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Showing posts from May, 2020

Antarctic expeditioners brave blizzard winds up to 244km-h

Antarctic expeditioners at the Mawson Base in the east of the Antarctic have just endured a blizzard with winds between 100-148km/h, with one gust reaching up to 244km/h. There was zero visibility for days on end and the winds even moved fully laden shipping containers. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Tanker truck plows into Minneapolis protesters

A tanker truck drove into a throng of protesters on a closed interstate near Minneapolis on Sunday, with the driver pulled from his rig and beaten, amid another night of demonstrations against police brutality descending into violence. Libby Hogan reports. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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EFL set to return June 20

Football: The English Championship is the latest competition around the world to announce a return, preparing to be back in action from June 20, Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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PM announces funding for new Sydney airport

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the government will invest $5.3 billion into the building of the Western Sydney airport. $14 billion will be directed toward Western Sydney in a project which would create 14,000 jobs. into the Western Sydney airport, which will create 14,000 jobs. Mr Morrison also announced $3.3 billion, in conjunction with the New South Wales government, to build roads around the site with a further $1.75 billion going towards rail projects. “These are job making investments,” he said. The airport is expected to open in 2026. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Former intelligence chief believes COVID-19 could have leaked from a Chinese lab

Australia's former intelligence chief says it’s possible COVID-19 could have leaked from a Wuhan laboratory and says a security review needs to be conducted of similar sites globally in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The former head of foreign affairs, defence and ASIO, Dennis Richardson has also revealed there have been breaches of protocol at Australia’s bio-security laboratories, making the point “accidents do occur.” Mr Richardson told Sky News host Sharri Markson while we do not yet know the origin of COVID-19, there should be a security review of high-level bio-containment facilities where deadly bat-derived coronaviruses are handled and around the world. “I think the security around such laboratories always has to be subject to review and I think everyone would hope that part of the review in respect of COVID-19 would be looking at security of facilities globally,” he said. “That is something which we need to be alert to globally. We have such facilities here in Australi
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SPECIAL REPORT: How China covered up the coronavirus crisis

The Chinese Communist Party’s brutal crackdown on critics during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak led to hundreds of people being taken from their families and held in secret detention indefinitely. This Sky News Australia special investigation talks to the families of these victims, including the brother of Chinese journalist Chen Men, who was taken by his government for the crime of reporting on the coronavirus. His website was shut down after authorities caught wind of his warnings and he was jailed on April 19. Mr Chen’s family say he has disappeared entirely without a trial and fear the man they love is being tortured by the communist regime in an unknown location. Their story is eerily and tragically similar to that of hundreds of brave people who raised concerns online and have since vanished. Human rights groups fear that number may be as high as 800 and there are concerns that many of the victims will never be reunited with their families. This special report investi
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Knights level it late

NRL: The Newcastle Knights trailled for most of the match but were able to level things up in the last ten minutes with a great try to Bradman Best. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Police Vehicles Plow Into Cordon of Protesters in Brooklyn

Two police SUVs plowed into a cordon of protesters who had been blocking the vehicles and peppering them with debris in Brooklyn on May 30. The incident happened during demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd. In this video, filmed near the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and St Mark’s Avenue, an NYPD SUV can be seen blocked by a row of protesters behind a barricade. Various objects are thrown at the vehicle before a second police SUV pulls alongside. Both vehicles then accelerate into the group of demonstrators, knocking several people over. Separate video of the same incident shows some protesters being thrown back several feet following the initial push from one SUV. At a press conference, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told the media that the footage was “upsetting”, but it was also “inappropriate for protesters to surround a police vehicle and threaten police officers.” Protests and riots erupted in cities across the US following the police-involved death of George
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More players in trouble!

NRL: Agnatius Paasi is facing a two-match ban for a dangerous contact charge and Nelson Asofa-Solomona was charged with dangerous contact. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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PM should ditch his proposed ‘Bob Hawke style wafflorium’ on IR reform

Sky News host Rowan Dean has urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to jettison his proposed round table on industrial relations reform and instead honour his election promise of delivering “smaller government, less regulation, lower taxes, crushing the unions and freeing up the job market.” This week the Prime Minister announced the Coalition will bring together unions, business groups and employers to discuss what changes can be made to industrial relations laws, in a move that was reminiscent of Labor PM Bob Hawke’s 1983 Prices and Incomes Accord. Sky News understands Mr Morrison has spoken with ACTU Secretary Sally McManus, who has expressed her desire to come to the table to get the deal done. Mr Dean said while Mr Morrison’s instincts are normally spot on, he should ditch the “Bob Hawke style wafflorium.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Trump blames riots on ‘radical left’

US President Donald Trump has blamed the “radical left” for riots as more than 13,000 National Guard troops are deployed across the country. Officials in 30 cities are bracing for more unrest in protest sparked by the death of unarmed black man George Floyd. Mr Trump condemned the riots insisting organised groups have nothing to do with George Floyd. Image: AP Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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German authorities are cracking down on ‘climate change dissent’

