Georgians protest the arrest of party officials

Citizens in Georgia are protesting the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia and other party officials. 

Newly named Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has justified the arrest stating, "We are building a democratic state and everyone in the country, no matter to their taste and political views, must obey the law,"

There is political unrest in the European nation, with claims of voter fraud in last October's election. 

 

 

 

Media bargaining code passes the Senate

The federal government's landmark media bargaining code has passed through the Senate with amendments yesterday after the government reached a mutually favourable deal with Facebook. 

Under the new deal, Facebook will still have to pay publishers for news but forced arbitration will be the last resort.

The amended bill is set to go back to the House of Representatives for final approval. 

 

Government announces new reporting hotline for employers

The Australian Government has announced a new hotline for employers to report JobSeeker recipients who refuse a job offer. 

The announcement was made as the government revealed JobSeeker welfare payments will increase by $50 a fortnight when the coronavirus supplement stops in March. 

The Australian Council of Social Service chief executive Cassandra Goldie said a better alternative was for the government to look for solutions to create more jobs for the future.

Noosa campers at risk of hefty fines

Campers in Noosa are at risk of getting fined $266 dollars if they continue to camp in the Noosa National Park carpark. 

Noosa resident Julie Ember said,  "What I see every morning is a community of people that wake up and have coffee and they're happy". 

The campers have paid over $1300 dollars in fines collectively this year. 

 

 

Public hearing 11 hears experiences of people in the criminal justice system

The Disability Royal Commission has entered its final day of Public Hearing 11 in Brisbane today.

Public hearing 11 hears the experiences of people with cognitive disability in the criminal justice system.

The Brisbane hearing room will be closed to the public but will be live-streamed on the Royal Commission website, with live captioning and Auslan-English interpreting.

 

Bridges set to connect communities across Brisbane

Three of the five new green bridges planned for Brisbane city are awaiting decisions on their final design and location almost one year after the council’s re-election.

Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has pledged that his administration would put five hundred and fifty million dollars towards building five bridges. 

The Mayor said during his election campaign in March 2020 that the bridges would create better cross-river links for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Construction on the other two bridges is expected to begin later this year.

 

Calls to reform farm worker pay

The Australian Workers Union has called to change the way farm workers are being paid. 

Secretary Dan Walton says workers are not guaranteed a minimum pay rate as many rely on how much they pick. 

The proposal outlines that pickers who work ten hours per day should get the equivalent award rate for those ten hours. 

The matter is listed for the Fair Work Commission late July.