QUT Students Demand Reduced Fees

A cohort of international students enrolled at the Queensland University of Technology who have been forced to study online are demanding a reduction of fees.

Students are pleading that on-campus fees should be discounted given the pandemic has forced home study.

Tesla's Big Battery Under Fire

Tesla is being sued by the Australian Energy Regulator after its South Australian mega battery allegedly fails to assist the power grid in times of catastrophe.

After a Queensland coal plant failure in 2019, the 150-megawatt battery failed to provide short notice energy supply, leading to a power outage across South Australia.

Moderna Arrives in Aussie Pharmacies

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be rolled out to over 1,800 pharmacies across the nation this week, becoming Australia’s 3rd available vaccine.

Pharmacy guild Professor Trent Twomey says the introduction of Moderna creates a tipping point in Australia’s fight against the virus, as for the first time our supply of vaccines now exceeds demand.

WHO Changes Air Quality Guidelines

The World Health Organisation has updated its Air Quality Guidelines after new data shows air pollution contributes to over 7 million premature deaths a year.

The guidelines had not been updated since 2005, with WHO claiming they now possess a strong enough body of evidence to change the restrictions on air pollution.

Financial Uncertainty in Cairns

1 in 3 workers in Cairns are employed as casuals, according to a new report from the Queensland Council of Unions. 

It’s well above the national average for casual employees of 21.9%, and contributing to a broad sense of financial instability in Cairns.

Toowoomba to Become New Home for Boeing

Aerospace manufacturer Boeing has announced new unmanned combat drones will be developed in Queensland, as part of a new commercial deal with the Palaszczuk government and the Wagner corporation.

The state of the art facility to be developed at Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport will produce the “Loyal Wingman” drones, to be used in combat alongside manned craft.

Queensland Bubble Tightened, Byron Sent into Lockdown

Queensland has tightened border restrictions for the Tweed and Byron shires that effectively exclude them from the ‘border bubble’ zone, after a positive COVID case triggered a snap 7-day-lockdown. 

The positive case was a reality TV show crew member who travelled from Sydney to Byron Bay under a work exemption.