YouTuber and climate realist Naomi Seibt says governments across the world are cracking down on dissent, especially when it comes to contentions issues like the response to COVID-19 and climate change. Ms Seibt is currently being threatened with imprisonment by German authorities after she refused to take down three of her videos, with authorities claiming her videos do not comply with the law. “They are abusing these crisis’ to push tyranny and to silence the people who have different opinions or who do their research,” Ms Seibt told Sky News. “Once again we can see that state going against people like me and trying to silence us,” she said. “I made them (the videos) because I do stand by what I say, and I do question the science behind the climate change mainstream agenda”. “I do believe most climate activists don’t know what they’re talking about and there is so much propaganda being put out there. “We need to push against this and fight for more climate realism and freedom of speec
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Aerial View Shows Protesters in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza During George Floyd Rally

Protesters descended upon Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, New York, on May 29, to protest the death of George Floyd. Bird’s eye view footage shows a mass of demonstrators in the plaza near Prospect Park, with several police cars lined up nearby. A swathe of protests were held in major cities following the police-involved death of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25. Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was seen pinning Floyd to the ground amid his cries of “I can’t breathe,” was arrested on third-degree murder and manslaughter charges on Friday, May 29. Credit: Anon via Storyful Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Pollution and environmental charges laid on Singapore cargo ship

Charges have been laid against the master of the APL England cargo ship for offences related to pollution and damage to the marine environment. The Singapore flagship had been on a voyage from China to Melbourne on Sunday when rough seas caused about 50 cargo containers to topple overboard because of poor cargo loading. The Australian Marine Safety Authority laid the charges and ordered the shipowner, APL Singapore, to pay $22 million. The fee must be paid before the ship is released from detention in the port of Brisbane. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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ACT eases restrictions as it looks at ‘travel bubble’ between Tas, SA

Residents in Canberra have new freedoms as the ACT eases restrictions. From today, gyms and health facilities will reopen with up to 20 people permitted indoors at any time. Restrictions on indoor sport will also be extended to 20 people provided social distancing measures are met. The limit also applies to restaurants, cafes and other food and drink venues. Galleries, museums, beauty salons and outdoor attractions will once again welcome visitors. In addition, house gatherings may include 20 visitors. Meanwhile, discussions between premiers could see a proposed travel bubble between the nation's capital, Hobart and Adelaide. Image: Getty Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Albanese outlines five-point housing and construction plan

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has outlined Labor's five-point plan to stimulate the housing and construction sector, calling on the government to take it up before "500,000 jobs" are lost. Mr Albanese said the government should "expand and lift the cap on the household deposit scheme" on new homes to stimulate construction activity. He called for a review of affordable housing for essential workers as well as a refurbishment on social housing. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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CNN Vandalized During Black Lives Matter Rally in Atlanta

A CNN sign outside the news station’s building was vandalized on May 29 during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, Georgia. Footage shows protesters mounting the graffiti-clad sign, holding placards that read “black lynching must go” and “justice for all, black lives matter”. Other footage shared on social media showed protesters hurling objects at the building. A swathe of protests were held in major cities around the United States following the police-involved death of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25. Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was seen pinning Floyd to the ground amid his cries of “I can’t breathe,” was arrested on third-degree murder and manslaughter charges on Friday, May 29. Credit: @everythingxlowkey via Storyful Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Riot Police Clash With Protestors During George Floyd Demonstration in Atlanta

Demonstrators and police clashed in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 29, during a protest against the death of George Floyd. Footage uploaded to Twitter shows a line of police cars and tanks boxing in a crowd of protestors. Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who was seen pinning Floyd to the ground amid his cries of “I can’t breathe,” was arrested on third-degree murder and manslaughter charges on Friday, May 29. Credit: @Fox_Portion via Storyful Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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US ‘terminating’ relationship with WHO

With new US economic numbers highlighting the rough road ahead for a hoped-for rebound, President Donald Trump has taken aim at the World Health Organisation and China, blaming both for their roles in the pandemic's devastation. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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NSW clubs given special clearance from June 1

NSW clubs could accommodate more than 100 patrons from Monday after being given special clearance by the state government. Restrictions will also ease drastically for weddings, funerals and religious ceremonies across New South Wales from June 1. Image: Getty Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Weather To Watch

WATCH: Two cold fronts will bring a burst of strong winds, then showers and snow for a chilly start to winter. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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National Cabinet to replace COAG with ‘laser-like’ jobs focus: Morrison

The Council of Australian Governments will be replaced by a completely new system based on the success of the National Cabinet formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced. “COAG is no more,” Mr Morrison said at a media conference in Canberra. “How it’ll be different to the way COAG worked is the National Cabinet will be driven by a singular agenda, and that is to create jobs.” “The National Cabinet will continue to work with a laser-like mission focus on creating jobs as we come out of the COVID crisis and we work into the years into the future. “During the COVID period, we'll continue to meet on a fortnightly basis; in a normal year it would meet on a monthly basis.” “We've agreed on the new structure, and we think that will ensure, for Australians, they'll get better government, more focused government, at both a state and a federal level.” Image: Getty Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Government must do ‘much better’ to support Australians: Albanese

