resolves $18 million funding dispute
Israel’s Eurovision crisis is over after the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation made an $18 million dollar payment to the European Broadcasting Union.
A funding dispute between the Israeli broadcaster and the government threatened the country’s ability to host Eurovision after winning this year’s competition.
Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory and ultra-Orthodox Jewish protest against violations of the Jewish Sabbath may also be obstacles for the 2019 host nation.
Former school principal declared fit to stand extradition trial
A former school principal accused of abusing girls at a Melbourne orthodox Jewish school has been ruled fit to face an extradition hearing by Jerusalem’s chief psychiatrist.
Australia has been seeking the extradition of Malka Leifer, who is an Australian-Israeli national, since 2014.
The case stalled due to Ms Leifer presenting evidence she was unfit to stand trial, however, she was arrested in February this year and has been in a Israeli high-security women’s prison.
9am Zedlines
This has been Vivienne and Phoebe with your 9am Zedlines.
Lockyer Valley farmers are warning consumers if there is no rainfall this summer, the drought will affect the price of vegetables.
The President of the Lockyer Valley Growers Association says farmers have enough underground water to get them through until next year, but if dry conditions persist throughout summer, vegetable production will be cut next winter and increase the price of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.