Waste Collection company forced to put recyclables into landfill

Australia’s largest waste collector Cleanaway said it could be forced to send some recyclables to landfill or stop collecting kerbside bins in three Perth Metro Councils unless local governments involved do not agree to higher fees.

Australia sells the vast majority of recyclables to majority traders who then on-sell to markets such as Indonesia, Korea and China for remanufacturing with China being the biggest buyer until recently.

Alleged refugee suicide attempt on Nauru

An Iranian refugee allegedly attempted suicide Monday night on Nauru after her application for resettlement in the US was rejected.

Several Iranians have now had their applications rejected while Nepalese, Rohingyan and Pakistani refugees have been accepted, leading to tensions on the island as people are becoming convinced Iranians and Somalians will not be accepted for resettlement, according to refugee action groups.

Largest solar farm being considered near Toowoomba

Somerset regional Council is considering a 1500-megawatt solar farm north-east of Toowoomba, which if completed, will be one of the largest in Australia.

Somerset Mayor, Graema Lehmann, said the development application has been referred to various government departments.

Ms Lehmann said the solar farm would include two substations, facilities for up to 60 employees and provision for battery storage.

Overcrowding in Queensland prisons creates higher risk of violence

Queensland Corrective Services have revealed the extent of overcrowding in Queensland prisons as part of a watchdog investigation into corruption risks in jails.

Since January 2012, the states prison population has increased by more than 50 per cent and as of March this year, Queensland correctional centres were operating at a capacity of 131 per cent.

Hezbollah wins a majority of seats in Lebanese election

Hezbollah, a Shi’a islamist political party and militant group, have won a majority of seats in Lebanon’s recent election.

This was the first time Lebanon has held an election in nine years and was marked by a lower turnout than before, reflecting voter frustration over endemic corruption and a stagnant economy.

An Israeli minister said the election results now mean Lebanon and Hezbollah are indistinguishable.

 

Heavy rain trigger more landslides in Rwanda

Heavy rain caused deadly landslides in Rwanda over the weekend, killing at least 18 people.

Executive Secretary of Rwankuba sector, Vedaste Kuzbaganwa, said the search for missing residents was completed by Monday evening and there were no more residents unaccounted for.

Multiple landslides have been triggered by heavy rains since the beginning of the year, and have now brought the death toll to 200.

Great Australian Bight oil drilling proposal to put entire ecosystems at risk

Environmentalists are warning that oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight could put entire ecosystems at risk, 80 to 85 per cent of species in the area are endemic and the remote area is mainly untouched by humans.

The Norwegian company Statoil is seeking approval to conduct exploratory oil drilling and currently has two permits from BP.

If Statoil’s plan is approved exploratory drilling could begin 200 kilometres off the South Australian coast by the end of next year.

Liberal MP says he could live on $40 a day

A second Liberal MP has declared they could live on Newstart, following Julia Banks’s similar statement last Wednesday.   

Tim Wilson stated on Q&A last night, he could live on what would be $40 a day, or 40% of minimum wage and resisted suggestions to increase allowances stating the money would have to come from somewhere else.

Wilson also defended the 65 billion dollar tax cut for big companies proposed by the Government, when fellow panellist Jeremy Heimans, co founder of GetUp! suggested the money could come from there.