Pushes for equitable age pension for First Nations Peoples

A Victorian legal challenge aims to lower the eligibility for the age pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Human Rights Law Centre argue, given the gap in life expectancy it is inequitable and discriminatory to hold both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to the same retirement age. 

The case is led by Dennis, a 64-year-old Wakka Wakka man raised on the Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement in Queensland

Disability Awards to be held in Tasmania

Northern Tasmania will host the inaugural 2021 Tasmanian Disability Festival Award, on December 3rd. 

The awards are celebrating organisations and individuals who provide outstanding support to people with disabilities.

Tasmanian Disability Festival co-director Dan Ryan says the 2021 awards were a first for the state and are intended to be as inclusive as possible. 

Mr Ryan encourages the public to nominate individuals who go above and beyond, but also businesses who are active in supporting the disability sector.

 

Same-Sex Marriage Passes in Switzerland

Switzerland has voted by a wide margin to allow same-sex couples to marry, in a referendum bringing the Alpine nation into line with many others in western Europe. 

 

Official results show the measure passed with 64 point one per cent of voters in favour, and won a majority in all of Switzerland's 26 states. 

 

Supporters say the change in law will put same-sex partners on equal legal footing with heterosexual couples, facilitating adoption and citizenship for same-sex spouses.

 

New Guidelines to Improve Quality of Life for Children with Cerebral Palsy

A panel led by University of Queensland researchers have drafted new guidelines for treatment of children with cerebral palsy.

Associate Professor Leanne Sakzewski has said the guidelines will make it easier for children and families to select and use treatments.

Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood with around 600 children diagnosed in Australia every year

Calls to Identify Companies That Claimed JobKeeper Payments

According to a recent survey, a majority of Australian voters support calls to identify the top 10,000 companies that claimed Job Keeper payments last year.

The order to produce the information is also backed by Labor, the Greens, One Nation, and Jacqui Lambie.

Treasurer Josh Frydenburg has said that revealing the figures would undermine Government confidentiality.

Russian Film Crew to Shoot New Movie in Space

A Russian film crew has completed their training in preparation for a trip to the international space station to film a new movie. They will spend 12 days in orbit filming the project.

The drama, called 'Challenge', is about a doctor who is sent to space to perform urgent surgery on an astronaut

The mission is scheduled for launch on October 5

$750 Million Brisbane M1 Upgrade Now Open

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Minister Mick De Brenni have officially opened the $750 million M1 upgrade between Eight Mile Plains and Underwood this morning.

The upgrade has been in progress for the last year and aims to reduce peak hour congestion and improve safety in the area.