Satellite Imagery Shows More Methane than Government Reports

Satellite imagery combined with meteorological data and atmospheric models shows Australia’s methane output could be much greater than the official greenhouse gas emissions reports. 

Research by Christian Lelong shows the methane levels above the Bowen Basin in Queensland amounts to about 1.5 million tonnes per year. 

Reports by the Australian Government in the same time period speak of only a third of the volume of methane in that area.

Greg Hunt Announces Retirement

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt is set to step down from politics in the next election. 

Mr Hunt says after two decades in politics his family and children must now take priority and he will step down from his seat in Flinders.

The minister is set to continue to oversee the management of the pandemic in the coming months until his retirement.

Police Rejects Enquiry Recommendation

The Queensland Police Commissioner has rejected the recommendation of an enquiry into the way our Police force deals with coercive control.

The enquiry came from a taskforce set to investigate the way our criminal justice system in Queensland deals with and investigates instances of coercive control.

One of the eighty-nine recommendations made by the taskforce is to establish an enquiry into the Queensland Police Service, asking the Government to investigate:

Chinchilla Issued Weather Warning

Chinchilla has been issued an emergency alert where the area North-West of Brisbane may experience flooding.

The warning was issued by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, due to Charley’s Creek peaking at moderate flood levels this morning.

Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh says locals have been preparing overnight, placing sandbags around their properties.

Horse Drawn Carts to be Banned in Melbourne CBD

Horse drawn carts could be banned in certain areas of Melbourne’s Central Business District after the Victorian Government made a proposal to ensure safer streets and protect animal welfare.

Should the proposal pass, horse drawn carriages will not be permitted on Central business district streets including Flinders Street, Spring Street, La Trobe Street and Spencer Street.

The decision comes after eight years of campaigning by the animal rights group Melbourne Against Horse Drawn Carriages.

Bangarra Appoints First Female Artistic Director

First Nations dance company Bangarra announced its appointment of its first female artistic director. 

Frances Rings will take on the role after the 2022 season which will feature a ten year anniversary remount of Ring’s work Terrain.

Bangarra's current artistic director of thirty years said the move to step down was a matter of instinct.

 

Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland Report finds Queensland lagging behind on waste and recycling targets

The Waste Recycling Industry Association of Queensland has released a report on investment in regional initiatives funded through levy collection, which found that Queensland was the last state government to sign up to the Recycling Modernisation Fund and was lagging behind on waste and recycling targets. 

With a 54% resource recovery rate, the state is a considerable way behind national leader South Australia, which has an 83% recovery rate. 

QLD universities forge ahead with vaccine mandates, in lieu of state-wide directive

QUT, Griffith University and USQ are working to impose vaccine mandates even if the Queensland Government refuses.

Premier Annastascia Palaszczuk announced mandates requiring workers at private schools, state schools, prisons, youth detention centres, and airports, but has stopped short of extending the mandate to universities.