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has called on the Morrison government to provide an economic plan to guide Australian businesses and neglected sectors out of the coronavirus crisis. Speaking to the media on Friday, Mr Albanese said “the government has continued to show contempt” and has allowed people to be left out of support schemes such as the JobKeeper program. “These are people who have paid taxed their whole lives” but have now been “forgotten by the government,” he said. “We need to do much better. “What we actually need is a government that actually looks at a transition ... we need a transition in terms of JobKeeper and support. “We also need specific sector programs, and the arts and entertainment sectors are ones that stand out as needing support in order to maintain viability. “This is important not just for our national economy, it attracts international dollars in terms of tourism and economic activity as well.” Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 ne
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High Court releases letters exchanged between the Queen and Kerr

The High Court has ruled that letters sent between the Queen and former Governor-General John Kerr at the time of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s dismissal should be released. The National Archives of Australia previously told historian Jenny Hocking that the 1975 exchange was private and denied her access to the letters. The High Court ruled the letters were part of Commonwealth record and the director-general of the National Archives was ordered to reconsider Ms Hocking’s request. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Rolling back government financial support ‘completely untenable’ for small business

Labor frontbencher Stephen Jones says it is “completely untenable” for the government to roll back all its financial support schemes as businesses would undergo an “almighty crash”. The Reserve Bank has appealed to the government to extend its Jobseeker and JobKeeper payments beyond the September deadline, as well as push for a plan to guide businesses out of the loan deferral scheme. Mr Jones told Sky News that small businesses alone had accrued $60 billion worth of loan deferrals. He said if businesses were forced to pay all deferred fees and loans at once “they are simply going to close the door, throw their hands in the air and say to their workers ‘sorry we can’t keep you on’”. "Banks are going to have to have some certainty from the government what sort of support is going to be available to some of those industries ,” he said. “If we can save a viable business and if we can ensure a viable business has a plan to get out of the crisis then we should do everything we can to e
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Public servant wage freeze causes unrest in NSW Cabinet

Gladys Berejiklian’s decision to implement a wage freeze on New South Wales public servants has been likened to former premier Mike Baird’s controversial greyhound industry ban, Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says. The NSW Premier announced the freeze on Wednesday, causing discontent within her own party over why essential workers such as police, nurses and teachers were not exempted from the freeze. Mr Clennell said some within cabinet have suggested the NSW government shelve the ANZ Stadium rebuild and the $1.5 billion Powerhouse Museum project to assist with funding concerns. “Many in cabinet, with speakers including Brad Hazzard and Rob Stokes, could not understand why police, nurses, teachers could not be exempted,” Mr Clennell said. “They also could not understand why recent senior executive public service increases had recently been granted and could not be reversed.” Sky News understands the proposal will be knocked back in the state’s upper house, with Shooters MP R
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SpaceX axes historic launch: Find out when it will lift off

SpaceX has scrapped its history-making launch which was set to return human spaceflight to US soil for the first time in nine years and mark the Elon Musk’s company as the first commercial business to shoot people off-planet. SpaceX has announced a rescheduled launch for NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, who will head to the International Space Station if the company's back-up launch proceeds, and if bad weather doesn’t again prevent their lift-off. Image: Twitter / @elonmusk Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Mid-Session 28 May 20: ASX 200 surges, led by gains for the big lenders

Thursday has seen local shares carry on their strong form seen earlier in the week. At lunch, the ASX 200 is jumping another 140 points or 2.4% to 5915. The gain makes it the third day this week the market has seen a gain in triple digits. The benchmark index has also breached the 5,900 point barrier this morning. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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RAW: Alleged Sydney criminal boss arrested

Supplied video obtained Thursday, May 28, 2020, showing the arrest of a 38-year-old man at a home at Earlwood about 9am yesterday (Wednesday, May 27). The Campsie man was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, conspiracy to commit robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, large commercial drug supply, conspiracy to supply firearm to person unauthorised to possess it, conspiracy to acquire unregistered firearm-pistol, use carriage service to threaten to kill, use carriage service to threaten serious harm, and use carriage service to access child abuse material. (AAP VIDEO/Supplied/NSW Police) Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Government made it ‘very clear’ JobKeeper had a ‘sunset clause’

Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume says the government’s wage subsidy programs “always had an end date” following RBA calls to extend the JobKeeper program. The RBA on Thursday urged the government to consider extending the JobKeeper scheme beyond the government’s September deadline. Ms Hume told Sky News it was “very clear from the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis that the economic measures that were put into place by the government were always going to be temporary and targeted and proportionate and scalable”. She said when the deadline approached, “there would need to be some sort of transition beyond that”. “That’s why the Prime Minister has introduce the idea pf a ‘JobMaker’ program and heralding a new era of cooperation between business and unions and government,” she said. “So that we’re all moving towards an economy that has a higher rate of growth that creates more jobs and is far more stable when it comes out the other side of this crisis.” Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com
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Americans protest police brutality after Minneapolis death

