QLD state budget UPDATE

Continuing our coverage of the state budget today, Queensland's debt levels were set to reach 130 billion by 2023-24 due to increased borrowings and a failure to raise revenue as a result of the pandemic.

State treasurer Cameron Dick pointed out that Queensland's total debt will still be lower than New South Wales and Victoria  by 2023-24.

We will continue with our budget coverage in the next bulletin.

Concerns on children's mental health post-Covid

New research showed parents are unsure about where to go to address their children’s mental health in a post-Covid world.

Tom Osbourne from Chology said in a survey of one thousand participants, parents said they were waiting for 6 to 18 months to see a professional.

90% of respondents worried about the impacts of Covid on their childrens’ wellbeing.

Osbourne said telehealth is an option to avoid these waits and, “is why telehealth services are an amazing option for parents to get that fast and effective professional support to help their kids”.

GP's to administer vaccination for elderly and those with disabilities

Health Minister Greg Hunt announced a big change to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Australia’s GP’s able to administer doses for people with disabilities and the eldery at their homes and residential facilities.

Mr Hunt said it is about expanding the vaccination program, bringing it to people and to ensure there are continuous vaccination programs in our aged care facilities as those programs continue to go forward.”

China denounced G7 statement

China denounced a joint statement by the Group of Seven leaders scolding Beijing over a range of issues, from human rights to Taiwan.

The G7 demanded a full and thorough investigation of the origins of the virus in China.

China’s embassy in London said looking at the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic should not be politicised

QLD state budget to be announced today

The state budget for Queensland is due to be handed down later today with Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick indicating overall lower debts and deficits and a greater focus on infrastructure spending than the pre-covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Dick justifies the $50 billion dollar spending on infrastructure as the “path out of the pandemic”, however, it does not indicate new spending on social housing or support for small business owners suffering critical loss as a result of the pandemic.

We will continue to update our coverage on the budget throughout the morning.

Nuclear Power Plant leak investigated

French nuclear firm, Framatome will investigate a US government report on a plant leak at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province, China.

This comes as earlier reports from CNN which claiming Framatome warned of an ”imminent radiological threat”.

Framatome says it is ”supporting resolution of a performance issue" at the plant.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s current findings has indicated no radiological incident has occurred. 

Boris Johnson pushes for more lockdown restrictions

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pushed lockdown restrictions further from its initial date of June twenty one (21) as the Delta variant continues to spread throughout the United Kingdom.

The new date for lockdown removal has moved to July 19, with the country recording (7742) seven thousand seven hundred and forty two new cases and three deaths as of yesterday. 

Alice Springs Investigation

An investigation is underway in Alice Springs after a sixty year old man was tragically killed by a truck yesterday while attending the Finke Desert Race.

The tragic accident has prompted concerns about safety at the event with one spectator saying he was worried other spectators were getting too close to the track.

Tamil family reunited

Tamil family from Biloela expected to be reunited and released from immigration detention today.

Priya, Nades Murugappans and their two daughters lived in the immigration detention on Christmas island since two thousand and nineteen. 

Last week, the youngest daughter, Tharnicaa, was flown to Perth to get medical attention for sepsis as a result of untreated pneumonia. The family is separated since.

Minister Alex Hawke is expected to announce his decision this morning.