QLD on high alert after Covid-infected Sydney man travels to SEQ

Queensland Health authorities are on high alert after a Sydney man, who was infected with COVID-19, travelled into Brisbane just days before the hard border closure.

The flight attendant who picked the man up from Ballina airport, in New South Wales, has since become infected, however, initial fears that she spread the virus to regional communities while infectious have now been dismissed.

The man tested positive on the 12th of July, however, an error from the pathology clinic meant he was sent a text message saying he had a negative result.

Questions arise over Palaszczuk's hotel quarantine stay

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is again under fire for her hotel quarantine stay, after arriving from Tokyo after a successful Olympics 2032 bid.

She is being accused of having organised a stay in an upgraded suite at one of Brisbane’s quarantine hotels, however her office denied those claims.

Acting Premier Steven Miles assured Queenslanders that any other returning traveller could find themselves in the same room at another time, and that she is being treated equally.

 

Campbell Newman resigns from LNP

Former Queensland Premier and Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman, has resigned from the Liberal National Party.

The reason is being cited as the failure of the political wing to stand up for the party’s core values.

Mr Newman says the destruction of people’s livelihoods, jobs and freedoms under governments’ heavy-handed response to Covid-19 across the nation was the last straw.

Protests in Sydney against Covid restrictions

Demonstrations have taken place in Sydney, with smaller protests held in Melbourne and in Brisbane at the Botanic Gardens, against tight restrictions imposed to tackle a rise in Covid cases.

People chanted "freedom" as they marched through the centre of Sydney.

Officers say they have made 57 arrests.

A statement from the force says, "the NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, however, the protest is in breach of the current Covid-19 Public Health Orders."

Great Barrier Reef not listed as an endangered world heritage site

Australia, on Friday, avoided having the Great Barrier Reef listed as an endangered world heritage site by UNESCO, despite extensive climate change-spurred damage to the ecosystem’s corals.

Climate Council spokesman Will Steffen says Australia must stop censoring science, and start taking the steps required to help protect the reef.

UNESCO has accused Australia of failing to meet key water quality and land management targets, while also taking aim at the country’s conservative government for its lacklustre climate efforts.

March in Budapest against new LGBTQI+ discrimination

Thousands of people marched through the capital city of Hungary, Budapest, to defend the rights of the LGBTQI+ community.

It comes after the government tried to limit discussion of homosexuality and transgender issues in schools.

A law to limit teaching on the subject came into force this month and Prime Minister Viktor Orban plans to back it up with a referendum.

A spokesperson for Hatter, the country's leading LGBTQI+ rights association, says that the law "encourages" and "legitimises being openly homophobic or transphobic."

JAZZPARTY: Nobody Gets Away

<p><span><span>- Mondays, <em>ugh</em>, amiright? There’s at least one song about it, no wait I can think of several. Admittedly this was before we lived in an endless now where all time is some kind of beige background that you scream into and nobody can hear. Monday was once, however, the weekly focal point of our collected, psychic horror. That is except for one plucky band of musos, who, exhausted by weekends gigging soulless gigs, decided -on their industry’s day of rest- to have a jam.

Molly Burch: Romantic Images

<p><span><span>- Since her first full length studio album release <em>Please be Mine</em> in 2018, Austin-based singer/songwriter Molly Burch has leant further and further into her jazz roots, to much success. <em>Romantic Images </em>is Burch’s fourth album release, and a distinct revolution stylistically and sonically.

No cases linked to Sunshine Coast infection risk.

Queensland has recorded no cases of COVID-19 linked to the woman who visited several locations around the Sunshine Coast while infected last week.

 

Health authorities were expecting more local cases after a fully vaccinated woman was infectious in the community between July 15 and 17.

 

Health authorities have released a list of exposure sites the woman visited which include major transport hubs and they urged anyone who was at these sites to monitor symptoms and get tested if they notice any.

 

Queensland had 25 active cases on Friday.