UN Commissioner aiming to reach agreement with China

Submitted by Zedlines Contributor on Tue, 22/06/2021 - 11:08

The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet is hoping to reach terms of an agreement with China for a visit to the country’s Xinjiang region later this year.

It marks the first time Bachelet has publicly suggested a timeline for the visit, as her office has been negotiating terms since September 2018.

Bachelet is under pressure to secure access to Xinjiang, where activists claim over a million Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims are subjected to forced labour.

Barnaby fights 2050 net-zero emissions target

Submitted by Zedlines Contributor on Tue, 22/06/2021 - 08:12

New Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce said he will fight back Scott Morrison’s 2050 net-zero emissions target to ensure security for regional jobs and industries.

Joyce claims a net-zero emissions policy will not only negatively impact Australia’s mining and manufacturing industries but will destroy any hope of expanding Australian farming.

He said, the Nationals have always been opposed to a net-zero target and he is willing to cross the floor on the issue.

Homeland - 'Chasing Ghosts'

Submitted by charlottec on Mon, 21/06/2021 - 17:15
The first track to drop from the band’s HOMELANDS EP was SUMMER a punk-rock driven track that takes the listener on a journey through the grieving eyes of an Aboriginal Elder retelling the true story of the Towel Creek Massacre, NSW in which a sole child survived. BUSTED LUNG the second track dropped is inspired by a true story of a random act of violence towards a young Gay man [a friend of Kyle’s] in a hate crime which took place in inner city Melbourne. The survivor in an act of courage forgave his attackers and advocated they not serve prison time. New single DIG explores Australia’s history and treatment of Aboriginal peoples from the English invasion through to the modern period in a chronological order asking the listener to dig a little deeper into our history confronting the frontier wars, Aboriginal resistance, the mission area of assimilation, the stolen generations and indentured servitude, the mining industry and native title and finally deaths in custody. “I was scared to write these songs, because a lot of the topics are challenging,” says Jimmy Kyle, a proud Goori man, of the Thungutti mob from the mid-north coast of NSW. “But that’s how I knew I was onto something. It made me feel nervous.” “I know people are going to come after me with some of these songs,” he says. “But I know in my heart that telling these stories is right and telling them in the way I do is the right thing to do. I know my audience is predominantly non-Indigenous, so I have to engage them in a way that engages their heart. Because that way they’re not going to be judged, but they can put themselves in an empathetic position to go on the journey. To find the answer he lent on his bandmates: Josh Burgan (guitar/vocals), Aaron Schultz (guitar/vocals), Jake Dargaville (drums), Chris O’Neill (keys/vocals) and Rohan Welsh (bass). Together they breathed weight and volume into Kyle’s compositions, staying true to the core organic elements that define Chasing Ghosts – no autotune, only real instruments – while willingly following their chief songwriter into new musical territory.

Squidgenini: SQUID

Submitted by chrisc on Mon, 21/06/2021 - 16:44

<p><span><span>- Squidgenini has, for some time, been a rising force in soulful, r’n’b sounds coming out of Brisbane/Meanjin. Actually, it’s more than just soul and r’n’b. To listen to her debut EP, <em>SQUID</em>, is to take a tour through a genre flipbook, combining deep house, wonky downtempo, jazz, blues and more. The key to her versatility is that she just does a lot and does it all well: singing, playing, producing and penning political fire into her emotive lyrics. Who adds DJ to their list of career achievements at the height of the pandemic?

The Psychedelic Freaks: Passing Through The Doorways Of Your Mind

Submitted by chrisc on Mon, 21/06/2021 - 16:26

- Melbourne label La Sape have released a new project from Horatio Luna (aka Henry Hicks) under the moniker The Psychedelic Freaks. As the former bassist for 30/70 Luna has really honed the sound developed in that outfit through collaborations and solo projects. This brings us to the new album Passing Through The Doorways Of Your Mind, yet another groove-heavy record that explores fusion styles.

New Greens candidate Penny Allman-Payne to run for federal senate in 2022

Submitted by Zedlines Contributor on Mon, 21/06/2021 - 12:29

The Queensland Greens’ newest candidate for the federal senate will run against Pauline Hanson in 2022. 

Penny Allman-Payne, a teacher, lawyer, and former Convenor of Queensland Greens says she will prioritise increasing jobkeeper to $80/day if elected.

“The Morrison LNP government loves to pit the cities against the regions, but as someone who grew up in regional Queensland, and still lives there, I can tell you that we all share common interests and goals,” said Ms Allman-Payne.

Dr Jeanette Young will be Queensland’s new governor

Submitted by Zedlines Contributor on Mon, 21/06/2021 - 12:27

Dr Jeanette Young will be Queensland’s new governor, from November 1st.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced this earlier this morning, praising Dr Young for her service to the state, particularly in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dr Young will take over the role from His Excellency The Honourable Paul de Jersey, as he moves into retirement.

 

Regional QLD missing out on public health funding

Submitted by Zedlines Contributor on Mon, 21/06/2021 - 12:24

A couple are driving roughly 26-hours per week to Cairns to receive dialysis treatment because of the shortage of chairs in Mt Isa.

This problem adds to the growing wave of criticism against Queensland Health by the LNP, for the mismanagement of public health facilities.

Member for Traeger, the Katter’s Australian Party‘s Robbie Katter, says it’s an example of regional Queensland missing out on government funding for public health services.

Arnhem Land indigenous leaders file complaint against Australian Electoral Commission

Submitted by Zedlines Contributor on Mon, 21/06/2021 - 12:23

Two Indigenous men from Arnhem Land have lodged a voter suppression complaint against Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).

Mayor of West Arnhem Regional Council, Matthew Ryan, and Chairman of Yalu Aboriginal Corporation in Galiwinku, Ross Mandi, allege the requirement for people to have a street number and postal address to be listed on the electoral roll is discriminatory.

They allege the AEC’s strict rules about how people enrol to vote indirectly suppress Indigenous communities voices. 


 

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