South Australian primary schools have banned children from bringing mobile phones to school unless they’re necessary for a class activity. The bans were introduced by the Education Department for many reasons including improving academic results and decreasing bullying. Recent articles show positive impacts from banning phones as test scores of students aged 16 increased by 6.4% of a standard deviation.

Israelis are set to hit the polling booths tonight in the country’s fourth national election in 2 years. Benjamin Netanyahu is looking to extend his twelve year tenure as prime minister but is under threat from centrist leader Yair Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party is looking to capitalise on Netanyahu’s recent drop in popularity. Protests have swept through Israel in recent weeks as people demand Netanyahu’s resignation over corruption allegations and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eight activists have finished jail sentences in China and returned home after being detained at sea last year when they tried to flee Hong Kong by speedboat. The men were convicted of illegally crossing the maritime border resulting in seven months jail time. Back in Hong Kong with authorities, the men may face further prosecution due to tough new security laws in place. 

Less than 1,000 residents have received toll credit for Brisbane’s Go Between Bridge since a subsidy scheme opened in January. 

The scheme aims to help residents south of the CBD who are travelling to the inner city in accordance with closure of the Victoria Bridge in January, as part of a car-free plan under the Brisbane Metro Project.

Since the $100 subsidy scheme was opened on January 1, just below 1,000 applications have been granted to residents within suburbs of Highgate Hill, South Brisbane and West End.

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has today announced a dedicated bus will replace the train from Moorooka to Boggo Road, after the closure of Yeronga station on 19 April.

The closure comes as part of the Cross River Rail development, and the replacement transport options will service bus stops near Yeerongpilly, Yeronga, Fairfield and Dutton Park train stations before terminating at Boggo Road busway station.

A study from the governance advisory firm, Ownership Matters, has revealed that more than $1 billion in JobKeeper was paid to companies that then reported increased profits and shareholder payments: $3.6 billion was paid in dividends, $20 million in executive bonuses.

The Prime Minister said it was up to the companies’ decision on whether returning the money from the JobKeeper scheme, and he would rather have profitable companies for the economy.

A campaign to support local beer and hospitality industries will run on 23 March, with participants asked to adorn their best beer swag and share their efforts on social media.

Beer Swag Day is an initiative of the Independent Brewers Association’s campaign, Keep Local Alive, which urges people to support their local breweries and venues after COVID-19 lockdowns and border closures decimated much of the industry.