Canada is ending their covid-19 policy of turning away asylum seekers

Canada is ending their covid-19 policy of turning away asylum seekers.

Since march, Canada has turned away 544 would-be refugees as a result of increased Covid measures. 

Refugee lawyer Maureen Silcoff said it didn't make sense to allow entry to tourists while denying entry to people seeking protection. 

The federal government is urging Queensland to reconsider its Covid test mandate for interstate hotspot arrivals

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has sent a letter to QLD health minister Yvette D’Ath to “raise concerns” about Queensland's testing policy, with the federal health department describing the testing as “not clinically relevant”. 

Tourists may soon be asked to pay if they want to travel to the tip of Cape York

The Northern Peninsula Area estimates 80,000 visitors passed through since April, putting extreme pressure on the region's resources. 

Mayor Patricia Yusia says, “we need more influx of dollars coming into the northern peninsula area communities, to try and look at how we can address those issues.

 

Two First Nations people are seeking to halt the expansion of the Glencore coal mine in Ravensworth New South Wales

The two Wonnarua men describe the land as “hallowed ground” of the Wonnarua people. 

Glencore has taken out an advertisement in the community paper naming the duo stating they are “seeking to stop our project”. 

Mr Franks described the advertisement as a “flat-out attack on First Nations people.”

Kenyan vaccine mandate

The Kenyan health minister is announcing, from the 21st December, locals will not be allowed in bars, restaurants and public transport without being fully vaccinated. 

Having only administered vaccines to 10% of the population, 20 million Kenyans are yet to have their first dose. 

Once a tourist destination, a Far North Queensland resort has been home for families with nowhere else to go

However those living in barely habitable villas, some without hot water at Kuranda Resort have been given eviction notices. 

Mareeba Community Housing Manager Patricia Goldfinch says her organisation is working with about 30 families after they had been given eviction notices following liquidation of two thirds of the villas. 

A Central Queensland cattle farming company has lost its battle against a $1 billion coal mine

Sunland, the 110 square kilometre cattle property is downstream from the proposed mine site and in front of the Isaac River. 

A number of objections were made against the proposals, mainly on the basis the mine would severely impact the quantity, quality and ecology of the water in the Isaac River. 

Penny Wong voices concerns over Morrison government's position on Taiwan

Labor frontbencher Penny Wong is set to denounce the Morrison Government’s position on Taiwan as they talk up the prospect of joining a war over the country. 

Wong says the Morrison Government is embarking on, “the most dangerous election tactic in Australian history”.