Covid concerns escalate as multiple people in a Melbourne detention facility test positive. 

After being transferred from Adelaide to Melbourne two weeks ago, Kurdish-Iranian man Mohammed Sorabi tested positive last Thursday after repeatedly asking for a vaccine. 

Another unnamed man in the same facility says it is very difficult to socially distance themselves in detention with often seating six to a table during meal times. 

The Australian Border Force says the situation is currently under investigation. 

Changes in the migration act could see more foreign-born criminals deported

The federal government will persist in making it easier to deport violent criminals who were born overseas.

The legislation which has been stalling for over two years will be reintroduced to the senate in a push to better protect women and children who have been victims of foreign-born sex offenders.

Under proposed changes, those committing serious offences which carry a jail term of over two years could be subject to deportation.

Oil prices hit their highest level in years yesterday. 

A natural gas and coal shortage, relaxing Covid restrictions and power generation opting for oil over gas is driving demand. ANZ bank analysts says, “easing restrictions around the world are likely to help the recovery in fuel consumption.” 

He goes on to say, the switch from gas to oil in power generation could see demand for oil rise to 45,000 barrels per day. The Organisation of Petroleum Countries says oil will remain number one despite push for greener alternatives. 

Research of 227 butterflies from the Torres Strait Islands will help local communities and officials to address the impacts of climate change. 

Dr Trevor Lambkin, alongside the Torres Strait Island Regional Council has compiled a database of local butterflies, mapping distribution and detailed checklists. 

Dr Lambkin says butterflies are a quote “good yardstick” to measure impacts on biodiversity with populations of the mangrove flash butterfly decreasing due to rising sea levels affecting their muddy habitat.

Protestors attempting to protect the sacred site Djaki Kundu site have been removed after being labelled as trespassers by police. 

The Kabi Dreaming Group alleges a cultural ceremony was interrupted by Queensland Police, with Elder, Kabi Council of Elders Keeper of Records Diane Djaki Widjung being arrested and charged with a failure to comply with a move -on direction. 

Ms Djaki Widjung says the sacred site for important law gatherings has a connection to the seven sisters dreaming, the water spirit dreaming and four fish dreaming songlines.

A mute asylum seeker detained in Australia for 8 years has been granted approval to be released into the community under guard or moved to Nauru. 

The decision to relocate the asylum seeker came after it was found the prolonged detention in Australia was contributing to his poor mental health. 

The asylum seeker known as AZC20 in court documents fled from Iran seeking protection in Australia and has been held in detention centres since. 

The NSW government will put 130 million dollars towards mental health after alarming rates of self harm were reported throughout the pandemic.

The funding will assist in suicide preventation by giving public access to a range of private psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health beds. It will also provide training for 275,000 people including parents and teachers. 

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says this scheme recognises mental health as being quote “the untold story of the pandemic ''. 

Australia has gained access to two new COVID-19 treatments. 

Health Minister Greg Hunt is expecting Queensland to be supplied with 15,000 doses of Ronapreve and 500,000 courses of the Pfizer oral antiviral drug. 

It is believed that the first supply of Ronapreve is expected in Australia by the end of this month and the oral Pfizer is expected to be made available over the course of next year. 

Clinical trials in June found Ronapreve reduced hospitalisation by 70.4 per cent while trials are still underway for the oral Pfizer.

The Prime Minister of Spain has pledged to abolish prostitution in the country. 

While sexual exploitation and pimping are illegal in Spain, prostitution is unregulated and the industry drives demand for human trafficking. 

At the end of a three day congress Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez discussed the new policies introduced by his government which include tougher domestic violence laws alongside reducing the rates of prositiution.