Bribie Residents call for Urgent Measures to Protect Wildlife

Bribie Island residents are urgently calling for a raft of measures in a bid to protect native animals from becoming roadkill as tourism and development grows. 

Resident Ken Salisbury has launched an online petition which is pushing for the council to take measures to protect the native flora and fauna on the island. 

Mr Salisbury says the wildlife is an integral feature of the island and is what influences many people to move to the island or travel for day trips

NSW Recruits over 500 STEM Teachers from Interstate and Abroad

The NSW government is set to bring in over 500 science and maths teachers from interstate and overseas.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell says the government will spend more than 13 million dollars to recruit qualified STEM teachers.

Mrs Mitchell says the plan to recruit outstanding teachers is part of a broader strategy to boost the workforce. 

The state government has also announced extra funding to increase teacher numbers in regional and rural areas.

 

Ontario Government to spend 1 million on Indigenous Tourism

The Ontario government is planning to spend 1 million dollars to assist Indigenous Tourism Ontario by developing a travelling exhibit to promote Indigenous culture and innovation across northern Ontario.

The Indigenous Ingenuity exhibit, which is a collaboration between Indigenous Tourism Ontario and Science North, will highlight historical and modern aspects of Indigenous culture and innovation. 

Through interactive and educational displays, the influence of traditional Indigenous knowledge and techniques will be demonstrated.

 

Catholic Church backs Uluru Statement

Catholic church leaders are recognising first nations people, as Brisbane's Archbishop Mark Coleridge voices support for the Uluru Statement. 

The Uluru Statement calls for the establishment of a ‘First Nations Voice’ in the Australian Constitution and a ‘Makarrata Commission’ to supervise ‘agreement-making’ between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Archbishop Coleridge says “Only a heart of stone could allow the indigenous peoples to become aliens, exiles, and refugees in their own land,”

 

Pressure to vaccinate Year 12s ahead of exams

Pressure is mounting on Queensland to vaccinate year 12s against COVID 19 to avoid disruption to exams. 

Infectious disease expert Dr Paul Griffin says year 12 students should be treated as a priority group for vaccines in Queensland.

It comes after New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia implemented strategies to prioritise the vaccination of senior students to limit interruptions to their final year.

Queensland’s final school exams start on October 22 and end on November 16.

 

QPS has Single Biggest Recruit Intake in a Decade

The Queensland Police Service will have the single biggest police recruit intake in a decade.

QPS will deliver more than 2000 extra personnel as Police Minister Mark Ryan says the investment is “all part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery” as the police play a vital role in “protecting the economy”.

The investment will include a 300 million dollar capital works program.

First LGBTQI+ Indigenous Commissioner calls for better services

Australia's first Indigenous LGBTIQ+ Commissioner is calling for better services and safer spaces for the First Nations and queer community. 

Wiradjuri man Todd Fernando is the second commissioner to ever hold the role after its creation in 2015, and his focus is on intersecting identities of race and queerness. 

Mr Fernando says First Nations people often feel the need to minimise their culture to connect with their LGBTQI+ identities.

Public Inquiry into Financial Mismanagement begins

A three-week public inquiry begins today into the financial mismanagement of the New South Wales Central Coast Council, which accrued more than half a billion dollars in debt. 

The commissioner will look at whether council's actions contributed to its financial position, and whether it had regard for its financial sustainability. 

Suspended mayor Lisa Matthews will be the first to be investigated.