Environment Minister defends government after criticism from the UN
Environment Minister, Susan Ley, has defended the government’s handling of the Great Barrier Reef after recommendations from UN officials to take, “accelerated action at all possible levels” on climate change.
UNESCO has suggested the Great Barrier Reef be listed as an “in danger” location, making it the first official World Heritage site affected by climate change.
Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander children overrepresented in juvenile detention
A commission into Queensland’s youth justice system reveals Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander children are overrepresented in juvenile detention.
The report reveals while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children accounted for seven per cent of the total population of ten to seventeen-year-olds in Queensland, they made up forty-five per cent of young offenders in 2018-19.
Toll price increase set for July 1st
Tolls and fee prices are set to increase throughout Southeast Queensland next week in line with the Brisbane Consumer Price Index.
The increase will begin on the 1st of July and the tunnels and roads affected will be the Clem7, the Go-Between Bridge, Legacy Way and the Toowoomba ByPass.
$52 million owed for hotel quarantine repayments
Queensland Health is attempting to recover millions of dollars of unpaid hotel quarantine fees, putting pressure on those who have overdue payments.
Only 44% of invoices have been paid for leaving $52 million dollars left outstanding. 18% of the invoices are considered ‘overdue’, and 9.7% listed as significantly overdue.
Nationals refuse to progress climate policies
Barnaby Joyce states, the year 2050 is too far away to be sure to reach the LNP’s target of net zero emissions.
The new Deputy Prime Minister is pursuing a more aggressive stance against the net zero target than his predecessor Michael McCormack.
9AM ZEDLINES
With Stam, Min-gyu and Ella.
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US acknowledges vaccine target won't be met
The US White House has accepted the fact that the July vaccination target will not be met after a large drop in the daily vaccination rates.
The target aimed to have 70% of American citizens over 18 vaccinated by the 4th of July with officials estimating only 67% of American adults will be vaccinated by the holiday.
Iranian President to potentially support nuclear deal
Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, has backed a potential nuclear deal in attempts to improve current relations with the US and remove sanctions that have caused economic grief in Iran.
The nuclear deal was initially called off by then-president Donald Trump in 2018, however current president Joe Biden agreed to continue negotiations with Iran and has just concluded their 6th round of talks.
Teachers call for proper funding for state schools
Teachers are calling for the federal government to properly fund every state school in Queensland.
While moves to decrease federal funding for some independent schools have prompted outrage in the private education sector, the Queensland Teachers Union tells Four Triple Zed it’s state schools the federal government is leaving behind.
Local Government to support disadvantaged Indigenous Australians
Local Government have backed moves to give Indigenous Australians a greater say in how they address entrenched disadvantage in their local communities.
A motion put forward by East Arnhem Regional Council to support nationally consistent recognition of Aboriginal controlled councils was carried unanimously at yesterday’s session of the NGA.