Qld government charts path to making sex work legal
Sex work would be decriminalised in Queensland under a review recommending a major overhaul as the government seeks to bring the sector "out of the dark".
politics (general)
Staff stood down amid probe of child audiology unit
A review of Townsville Hospital's pediatric audiology services is under way and two staff members have been stood down over concerns about clinical standards.
economy, business and finance
energy
energy and resource
environmental issue
industrial production
natural gas
oil and gas - downstream activities
oil and gas - upstream activities
politics (general)
Trillions needed to scale up future of renewable energy
Clean export installations up north, production hubs in the south and pipelines crossing the nation map out Australia's future as a net-zero nation.
Albanese defends voice over High Court concerns
The prime minister says the Indigenous voice proposal is legally sound as he faces opposition calls for a rethink of the referendum plan.
coal
economy, business and finance
energy and resource
environmental issue
mining
politics (general)
Glencore coal investors fire up ahead of annual meeting
Big investors are queuing up to quiz mining giant Glencore on how thermal coal fits with growing international ambitions to decarbonise electricity supply.
Electric car changes needed to stop ‘going in reverse’
Policy changes in the United States and Europe will make it harder to buy a petrol or diesel vehicle – a move lobby groups say should be mirrored in Australia.
Australia risks being dumping ground for ‘gas-guzzlers’
New policies to boost electric vehicle adoption in the US mean Australian policymakers must introduce new laws quickly, lobby groups warn.
Universities call for fairer, better-funded system
Peak bodies representing the Australian tertiary education sector are calling for a financial boost to make the nation's institutions more competitive.
Easter a celebration of faith, hope and renewal: PM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led Easter well-wishes, marking Easter Sunday as a celebration of faith, hope and renewal.
Calls for Australian unis to be more competitive
In its submission to a sector-wide review, Universities Australia has called for more government research funding to make the institutions more competitive.
Explanation of voice can be improved, Qld premier says
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will talk to the prime minister about how information on an Indigenous voice to parliament can be better explained.
Libs lose their voice and say ‘no’ to Indigenous vote
The Liberal Party will oppose an Indigenous voice in the constitution, but support a revised referendum to recognise Indigenous people and a legislated voice.
breaking_news
espionage and intelligence
politics (general)
technology (general)
telecommunication service
Queensland, SA to ban TikTok on government devices
Queensland and South Australia will ban the use of TikTok on government devices amid security concerns but politicians are planning to keep their accounts.
Coal seam gas waste plan worries farmers and activists
Activists and farmers have raised concerns about a plan to allow coal seam gas companies to store their waste salt in lined landfill sites.
Barriers for swim safety lessons in remote Qld schools
Close to 99 per cent of Queensland state schools offer a swim safety program, but those who don't face "ongoing and persistent barriers", a new report says.
New powers for Qld police in knife crackdown
New Queensland laws expanding random search powers by police have been passed by state parliament.
Gordon’s historic stint in Qld politics remembered
Queensland politicians have recalled former Cook MP Billy Gordon's impact when he held the deciding vote in a hung parliament for almost three years.
Nearly half of gig workers make less than minimum wage
A survey of more than 1000 Australian gig workers has revealed almost half earn less than the minimum wage and three in four work long hours.
People showing Nazi symbols in Qld, Tasmania face jail
Queensland and Tasmania are set to follow Victoria and NSW in banning Nazi symbols amid strong concerns about a recent neo-Nazi protest in Melbourne.
Torres Strait freight subsidy to ease cost of living
The Queensland government has earmarked $64 million for subsidies to help pay for sea freight services in the Torres Strait and ease living costs.
Compensation uncertain amid coal power plant struggles
The Queensland government is being urged to take over a troubled coal-fired power plant amid uncertainty about compensation for price caps.
Concerns over major rail project brushed off
Concerns over the potential delay of a major Queensland rail project have been brushed off as "hysteria" by the state's transport minister.
Queensland moves to slow pace of residential rent hikes
The Queensland government's move to reduce the frequency of rent increases has been welcomed by social service advocates but panned by the real estate sector.
Australian rules football
electricity production and distribution
politics (general)
summer olympics
Gabba’s Olympic rebuild will solve electrical woes
Queensland's Gabba stadium was well prepared for a blackout that occurred during a major AFL fixture on Friday night after a similar situation occurred in 2019.
Electric car batteries could fuel a $17 billion boost
Making batteries for electric cars and solar storage could create more than 60,000 jobs and nearly $17 billion by 2030 if Australia moves fast, a report says.
Children ‘not protected’ due to failures by Qld govt
A Queensland watchdog has found that children have not been protected from harm because their parents weren't provided with state government supports.
civil and public service
government health care
health
politics (general)
public employees
public finance
Qld health workers may have been underpaid ‘millions’
Queensland hospital and health workers will be compensated after potentially being underpaid millions, but staff who were overpaid won't be pursued.
economy, business and finance
electricity production and distribution
energy (general)
energy and resource
energy saving
politics (general)
renewable energy
Rooftop solar feed-in charges ‘unlikely’ in Qld
Queensland's energy minister has hosed down concerns about a "sun tax" on homeowners for feeding solar power back to the grid, as has been proposed in NSW.
Former minister Johnson remembered in Qld parliament
Queensland politician Vaughan Johnson, who served in parliament for 26 years, has been remembered as a champion of the west after his recent death.
crime, law and justice
human rights
indigenous people
judiciary (system of justice)
justice and rights
juvenile delinquency
laws
police
politics (general)
prisoners and detainees
social issues (general)
Queensland passes controversial youth justice laws
The Queensland parliament has passed laws that criminalise bail breaches for children and allow courts to fit 15-year-olds with GPS trackers.
global warming
international (foreign) trade
mining
oil and gas - downstream activities
oil and gas - upstream activities
politics (general)
Qld fossil fuel exports will end by 2030 in Greens plan
The emissions Queensland sends offshore have been targeted by the Greens who have a plan to phase out coal and gas exports by 2030.