Hundreds of people are marching in the streets of Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd after video footage emerged showing a police officer kneeling on his neck before he fell unconscious. Police were responding to a call about an alleged forgery when they arrested the 46-year-old security guard who could be heard yelling in the viral video that he could not breathe before falling unconscious. The officers involved in the incident have been stood down as protestors call for them to be criminally charged. Officers took to firing tear gas into the crowds as protesters converged at a police station and began damaging property. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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AFP will not charge Annika Smethurst following raid

The Australian Federal Police has confirmed it will not lay any charges against News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst. Ms Smethurst’s home was raided by the AFP in June last year amid an investigation into a story she wrote in April 2018 about the government’s plan to increase the surveillance powers of the Australian Signals Directorate. The raid was challenged in the High Court by News Corp, with the Court finding the search warrant used by the AFP to search Ms Smethurst’s home to be invalid. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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‘Papalii could miss Origin’

State of Origin: Queensland Coach Kevin Walters has had his say on Josh Papalii refusing to have a flu shot, stating either way they will continue to support him. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Cook shocked by Xerri news

NRL: Damian Cook says that it is a players responsibility to know what supplements they are taking and is shocked by the news of Bronson Xerri. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Our leaders have perverted science for political gain

A small outreach centre in Liverpool is doing all it can to stay in contact with those who are the most vulnerable. The local council has given the Liverpool Neighbourhood Connection permission to package up small parcels of fruit each Friday but all other activities have been ordered to a halt. For roughly 30 people - mainly elderly folk without family or those battling severe disability – this means volunteers drop off weekly boxes of apples, bananas, mandarins and pumpkins. But for the dozens of senior Australians who looked forward to the charity’s weekly barbeque, that way of life is now over. COVID-19’s rate of R, or the “reproduction number” as academics refer to it, has plummeted below 1, the benchmark of case numbers increasing or decreasing. Australia’s curb has flattened but strict restrictions, supposedly based on science, still remain. New research published in peer-reviewed journal Science Magazine has pondered the role that radical restrictions – and the sacrifice of all
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NT minister ‘concerned’ over future of tourism industry

Northern Territory Tourism Minister Lauren Moss says she's "very concerned" a “portion of the [NT] tourism industry won’t survive COVID-19”. The industry revealed shut downs were costing $200 million a month as they headed into the dry season – typically one of the Top End’s busiest periods. Ms Moss also announced many parks across the territory would be reopening, with Kakadu and Uluru National Parks to be reopened next month, although they would only be available to locals as interstate borders remained in place. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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‘Unacceptable’ level of transparency surrounding skills funding

The lack of transparency in how the states use the $1.5 billion in Commonwealth skills funding will be a major focus of the government’s planned overhaul, Skills Minister Michaelia Cash says. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday announced he would look to overhaul the $7.7 billion sector and rewrite deals with the states to unify public subsidies in a hope to boost jobs in the economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis. Speaking with Sky News, Senator Cash said it was “unacceptable” that the federal government is not informed about what the states do with their skills funding. “You would be aware the Commonwealth puts $1.5 billion each year into a bucket, we have no transparency, no line of sight, within reason the money is handed over to the states and territories and they can spend it as they wish as long as its on skills,” she said. “That’s really unacceptable. If the Commonwealth is going to give money over to the states and territories we do need to get a much better unders
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Poo jogger caught on CCTV

An early morning nature call has been caught on CCTV after the owner installed the cameras to catch people stealing his plants. Courtesy Shayne Whiteley Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Image-based abuse cases increase by 200 per cent during coronavirus lockdown

ESafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says her office has seen a 200 per cent increase in image-based abuse cases since the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown. Ms Grant said image-based abuse – the sharing of intimate photos or videos without consent – was “a devastating experience” for its victims – 70 per cent of whom were women. She said the 200 per cent increase in cases, while devastating, “makes sense because more people are seeking intimacy through digital means” during lockdown. Ms Grant said technology-facilitated abuse was an extension of domestic and family violence, adding in some cases “we’ve got women and children trapped with their captors”. Ms Grant urged anyone who believed they were a victim of image-based abuse to contact the eSafety commission. “We have a 90 per cent success rate at getting content removed from the internet, that’s a very high success rate,” she said. “And that’s often what victims want, they just want the content taken down.” Ms Grant said fine
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RAW: Australian Border Force officers locate child abuse material on Japanese tourist’s phone

Supplied video obtained Wednesday, May 27, 2020, of a Japanese tourist being questioned by Australian Border Force officers at Perth International Airport on November 2, 2019, following his arrival on a flight from Tokyo. During an initial examination of his mobile phone officers located more than 200 video files and images which depicted the sexual abuse or exploitation of children. A subsequent digital forensic examination uncovered hundreds more videos stored on an Application in the phone. (AAP VIDEO/Supplied/Australian Border Force) Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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ScoMo reacts to fresh NRL controversy

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has responded to the news NRL star Bronson Xerri was caught up in controversy after his positive test to performance-enhancing drugs was announced yesterday. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Masks a danger for under-twos, Japan warns

