Jackie Trad calls from toll-free Go-Between
Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has called for tolls on the Go Between Bridge to be removed just hours after Brisbane City Council’s transport boss ruled it out.
Council’s public and active transport chairman said the council would spend $5 million upgrading four intersections near the William Jolly Bridge to cater for extra capacity when Victoria Bridge is closed for Brisbane Metro.
Ms Trad said there had been no community consultation on the closure of the Victoria Bridge.
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Image: Wikimedia Commons/ National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution
Spanish galleon found off Columbia
One of the greatest maritime mysteries has finally been solved after 300 years.
The Spanish Galleon ship, the San Jose, sunk off the coast of Columbia, carrying $22.5 billion worth of gold, silver and emeralds.
The wreck has been dubbed the “holy-grail of shipwrecks” due to its valuable nature.
The ship’s treasure currently remains at the bottom of the sea- for now.
Police shoot Indian pollution protesters
Police have open fired and killed at least nine protesters calling for the closure of major source of pollution in southern India.
Local TV coverage of the protest showed police trying to disperse the crowd with a combination of tear-gas and a water cannon.
The plant, which produces more than 400,000 tonnes of copper every year, will remain closed until at least June 6th after failing to pass local pollution regulations.
Show Dogs movie with 'troubling message about sexual abuse' set for release in Australia
A new children’s movie with a troubling message about sexual abuse is set for release in Australia.
In the comedy Show Dogs, the main canine character is sexually abused but is advised to stay "zen" when he objects to it.
Variety declared it was aimed squarely at pre-schoolers who think bathroom and crotch jokes are the amusing.
The National Centre on Sexual Exploitation said the caper sends "a troubling message that grooms children for sexual abuse".
Crossbench senator’s Adani conflict of interest
A crossbench senator that has voted in support of the Adani Carmichael mine in central Queensland, would benefit financially from the opening of the mine.
The ABC has reported the Liberal Democrat Senator, David Leyonhjelm, has a financial interest in the Abbot Point ship terminal.
In contrast to state-based rules for councillors, Federal members are not required to abstain when voting on matters where they have a financial interest.
Only Federal cabinet ministers are required to “make arrangements to avoid conflicts of interests arising from their investments.”
Council to resume houses to deliver $40 million road upgrade
More than 25 property resumptions are required to widen a road that carries 37,000 motorists a day in North Brisbane.
The $40 million upgrade to Murphy and Ellison Roads at Geebung will require Brisbane City Council to resume 9 homes as well as parts of 17 other properties.
The $40 million upgrade is set to widen Murphy Road to four lanes from Gympie Road through to Butt Street and improve the safety at the Murphy Road, Kittyhawk Drive and Butt Street intersections.
Queensland Rail splurge on buses
Queensland Rail will spend $25 million over two years on buses to transport passengers when trains are unavailable due to track outages, according to figures obtained by the ABC under ‘Right of Information.’
Queensland Rail has spent about the same amount over the two financial years up to March 2018 on providing alternative travel during network outages.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said it was the “normal cost of maintaining a railway system.”
Eggshell Skull (a memoir): an expedition through Australia's legal system
It was a sweltering January in Brisbane, and day one of my new job as a judge's associate at the Queensland District Court. I had finished law school at the end of 2014 and returned to my home state in the new year after two months of travelling around the United States, eating hotdogs and drinking Budweiser. New stretch marks at my hips were itchy from my fast increase in weight over the holidays. Sweat was soaking into the underarms of the shirt I'd ironed that morning. Things were off to a bad, and late, start. I took a deep breath and knocked on Judge's door.
Deadly Nipah virus causes panic in India
The brain-damaging Nipah virus has caused panic in India as the death toll continues to rise.
The rare virus has claimed the lives of 10 people, with medial teams working around the clock to manage the disease. According to Health Minister K.K. Shailaja, we have no prior experience in dealing with the virus but it is being effectively contained’.
Residents living in the virus’ epicentre and presenting with symptoms like fever are ‘swarming’ hospitals to check they don’t have the virus.