Property prices rise across the state while Sydney slows
In the next three years, house prices in Brisbane, Perth and Canberra are expected to surge by the most, while the Sydney market slows to a crawl.
Though in the short-term, property price growth will remain weak, or even decline in some markets, according to industry analyst BIS Oxford Economics in its latest report.
It argues this is due to tighter lending criteria, particularly a crackdown on interest-only loans and record levels of dwelling construction being completed which may lead to an oversupply in some states.
Compassion for refugees will see more boats Minister warns
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said Australians must guard against compassion towards refugees as it could undo the government’s hard-fought success in discouraging people smugglers.
Minister Dutton said it was essential that people realise that the hard-won success of the past few years could be undone overnight but a single act of compassion in bringing 20 people from Manus to Australia.
He said that the boats haven’t gone away and if there was a success defined by an arrival of a boat then the word would spread like wildfire.
US government pulls military support for rebels
Syrian rebels in the south-west of the country have been warned by the US government to not expect military support to help resist a government offensive.
The news comes after russian jets hit opposition-held town to expand syrian army offensive in area bordering Jordan and Golan Heights.
Washington said rebels should not base their decisions on the assumption or expectation of military intervention by the US.
EU free travel area under threat says Italian Prime Minister
Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte said EU border free travel zone is under threat due to increasing migration into Mediterranean countries.
Conte said a 10 point plan from his government presented at a mini EU-summit in Brussels, represented a paradigm shift in dealing with migration.
The plan revived previous proposals such as countries being docked EU funds if they refuse to take in refugees and calling on all EU members to share responsibility for migrants rescued at sea.
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Brisbane residents have their say in Liveability Survey
Thousands of Brisbane residents had said what they want to see in their city through the Brisbane Liveability Survey.
More than 2200 residents said they supported introducing trams, light rail and better public transport in general, as well as a clean river, canals in the suburbs and happy people.
The Liveability Survey results and the planning implications will be further explored with Lord Mayor Graham Quirk during his State of the City address at an event next Tuesday.
Research shows Queenslanders lazy with eye tests
According to research commissioned by Specsavers, more than five per cent of Queenslanders over 40 have never had an eye test and more than a quarter are experiencing unchecked distance vision problems.
A third of Queenslanders over 40 have experienced close-up vision problems they haven’t reported which is higher than the the national average.
Specsavers Runaway Bay optometrist director Simon Kelly said there was no excuse and couldn’t understand why people wouldn’t get their eyes checked
Healthengine sharing information with personal injury law firms
An ABC investigation has revealed that Australia’s biggest online doctor’s appointment booking service funnelled hundreds of users private medical information to a law firm.
Secret documents obtained by ABC from plaintiff law giant Slater and Gordon reveal HealthEngine was passing on a daily list of prospective clients to the firm, based on personal medical information and part of a “referral partnership pilot” last year.
Radio show helps boost attendance in regional Tasmania
School attendance rates have risen at a Primary School in far north-west Tasmania following the introduction of a weekly podcast program.
A group of Smithton Primary School students write, edit and produce a weekly 15 minute radio program to celebrate and learn about the school’s cultural kaleidoscope.
Principal Leslee White said that attendance rates have gone up by two per cent at the school.
Lift on Saudi Arabia driving ban to help economy
Saudi Arabia has ended it’s driving ban on women in a move to veer the economy from its reliance on oil.
The participation of women in the labour market is poor and Middle East based Bloomberg economist, Ziad Daoud said lifting the ban is likely to increase the number of women looking for jobs therefore overall income and output.
The changes will take time but larger participation of women could lift potential economic growth by as much as 0.9% a year.