Children under the age of two shouldn't wear masks because they can make breathing difficult and increase the risk of choking, a Japan medical group has warned as the country reopens from the coronavirus crisis. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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‘Oh My Goodness’: Huge Cloud Vortex Swirls Amid Tornado Warning in Arkansas

A huge, funnel-like cloud swirled over Prairie Grove, Arkansas, during a tornado warning on May 25. Footage uploaded to Twitter shows a massive, alternatively bright and dark cone shaped cloud. “Oh my goodness,” an onlooker says, “Look at how crazy that is.” The National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning on May 25 for Prairie Grove and the surrounding area. Credit: @ReneeMalouf via Storyful Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Sydney Year 7 student tests positive to COVID-19

Authorities have confirmed a Year 7 student at Waverley College in Sydney’s east has tested positive to the coronavirus. The school was promptly closed with parents notified to collect their children immediately. The NSW premier has repeatedly warned parents and teachers to be vigilant and have a rapid response prepared in case of infection. Image: Getty Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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NSW Police release CCTV footage after money snatched from wheelchair-bound man – Haymarket

Supplied video obtained Tuesday, May 26, 2020, of two men who may be able to assist NSW Police after a wheelchair-bound man was robbed while making a withdrawal from an ATM in Sydney's CBD at the weekend. The first man depicted is described as being of Caucasian appearance with a large build and red hair. He was wearing a black jacket and dark green pants. The second man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with a medium build and light-brown short hair. He was depicted wearing a dark blue jacket and dark pants. (AAP VIDEO/Supplied/NSW Police) Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Tourism is struggling everywhere, not just in Qld: Palaszczuk

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has hit back at criticism over her government's refusal to reopen state borders, arguing "tourism worldwide is struggling at the moment", not just in the Sunshine State. "I know how important tourism is. I want to see things open as quickly as possible, but we must do it in the safest way possible and that is why we will continue to listen to the expert advice," she said. There have been suggestions the border closures could extend as late as September despite Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy insisting border closures were not advised. The Palaszczuk government's extended closure of the state's border is expected to cost the Queensland tourism sector more than $5 billion. One Nation Senate Leader Pauline Hanson has questioned the legality of the border closure, taking a challenge to the High Court. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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$60 billion JobKeeper bungle ‘real challenge’ for the government

Sky News Politics Editor Andrew Clennell says the government’s $60 billion JobKeeper bungle made Scott Morrison’s job much more difficult. The government on Friday revealed a costing error by Treasury meant the wage subsidy scheme was initially forecast $60 billion higher than was required. The JobKeeper program was revised down to cost the government $70 billion instead of the initially projected $130 billion. “The worrying thing for the government out of this bungle is that a lot of big business didn’t qualify, which meant hundreds of thousands of workers lost their jobs,” Mr Clennell said. “It’s a lot harder to get people off the dole than if they’re on JobKeeper to keep them in jobs, so I think that’s a real challenge for the government going ahead.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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China flags willingness to ‘retake Taiwan’ with aggressive tactics

Sydney Morning Herald International Editor Peter Hartcher says the Chinese communist party has offered a “deliberate signal” that they are prepared to ramp up aggressive tactics in a bid to rejoin Taiwan to China. Mr Hartcher told Sky News that Chinese leaders left out a “critical part of its traditional phraseology” when discussing the reunification of the two nations during the National People’s Congress. “For decades China has talked about its working towards the peaceful reunification with Taiwan, [but] the word ‘peaceful’ was dropped from the official work report – for the first time in decades,” he said. “This isn’t an accident. "The significance of the one word is that, apart from the authority of the President Xi Jinping himself, there is no more sensitive political issue in China than the status of Taiwan. “This is a very deliberate signal that while China has never renounced the use of force to what it calls ‘retake Taiwan’, it has now changed the emphasis.” Image: AP Vi
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Ruling finds Celeste Barber’s $51m bushfire funds can’t be distributed to other charities

The Supreme Court has ruled the $51 million which comedian Celeste Barber helped to raise for bushfire victims cannot be passed on to other charities. More than a million people donated to Celeste Barber's bushfire campaign believing the money could go to a range of charities. However the comedian nominated the 'NSW RFS and Brigades Donation Fund' when she launched her campaign in January. The court has subsequently ruled some of the money can support injured firefighters and the families of those who lost their lives fighting the blazes. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Constance coy on political future

Andrew Constance has left the door open for another tilt at state politics despite earlier this year insisting he would retire before the next election. The NSW Transport Minister said he was “done” with politics following the black summer bushfires but since has had a brief flirtation with politics at a federal level before pulling out of the race to be the candidate for the vacant Eden-Monaro. Speaking with Sky News, Mr Constance was coy on his future saying he would prefer to keep the focus on the job at hand. “I have got the biggest job in the country at the moment. I mean we’re running the biggest transport during COVID - I’m pretty focused on that,” he said. “The community don’t want to hear the soap opera on what I might or might not do in terms of my future career. “I just want to get this job done at the moment. I made it clear when you have gone through what I have been through this year on a personal level, naturally, any human being is going to weigh up their priorities but
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‘Extreme danger’: China warns Australia

The Chinese government has warned Australia to “distance” itself from the United States amid growing tensions between the two countries, saying it would be “extremely dangerous” for Canberra to get involved. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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November 8, 2012. Prince Charles campaign for wool.

