Ratepayers splash millions on council pools
The Brisbane City Council believe millions of ratepayers’ dollars spent on pools will be beneficial as attendance is increasing by 17 per cent.
Between mid 2017 and early 2018, the 22 council pools racked up more than 1.9 million attendees which averages out at 9000 visits each day.
Yeronga Pool was most popular with over 160,000 visits during the six month period, with Newmarket Pool second-most popular behind Yeronga by almost 6000 visits.
Entry is $5.50 for adults and $4 for children.
Fifth case of measles reported in Brisbane
The fifth case of measles has been confirmed in the Brisbane region, with the latest person spending time in the Fortitude Valley nightclub area during Easter weekend.
The affected person's movements included visiting the Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct for four hours from 11pm, Saturday March 31.
Public Health physician Dr Bhakti Vasant says anyone who may have come into contact with an infectious person, and are uncertain of their immunity to measles should speak to their GP immediately.
Major Outback river flows after seven years dry
The flooding rains that drenched Winton in the first week of March has helped the Diamantina River to maintain its wildlife and bring tourism to Queensland’s south-west.
After seven years dry, the outback river has received moderate flooding that will likely keep crops growing for the next 2 years.
Local Mayor Geoff Morton called it a "handy" flood which would assist tourism, the council and more importantly graziers, who have been praying for rain.
Prominent Melbourne restaurant breaching workers rights
Former staff at one of Melbourne’s most prestigious restaurants say they worked up to 30 hours of unpaid overtime each week, leaving their payslips short hundreds of dollars.
ABC Radio spoke to 6 former staff members, including a former chef at the now-closed Cafe Vue on St Kilda Road, who said he would often work up to 80 hours a week for 40 hours' pay.
The restaurant’s parent company, Vue Group, denies the allegations, saying staff are "at times rostered to do reasonable overtime".
Chemical attack in Syria kills 70
At least 70 people have died in a suspected chemical attack in the suburb of Douma, the last rebel-held town in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta.
The attack after nightfall on Saturday sent a stream of patients with burning eyes and breathing problems to clinics, medical and rescue groups said.
Western governments were quick to condemn the attack, with the British Foreign Office calling for a much-needed investigation and saying that if the use of chemical weapons proved to be true, it is further proof of the brutality of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Hungary’s PM set for re-election
Hungary’s right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban is set for a record third term in office with his party holding a comfortable lead after a general election on Sunday.
The ruling Fidesz party is expected to hold a majority, but there have been doubts as to whether it could retain its “supermajority” - a two-thirds control of the 199 seat parliament, which has allowed them to pass controversial laws since being in power.
First Nations people protests the Commonwealth Games
Indigenous activists around the country will make a protest action on Gold Coast at Camp Freedom at the Spit at 6:30pm.
The protest is calling for fair and equitable justice for their people and is organised by Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance - WAR, The Queensland Rohingya community, and RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex Detainees to make action against genocide, dispossession and torture.
Berlin police arrest six over attack plot
Berlin police have arrested six people who they suspect were planning a city-endangering, violent attack.
The suspects, aged between age 18 and 21, were believed to have been preparing a knife attack against the city’s Sunday half marathon, and had been linked to a Tunisian Islamist who killed 12 people in a truck attack in December, 2016.
Several addresses and devices have been seized and searched and Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller thanked the city’s protection forces for preventing such an attack with their “vigilance and police work”.
Hundreds attend funeral of Palestinian journalist killed in Gaza
Hundreds of colleagues and friends have attended the funeral of Palestinian video journalist Yasser Murtaja, who was killed as he covered Friday’s mass border protests in the Gaza Strip.
Murtaja was shot despite wearing a flak jacket with clear press markings as he filmed protests in the Palestinian town of Khuzaa.
He was one of at least nine Palestinians killed by Israeli fire at various points along the border during the day. 31 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the past week.
Remembering devoted Country Liberal Graeme Lewis
Former Country Liberal Party (CLP) leader Graeme Lewis has passed away on Sunday.
The long-serving figure was one of the founding members of the Country Liberal Party in the Northern Territory, and previously held the position of party president and treasurer.
Current CLP leaders remember Lewis as a proud “Territorian” who was "committed to fighting for small business, rural industry and better services.