Mackay wins Australian Town of the Year Award
Mackay has taken out the top spot for the 'Australian Town of the Year' award, surpassing hotspots like the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.
Travel website, Wotif based the inaugural award on demand, affordability, year-on-year interest, and the number of properties available.
The town’s highlights included watching the wallabies and kangaroos at sunrise on Cape Hillsborough, the nearby Eungella National Park, uncrowded beaches, and the Great Barrier Reef.
8am Zedlines - Monday January 22
Your 8am Zedlines with Chloe and Maddy
'Power to the Polls' rally aimed to register millions of new voters
More than a hundred thousand protesters occupied the streets of U.S. cities for the second 'Women's March', marking the anniversary of Donald Trump’s Presidential inauguration in 2017.
Hailed as a new era of political activism, organisers of the march said they were hoping to keep up the momentum from last year's anti-Trump march, which was one of the biggest mass protests in U.S. history.
Using the theme 'Power to the Polls', organisers hoped to register a million new voters and get more strong advocates for women's rights in office.
160 rescued after hotel siege in Kabul
The Intercontinental Hotel siege in Afghanistan’s capital city, Kabul, came to an end according to authorities in the nation on Sunday.
Over 160 people were rescued after Afghan troops fought through the night to regain control of the building that was taken by gunmen on Saturday evening.
The Taliban claimed it was behind the attack, an allegation that came just days after the U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a warning about extremist groups targeting “places where foreigners are known to congregate”.
Study shows migrants are aiding the Australian workforce
New research released today shows 1/3 of businesses in Australia are run by migrants.
The study, run by CGU Insurance, alleged these businesses have employed 1.41 million Australians, and predicted migrant-owned businesses could potentially create up to 200,000 new jobs in the next five to 10 years.
Small Business Spokesperson for CGU, Kate Wellard, said the research has helped challenge the perceptions that migrants are taking more than they’re giving.
Work begins on Aboriginal reserve plan
Work is now underway to improve service delivery to reserves on the outskirts of regional towns that were once used to segregate indigenous Australians from white society.
Complex land tenure agreements between the WA reserves have meant many fail to receive government services, and have become overcrowded and over-run with waste.
Ten communities were selected to receive tens of millions of dollars’ worth of upgrades to essential services, with work due to begin in the second half of the year.
Sunny days ahead, according to the Tourism and Industry Council
The Tourism and Industry Council has asked the Bureau of Meteorology for more positive forecasts, claiming mentions of bad weather are discouraging tourism.
Chief Executive of the Council, Daniel Gschwind, said forecast language such as ‘partly cloudy’ and ‘chance of rain’ should be changed to ‘mostly sunny’ and ‘likely sunshine’.
University of Queensland tourism expert, Dr Pierre Beckendorff, explained that tourist numbers drop when rain and showers are predicted.
Turnbull's $60M bid to 'future-proof' the reef
A $60 million blueprint to help ‘future-proof’ the Great Barrier Reef is expected to be unveiled by the Government today.
The scheme will roll out over 18 months, and will include a plan to reduce sediments runoff, increase water-quality police, and aid the destruction of crown-of-thorn starfish.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will reveal the plans today in Townsville in front of Australia’s leading scientists, who represent a fraction of the 64,000 professionals employed to look after the reef.
One man's trash is another man's treasure
Large volumes of almost brand-new camping equipment are being left strewn across music festival campsites, with the quantity of abandoned gear increasing every year. However, a New South Wales charity has taken advantage by salvaging trailer-fulls of reusable gear redistributing it to the most vulnerable. Here is 4ZZZ reporter Toby Crockford speaking with Hawkesbury Helping Hands founder Linda Strickland.
Let there be light: Queensland entrepreneurs reach crowdfunding target
In just two months, a trio of Logan entrepreneurs created a portable power supply for remote overseas communities, tested it in Indonesia and launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the first 100 units. It was a 'make or break' moment for the group, either they reach their $12,000 goal or refund their supporters and go back to the drawing board. Here is 4ZZZ reporter Toby Crockford speaking with PowerWells co-founder Nick Kamols.