November 8, 2012. Locals and participants in the campaign for wool of which His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is a patron talk about what it means to have the Prince here promoting the Australian wool industry. The Prince toured the family sheep stud Leenavale in Tasmania on Thursday. (AAP/Dave Beniuk) Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Wildlife recovering on Kangaroo Island

Animals on Kangaroo Island have begun gathering their own food for the first time since the summer's devastating bushfires decimated vast tracts of vegetation on the South Australian island. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Fitzgibbon unapologetic over China comments

Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has defended accusing the government of “demonising China” amid calls for him to be sacked from the Labor frontbench. The government had called on Anthony Albanese to sack the Labor frontbencher for his critical commentary and accusing Mr Fitzgibbon of undermining Australia’s sovereignty. But speaking to Sky News, Mr Fitzgibbon did not shy away from repeating the rhetoric, saying Scott Morrison unnecessarily damaged Australia’s relationship with China by pursuing the COVID-19 inquiry unilaterally. “It was just unnecessary for our Prime Minister to run out ahead of everyone else and use such intemperate language,” he said. “If you’re going to have an inquiry anyway, and we were always going to do just that, why use such intemperate language against your largest trading partner? “You know why he did that … because he was chasing domestic votes.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Graphics explain COVID-19 outbreak

We have been living with COVID-19 and its associated restrictions on our movements seemingly forever, but now with things slowly returning to normal, it is more important than ever to ensure the virus does not take hold. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Investors wary of growing China-US trade tensions

Investors may be shifting their assets to Hong Kong based firms in order to minimise risk of heightened tensions between China and the US, according to Pengana’s Steven Glass. China’s economy is beginning to show signs of recovery after being hit hard by COVID-19, however Beijing is expected to come under more commercial pressure once the investigation into origins of the novel coronavirus begins. Mr Glass told Sky News investors are moving assets away from China in anticipation of US President Donald Trump “ratcheting up pressure” on Beijing as part of his re-election strategy. “In the Pengana fund, we are doing things to minismise risk,” he said. “We shifted some of our investments that are Chinese ADRS, so that is Chinese companies listed in America, if we can rather than invest in their Hong Kong listing, we will.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Hong Kong stock exchange at risk due to China security crackdown

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index is under threat due to China's intention to pass a new national security legislation that could threaten the city's traditional freedoms, according to Tribeca's Jun Bei Liu. The Hang Seng Index (HSI) dropped nearly 5.6 per cent Friday after Beijing announced it will push ahead with its national security law. The law is widely drafted to cover any act "to split the country, subvert state power, organise and carry out terrorist activities and other behaviours that seriously endanger national security", according to Xinhua, China's state news agency. National security laws are routinely used on the Chinese mainland to jail critics of the ruling Communist Party. The draft legislation, presented at China's National People's Congress, which is meeting this week in Beijing, also specifies that China's national security bodies - the Ministry of State Security (MSS) and the Ministry of the Public Security (MPS) - can set up &
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Climate activists ‘politicising death certificates’

The push by academics from The Australian National University to include Climate Change as an option on death certificates is another example of activists politicising an issue to suit their agenda, according to the Institute of Public Affairs Gideon Rozner. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Govt shoots down JobKeeper expansion

The government will not move to broaden the definition of JobKeeper despite the $60 billion saving, Sky News Chief Anchor Kieran Gilbert says. The government on Friday revealed a costing error by Treasury meant the wage subsidy scheme was initially forecast $60 billion higher than was required. It is now estimated the JobKeeper program will cost the government $70 billion and will cover about 3.5 million workers. Mr Gilbert said senior government sources indicated the scheme would not be widened and they viewed the revised forecast as a good thing. “They see this as a positive, that the debt burden will be less.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Hong Kong braces for security protests

Hong Kong is bracing for its first protests since Beijing's controversial plan to directly impose national security laws on the city, in what could provide a litmus test of public opposition to China's tightening grip over the financial hub. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Security crackdown for Sydney peak hour commute

Sydney’s train stations and public transport hubs will be guarded with an army of security guards making sure commuters follow social distancing guidelines. Authorities are expecting a dramatic rise in commuter numbers this week as schools and businesses begin to reopen. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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‘Alarmist’ COVID-19 reporting lead to a panicked response

Sky News host Rita Panahi says the “hysterical” reporting of COVID-19 has been “designed not to inform but to scare the bejesus off of the audience”. Ms Panahi said the bulk of the media’s reports — particularly in the US — has been “simplistic and alarmist”. “The bulk of the reporting on Covid-19 has been simplistic and alarmist and nowhere has that been more evident than in the coverage of the pandemic in the U.S. which has predictably been coloured with fake news, half-truths and barely concealed Trump Derangement Syndrome,” she said. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Victorians granted more freedom as restrictions ease

