Brisbane CBD Businesses Prepared For Struggles As Working From Home Normalizes

Brisbane CBD businesses face an existential threat after COVID-19, with people preferring to work from home. 

With the option for more autonomy and flexibility in the workplace, experts have said how much freedom employers give and employees take will be a lasting "future struggle". 

In a monthly survey of office landlords, the Property Council of Australia had revealed today that only 60 per cent of Brisbane workers are back in the city - a drop in numbers that has not been seen since this time last year.

 

 

Gold Coast Council Confiscates Homeless Civilians Belongings

Homeless people on the Gold Coast are having their belongings, including clothes, blankets and identification, confiscated by council workers.

Richard, one of hundreds of people living on the streets in the Coolangatta area, keeps what he has in a trolley and moves around regularly, trying to stay unnoticed and not bother anyone. Richard says he and his friends have had to resort to taking shifts to look after their possessions to avoid being targeted.

Brisbane to Host Historical Grand Final

The NRL grand final will move away from Sydney for the first time, with Brisbane's Lang Park confirmed as venue.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed Lang Park as the new host this afternoon.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the news at Sunshine Coast Stadium, where the NRL finals will start on Friday with the first qualifying final between Melbourne and Manly.

 

Australia Government Warns of Kabul Airlift Scam

The Australian government has issued a warning over an online scam aimed at those wanting to help children who were separated from their parents during the chaos of the Kabul airlift.

There's been a huge outpouring of support for the children, but the community has been warned about a scam circulating online asking people for their bank details via phone and email.

 

Formerly Imprisoned Teen Sues Media Companies

Australian media companies could be liable for third-party comments made on their social media posts after the High Court upheld a ruling on a case by a formerly imprisoned teen who sued media companies over comments about him.

The decision on Wednesday creates a precedent applying to Australian media companies, which potentially makes them liable as publishers of comments from other social media users as though they made the statements themselves.

Climate Change Vulnerable Countries Push for 'Emergency Pact'

Countries most vulnerable to climate change call for 'emergency pact' ahead of the 26th conference of the parties between nations, After more than 1,500 climate non-government organisations call for the summit to be postponed over COVID-19 concerns.

The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), which consists of countries in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Caribbean, and Latin America, said progress on limiting the impacts of global warming has stalled.

Pop-up Vaccination Hubs Announced at Football Events

Queenslanders will now be able to get their COVID-19 jab at the football from this weekend with the government trialing a stadium pop-up vaccination hub.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, “The pop-up vaccination centre will open at the elimination final in Rockhampton this weekend so people can get their vaccine and also go to the footy.”

The announcement comes as the Queensland government steps up its attacks on the federal government's rhetoric about vaccine distribution.

 

Brisbane Start-up Strikes Big with Microsoft Acquisition

Microsoft has recently made its first Australian deal in over 10 years, scooping up Brisbane-based video editing startup Clipchamp. 

Climpchamp, first established in 2013, is an easy-to-use editing software. Its' team of 90-strong Brisbane employee’s will now move across to Microsoft in what has been described as a very good outcome for the business. 

Disability Advocates Condemn State Government Covid Notices as Clumsy

Disability advocates and health policy experts have condemned premiers and health officials for the reference to underlying health conditions when announcing COVID-19 fatalities.

It has become common practice for authorities to state in their daily press conferences whether someone had an underlying health condition when giving details of COVID-19 related deaths.

Disability advocates say disclosing an underlying health condition is tantamount to "victim-blaming", saying the clumsy use of language appears to diminish the importance of certain deaths.