Commercial free to air television stations requested the Commonwealth Government ensure free to air channels are presented prominently on Smart TV screens.

Free TV Australia, an organisation representing channels seven, nine and ten, called for legislation that would require TV manufacturers make it easy for Australians to find free-to-air channels and apps on Smart TVs.

A report published on 17/01/2022 by the Australia Institute found Western Australia’s offshore gasfields paid minimal royalties.

The report, titled 'Gas-fired Robbery', showed how only $430M was paid to the state despite the industry having generated $27B in exports in 2021.

Demonstrators said the Taliban peppered sprayed crowds who were demanding the protection of women’s rights in Afghanistan on Sunday.

A crowd of around 20 gathered in front of Kabul University, chanting "equality and justice" and carrying banners that read "Women's rights, human rights".

The protest came in the wake of the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan and their imposition of increased restrictions on women.

Brisbane: Forecast top of 31 degrees, partly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers. The UV index is predicted to reach Extreme.

Frustrations continue for residents of Brisbane’s Western Suburbs as they deal with traffic congestion and limited access across the river.

Both special interest groups and residents claim the Western suburbs are being neglected of necessary infrastructure and are calling on the governments to construct a bridge to connect Belbowrie and Moggil to the Wacol area.

Deputy state coroner Jane Bentley criticised Queensland Police’s response to a missing person in a report published last week.

Ms Bentley determined the police were not thorough enough in their search for Monique Clubb 9 years ago and that the investigation was marred by poor intra-police co-operation.

Ms Clubb is remembered as a “second mum” to her five siblings and as a “promising young student and with hopes of a bright future”.

Access to the beach at Emu Park has been improved in a collaborative project between Livingstone Shire Council, the Iwasaki Foundation and the Emu Park Surf Lifesaving Club.

The Livingstone Shire Council is currently auditing the accessibility of all it’s beaches.

In speaking to the ABC, lobby group Accessible Beaches and Sasha Job from CQUniversity pointed to evidence of the inaccessibility of most Queensland beaches and called for more councils to include people with disabilities in decision making in projects that propose to improve accessibility.

Gina Cass-Gottlieb, a former trust fund lawyer for the Murdoch family, was appointed chairperson of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The ACCC is designed to deal with issues of consumer fairness and business competition.

The appointment by Josh Frydenberg received much criticism, including from former Prime Minster Kevin Rudd.

The Hillsong Church apologised for organising live music as part of a religious camp held last week in New South Wales.

The event caused public outrage as it was perceived to have been in contravention of re-imposed covid restrictions in NSW that prohibit singing and dancing at music festivals, hospitality venues, nightclubs, entertainment facilities and major recreation facilities.

The Church was not fined.

An underwater Volcano in the Pacific Ocean at Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai erupted Saturday afternoon.

The eruption triggered a tsunami which flooded parts of the Kingdom of Tonga and prompted Tsunami warnings for the Australian East Coast.

The tsunami compromised telecommunications in Tonga.

Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-16/hunga-tonga-haapai-volcano-erupt…