Beauty and personal care services, entertainment venues and swimming pools will be allowed to reopen from June 1 under a significant easing of restrictions announced by Premier Daniel Andrews. From June 1, the limit on outdoor and indoor gatherings at private residences will be raised to 20 people, and overnight stays can recommence. The restrictions on funerals and weddings will also be lifted to 50 and 20 people respectively. Libraries, youth centres, other community facilities, and entertainment and cultural venues will be allowed to reopen from June 1 but physical distancing and a limit of 20 people per space will apply and venues will be required to keep customers contacts. Mr Andrews credited the discipline of Victorians in addition to the widespread testing of residents for allowing the state government to have “more options” to reopen the state. “By the end of May, we will have well over 200,000 tests. That is what gives us options … The more people that get tested, the more op
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New death as Victorian virus cases jump

This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. Get full digital access to trusted news from the Herald Sun and Leader for just $5 per month for the first 3 months. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Coronavirus serving as a ‘mid-life crisis, whether you’re conscious of it or not’

Psychotherapist Melissa Ferrari says people should use the coronavirus lockdown as a chance to reassess what they want in life. “It’s kind of like a version of a mid-life crisis in a way for some,” she said. “We’ve all been under an incredible amount of stress and I think people are really taking stock of their lives and thinking ‘what do I want from my life’.” Dr Ferrari said the coronavirus pandemic created added stress for so much of the population, “whether you’re conscious of it or not”. “We’ve all got that part of the brain that goes into fight or flight response,” she said. She urged people to make good of a difficult situation and take some time out for “self-reflection and mindfulness”. Image: Getty Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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JobKeeper ‘badly implemented, badly communicated and badly budgeted’

Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the JobKeeper program has been “badly implemented, badly communicated and badly budgeted” which shows you cannot trust “a bad government with a good idea”. The Australian Tax Office admitted the JobKeeper forms "could have been clearer", after confusion over the first question resulted in the estimated budget being out by $60 billion dollars. “The $60 billion question is how can we ever believe anything that this treasurer or this government tells us about the budget or about the economy into the future,” Mr Chalmers said. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Early superannuation scheme a ‘burden on future economy’

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has again taken aim at the government over its early superannuation scheme. Mr Albanese said the scheme – which allows eligible citizens to apply for up to $10,000 from their superannuation – was threatening Australia’s future economy. “Australians who are struggling have taken $13.2 billion out of their own superannuation accounts,” he said. “That means they have less in their retirement savings. It also means the cost to the future economy, the burden which is there on retirement, will be greater on Australians and on our national economy." Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Albanese questions recovery management

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says the Morrison government's massive multi-billion JobKeeper mistake raises questions over how it will manage the economic recovery coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Lucas Neill emerges from the wilderness

Lucas Neill has come out of the wilderness to lend his support to a campaign from Australia’s “golden generation”, encouraging soccer Down Under to explore owning its broadcast rights and shifting domestic seasons to align with Asia. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Govt announces a $1.8 billion boost for local government

Supplied video obtained May 22, 2020 of the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormak and the Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government Mark Coulton in Canberra announce a $1.8 billion boost for road and community projects through local governments across Australia. This includes a $500 million local road and community infrastructure program and the bringing forward of the $1.3 billion of the 2020-21 Financial Assistance Grant payment. (AAP Video/Supplied/Parlview) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Federal government urges states, territories to reopen borders

The federal government is encouraging states and territories to consider reopening their borders due to the economic impact, particularly on the country's struggling tourism sector. Speaking to Sky News on Friday, Finance Minister Matthias Cormann said “there is no medical case” for state and territory borders to remain closed and should promptly reopen. Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania are remaining firm on their decision to keep their borders closed despite increasingly low virus cases being reported each day. Image: News Corp Australia/ Gary Ramage Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Worrying photos emerge from Wuhan

An ambitious plan to test all 11 million residents of the Chinese city of Wuhan over just 10 days has led to long queues and countless examples of citizens ignoring social distancing. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Snow Falls in Blue Mountains, New South Wales

Snow fell on the New South Wales Blue Mountains region early on May 22 after a cold front passed through the state. The Bureau of Meteorology reported light snow in the Blue Mountains, as well as small hail in Mittagong and Bowral. Snow was also seen at Yetholme near Bathurst in the state’s Central Tablelands. This footage shows the snowfall in Blackheath. Credit: Rhys Pope Photography via Storyful Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Labor wants Australia to go green during economic recovery

The man in charge of Labor’s now axed energy policies which helped lead the party to a catastrophic election defeat last year has dismissed calls for an “immediate” investment into gas industries to save Australia from economic ruin. Labor climate change and energy spokesman Mark Butler told Sky News the government should focus more on renewable energy as he dismissed calls from the National COVID-19 Commission to urgently bolster gas and manufacturing jobs to unlock billions of dollars in GDP. “I’m reluctant to place too much emphasis on leaked reports that have not yet been received by the government, but I think there are some real questions from the government to answer about this report if they are intending to follow it,” he said. “There is no cheap gas in the eastern market if you ask any of the gas companies the cheap gas that we used to rely upon has largely been depleted. “It does seem a little bit singular in its focus on gas rather than a range of other technologies that do
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Coronavirus to scar US economy

