Kerbside collection back by July

The Labor government is claiming a victory with the return of Kerbside collection following a year long campaign against Adrian Schrinner and the LNP’s decision to slash the vital community service.

Fighting alongside Brisbane residents, over six thousand petition signatures and public rallies have secured the reinstatement of kerbside collection by July.

The Lord Mayor announced the return of the service yesterday.

Senate Shuts Down Proposed Christian Porter Probe

The federal government has been accused of thriving on secrecy after they blocked a bill that would establish an inquiry into Christian Porter’s fitness to remain cabinet minister, being introduced to Parliament. 

Greens senator Larissa Waters, who was blocked from introducing the bill, said the decision prevents a key transparency measure to ensure a functioning democracy. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison had previously rejected the prospect of an independent inquiry, describing Mr. Porter as an “innocent man under our law”.

$2.5 billion software upgrade for Coles

Coles will spend $2.5 billion dollars over the next two years to improve self-serve checkouts, online shopping and data systems.

Coles’ market share has decreased as it has fewer stores in suburban areas, which often were the only stores residents could attend due to travel restrictions.

Coles is working with two international tech companies to build automated warehouses and fulfilment centres.

South Carolina suffers lethal injections

The top court in US state South Carolina has blocked two executions by electric chair set for this month under the state’s recently revised capital punishment law, as the US state scrambles to find alternatives to lethal injections amidst a drug shortage.  

South Carolina had planned to execute two convicted murderers by electric chair on Friday, the first use of capital punishment in the state in a decade.

Callide station power back on

Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni is welcoming the return of unit B1 at Callide Power Station earlier today.

Following an effort involving more than 300 employees and contractors, unit B1 was turned back on and is now flowing reliable and firmed energy into the grid.

The explosion of one of its turbines cut electricity to over 400,000 Queenslanders late last month.

New Queensland train fleet planned

Queensland is one step closer to building its next passenger train fleet after shortlisting three leading train manufacturers to enter the next phase of the Rollingstock Expansion Program.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said it builds on the two hundred and eighty three jobs saved by the Palaszczuk Government in 2017, and all up delivers a $1 billion guaranteed pipeline of train building work in Maryborough.

New ferries proposed in Brisbane budget, Norman park left out

Despite community outcry, the Brisbane City Council have not elected to reinstate the Norman Park cross-river ferry.

The cancelled service provides transport to 139 residents a day. 

Whilst the Norman Park service was cut, the Council budget directs $22 million to new services and upgrades to existing terminals at South Bank and Howard Smith Wharves. 

Residents of New Farm and Norman Park have taken to Facebook to express concerns the cancellation turns a three minute journey into a 45 minute commute.

Pacific island beetle bio threat

A species of palm-loving coconut rhinoceros beetle may threaten home gardens, plantations and biodiversity in Australia as biological controls fail.

Over the past few years, the pest has spread through Papua New Guinea, The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, causing severe agricultural and economic damage.

If the coconut beetle spreads to Australia, garden palms would be at risk along with the country’s emerging date industry. 

Farmers back Morrison's meat export plan

Farmers have supported Scott Morrisson’s trade agreement that will see Australia export beef and lamb to the UK as import taxes are phased out.  

The deal negotiated between the prime minister and UK counterpart Boris Johnson sees beef and lamb tariffs eliminated after ten years of duty free quotas rising over the period.

The deal also means that UK backpackers applying for working holiday visas will no longer be required to complete 88 days of labour on farms to extend their stay. 

Israeli Forces Launch Airstrikes On Gaza

Israeli forces have launched airstrikes on Gaza, the first offensive since a new coalition government took power, coming just weeks after an 11-day conflict with the Palestinian enclave.

Blasts were heard at multiple locations in Gaza on Wednesday, while a radio station operated by the huh-mas (Hamas) militant group said strikes targeted a Palestinian training camp. 

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the operations in a statement on Twitter, also sharing footage of one of the strikes.