Northern Territory Aboriginal homelands funding changes put on hold
The Northern Territory Government has postponed Aboriginal homelands funding changes amid concerns the process was rushed and ineffective.
The changes were meant to reduce red tape, consolidating municipal and essential services grants into a single grant.
Service providers were originally only given three months warning about the changes, with organizations banding together to voice concerns over the rushed process and the potential for job losses in remote communities.
Palaszczuk Government announces solar energy plan
Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Toowoomba, Townsville, and Yeppoon have been selected as sites for Energy Queensland's trial of grid-connected battery storage.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczcuk said the move was part of an effort to make sure Queenslanders’ solar energy will be used effectively and sustainably as part of the larger effort to move towards fifty percent renewable energy by 2030.
New homes announced for Caboolture West
Deputy Premier Steven Miles has announced a plan for the development of 30,000 new homes in Caboolture West.
Miles says the government and Moreton Bay Regional Council will work with the private sector and utility providers to improve housing choice and affordability.
The development is part of the department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning’s effort to tackle short-term land supply challenges in South-East Queensland.
Miles said the site is expected to provide homes for 70,000 people.
New PNG strain no cause for alarm
Queensland authorities have confirmed a new COVID-19 strain was identified in hotel quarantine and linked to Papua New Guinea.
Queensland Health said the new strain is not of high concern for the state as it is not understood not to be as infectious as the UK and South African strains.
Travel between PNG and Australia continues to be restricted as the country battles a surge in cases.
Various Artists: Oz Echoes: DIY Cassettes and Archives 1980-1989
<p><span><span>- <strong>Efficient Space</strong> roll deep on the archives. From legendary left-field dance comps <em>Midnight Spares</em> and <em>3AM Spares</em> to First Nations' proto-electro classic <em>Waak Waak ga Min Min</em> to the current release <em>Oz Echoes</em>, you could think of the label more as sonic anthropology.
Show Me The Body: Survive
<p><span><span>- Over the past half decade New York hardcore act Show Me the Body have, impressively, been able to carve out a sound of their own in a genre that isn’t exactly conducive to inimitability; and I say that with all due respect to hardcore punk music. To suggest that I’ve developed an affinity for the genre over the last few years would be an understatement, but I’d be lying if I said I found it typically easy to distinguish hardcore bands by sound.</span></span></p>
A retrospective look at the Disability Royal Commission's hearing on employment
The federal government is being accused of ignoring the Disability Royal Commission’s request for the inquiry to be extended.
The commission chair reached out to the prime minister and attorney-general in October last year, seeking a 17-month extension due to the scope of inquiry and impact of the pandemic.
Earlier this month, acting Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said the government was still deciding on the request with an announcement to be made “in due course”.
So far the commission has heard from over 200 witnesses and received more than 2000 submissions.
11am Zedlines
Your 11am Zedlines with Teagan and Tina.
Image credit: ABC.com/ABC
Data reveals kids seek advice on respectful relationships
Data from the national kid's helpline reveals respect in relationships was the most sought after topic among children last year.
Respectful relationships national educator Kristy Styles said young people want to draw the line between respectful and disrespectful relationships.
"We have amazing people on the ground that are trying to teach these topics but are not getting the support needed because it's discretionary," she said.
Ms Styles said federal and state governments need to make consent education mandatory in primary schools.
Double variant of COVID-19 detected in India
A new double mutant variant of COVID-19 has been detected in India.
The variant has been found in more than 200 test samples in the hardest-hit western state of Maharashtra, which is home to Mumbai.
This discovery comes as India struggles with its highest rates of new infections and deaths this year.