Report finds bridge between Bulimba and Teneriffe feasible
A government report acquired by Brisbane Times reveals a bridge linking Bulimba and Teneriffe would be used by up to 3600 people a day.
It also found the bridge could cut a bus journey from the city to Bulimba by ten minutes. The report, authored by engineering group Arup, considered several bridge models, as well as identifying eight different locations for green bridges.
The government agency redacted all specific locations in the report.
Facebook will no longer ban posts claiming COVID-19 is man made
Facebook is no longer removing posts discussing the possibility of COVID-19 being manufactured in Chinese laboratories.
The change stems from US President Joe Biden’s order for US intelligence agencies to investigate the lab leak theory of the virus origin.
A Facebook spokesperson says that the company is constantly reviewing their list of bannable content based on the latest health advice, so as to minimise fake news and misinformation.
Australian wine industry group calls for WTO investigation into China's wine tariffs
Industry group Australian Grape and Wine has called for the federal government to refer China’s tariffs on Australian wine to the World Trade Organisation.
A WTO appeal on the tariffs, which are up to 220%, could take up to 5 years to be resolved, leading some to raise concerns about the risk of further disruption or potential retaliation on the industry.
Trade Minister Dan Tehan says the government is working closely with the wine industry to resolve the dispute with China.
Charges filed against ME Bank
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission says charges of false and misleading behaviour have been filed against ME Bank in the Federal Court following an investigation.
The Banking Code of Compliance Committee has also sanctioned ME Bank for serious and systemic breaches of the Banking Code, including poor and ineffective communication to customers regarding changes to their redraw amounts.
The Bank of Queensland is in the process of a $1.3billion takeover of ME Bank earlier this year, hoping to broaden its customer base .
Queensland to receive 12 new Local Drug Action Teams
The Australian Government will give $500,000 in funding to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation to increase the number of Local Drug Action Teams nationwide.
Queensland will receive 12 new teams, bringing the state total up to 51. The Teams deliver education and monitoring programs to at-risk people, including grassroots efforts tailored to communities’ specific needs.
New Queensland locations include Mt Isa, Brisbane, Cooktown, Western Downs, Acacia Ridge, Toowoomba, the Isaac Region, and the Gold Coast, among others.
Turbine failure causes State-wide blackouts
The energy generating turbine that caught alight and caused mass blackouts across Queensland this week had only last year been given an overhaul to ensure it operated safely and reliably.
CS Energy, who owns the plant, completed works on the $60million overhaul in December 2020.
A spokesperson for CS Energy says a full investigation into the fire, with appropriate experts and authorities, will be undertaken.
Report finds 2020 K'Gari bushfires could have been prevented
A government report says more could have been done to avoid the 2020 bushfires on K'Gari, formally known as Fraser Island.
The Queensland Inspector-General of Emergency Management, Alistair Dawson, delivered the report to the Palaszczuk government yesterday, which revealed the K'Gari Locality Specific Fire Management group and Fire Referral Group, run by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, seem not to have held meetings for the last two years.
28 May 9am Zedlines
Your 9am Zedlines with Beth and Vi.
Image source: Flickr/David McKelvey
20million Astra-Zeneca doses needed in Africa
Africa will need 20million doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine in the next six weeks, for those with their first shot to get their second in time, according to the World Health Organisation.
Two doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine are needed between eight to twelve weeks apart, to achieve an eighty one percent protection rate.
Africa’s vaccine rollout is facing delays due to an export ban imposed by India, the main supplier of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine.
China retaliates against Biden pursuing 'lab leak' COVID origin theory
A finger pointing contest has begun between the US and China, who are each calling for the other to be investigated for manufacturing COVID-19.
US President Joe Biden gave orders yesterday for intelligence officers to pursue the lab leak theory about the origin of the virus, which he had previously dismissed as far-fetched.
China today retaliated, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian calling for investigations into the US’s own labs.