The economic impact of the pandemic is being felt in the United States, with hundreds of companies closing down and millions of people now unemployed. There are fears the downturn could be worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s which left deep scars on the nation. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Borders remain shut to avoid ‘disastrous’ return to lockdown

Cornerstone Group Senior Director James Cullen says it "makes sense" for state borders to remain shut in order to avoid a return to strict lockdown measures. He told Sky News it would be a “complete disaster for the economy and business” if the nation was forced to re-enter lockdown, but reiterated the national cabinet and leaders were “very reluctant to go backwards”. Mr Cullen said the government and housing sector were facing an “investment cliff” in the coming months. “This economic challenge is not going to be not about the next three to four months, but is going to be about the next 12 to 18 months," he said. “It’s going to be an area of real focus for the federal government over the next few months and I would expect to see some more measures rolled out by then.” Image: Getty Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Ten patron limits selected to be ‘easily understood’ rather than based on science

Chief Nursing Officer Allison McMillan has defended the government's 10 person limit on all restaurants and cafes regardless of size, saying the figure needed to be "easily understood" and "clearly definable" as opposed to being based on scientific data. Owners of larger venues criticised the government's blanket restriction arguing they could manage larger numbers of patrons while still adhering to social distancing guidelines. "It's a gradual change. We were really clear, we weren't rushing into anything," Ms McMillan said. "We're asking restaurants and cafes to work with the industry." Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Effectiveness of COVIDSafe app questioned

Six million Australians downloaded the COVIDSafe app after being promised it was the “ticket” to the way out of lockdown but the contract tracing app has so far been marred by issues. State and federal health authorities were on the defensive on Wednesday following reports the states were unable to access the data. Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell sought answers from the health authorities on if the app was working as planned. In a statement, NSW Health said the app was working but at the present time, due to new cases being linked to overseas travel and found in quarantine, contract tracing efforts have been unnecessary. The federal Department of Health told Sky News “any claims that technical issues are restricting access are not correct”. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Freak sight on first ever cruise

She was living it up on board, dining at its flash restaurants and passing through incredible landscapes, then this bizarre announcement came over the loud speaker. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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NT resisting calls to reopen border

The Northern Territory Government is resisting calls to open up its borders despite pressure from business groups and tourism operators. The Top end was the first mainland jurisdiction to close its borders due to the coronavirus and it could be the last to reopen them. The Government says it will only reopen the borders when it is absolutely safe to do so. Image: Getty Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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RAW: Suspicious vehicle fire, Southport

Supplied video obtained Wednesday, May 20, 2020, of a man who was captured on CCTV footage deliberately setting fire to a vehicle outside a driveway on Cook Close, Southport, about 10.25pm on Saturday, May 9. Police are appealing for any witnesses, CCTV or access to any dashcam footage in and around the Cook Close, Everest Drive and Edmund Rice Drive area around the time of the incident. (AAP VIDEO/Supplied/Queensland Police) Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Housing industry stands to lose half a million jobs

Australia’s housing industry stands to lose half a million jobs by the end of the year as projects dry up due to the coronavirus. Housing Industry Australia Graham Wolfe told Sky News up to 100,000 front end jobs, such as designers and estimates, have already been lost and the situation has only been made worse by a key flaw in the JobKeeper scheme. “There are some in our industry who have been about to access JobKeeper but there are many, because of our nature of the contract legislation that exists for consumer protection laws around the country, builders have been continuing to do the work that has been in the pipeline and as they continue to do that work they continue to get revenue,” he said. “That revenue hasn’t dropped to 30 per cent. But we’re not getting new orders in the front door and that six to nine-month pipeline has stopped.” Mr Wolfe said the industry risked a massive hit towards the latter half of the year unless the government intervened. Via news.com.au — Australia’s
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Is this Australia’s best house?

This glamour mansion is in the running to be named Australia’s best house but the glass edge pool is already a star attraction along the prestigious beachfront strip. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Best Click Frenzy beauty buys

Whether you’re looking to save on a big-ticket item or just want a little bit of retail therapy, what better way to treat yourself than with a little beauty buy? Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au
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Carbon capture and storage ‘an opportunity for Australia’

Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher says there's been "a real lack of bipartisan support for energy policy" but has welcomed the federal government's response to a recent report into its $2 billion Climate Solutions Fund. An extensive review found the $2 billion fund was not providing the best incentives for carbon abatement projects while the government accepted 21 out of 26 recommendations, including enabling subsidies for carbon capture and storage. The fund was expanded to finance emissions reduction across a range of high-carbon sectors, including manufacturing, transport and agriculture. "We welcome the report and in particular the government's response to the report," Mr Gallagher told Sky News. "It focuses on incentivising investment in technologies that will result in actual, physical reduction of Co2 emissions across a number of different industries. "So, from that point of view we welcome it ... at this point in time we're very positive o
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