Tag: State
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Second wave ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws pass
Kids as young as 10 will face adult jail time for a range of new offences after the Queensland government passed its second tranche of controversial youth crime laws. The “adult crime, adult time” laws now include 20 more offences after passing through during a late-night sitting in Queensland Parliament on Wednesday. Young offenders can…
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Family fury at ‘dangerous’ youth hormone therapy ban
It took Rebecca’s son four years to finally access gender-affirming care. Then the Queensland government made the “terrifying” decision to pause hormone therapies for young people. “Our hearts were broken and I was just on suicide watch for the kid, because I was that terrified,” Rebecca said. “It was just another reinforcement of you’re not…
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Story Bridge closure may cost $1 billion, shut for months
The Story Bridge may require a $1 billion makeover after a report issued a dire warning about the 85-year-old structure’s future. Opened in July 1940, the steel bridge is deteriorating as it bears the weight of an unprecedented volume of traffic and may close in 20 years if action isn’t taken, a council report has…
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‘Absolutely time’ for SA Human Rights Act after committee recommendation
In a report tabled at the end of April, South Australian Parliament’s Social Development Committee recommended that the government consolidate existing legislation into a comprehensive Human Rights Act. A Human Rights Act would ensure government procedures that administer legislation align with human rights protections that are legally enforceable, like the state’s existing Equal Opportunity Act…
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Ramping round table spurs info sharing pilot program
Health Minister Chris Picton has committed to establish a pilot program to allow real-time information sharing between GPs and aged care facilities at an Australian Medical Association-hosted round table on the healthcare system. Held on Friday, the round table saw healthcare leaders such as AMA SA president Dr John Williams, Picton and AMA President Dr…
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Three children are dead after a suspicious house fire
Two young children have died in hospital following a ferocious fire at a family home, taking the death toll to three. The house in suburban Harristown in Toowoomba, about 130km west of Brisbane in the Darling Downs region, went up in flames in the early hours of Wednesday. Six people, including two adults and four…
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To see vulnerability in what I’m most scared of, it broke me
I’ve swum those waters many times, often out deep. In life saver training drills, in regular surf club swims out and around the buoys, I’m always scared about what might exist in the dimensions beyond the scope of my steamy goggles. Returning to the sand is my favourite part of each swim. But to see…
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‘Tragic’: fatal fire may have domestic violence links
An investigation into a violent house fire that led to one death and forced six others to flee will consider any history of domestic violence amongst the residents. Authorities were on Wednesday combing through the charred remains of the Harristown property, 130km west of Brisbane, after the tragedy that also left three people with critical…
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Australian farmland values just keep on growing
Millions of hectares of Australian farmland have sold for a total of almost $15 billion, as agricultural property values rack up 11 years of growth. Median farmland values increased by 6.9 per cent in 2024 to a record $10,231 per hectare, according to Bendigo Bank’s Agribusiness Farmland Values report released on Tuesday. But despite more…
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Greens turn up the heat on dodgy rentals
The Bill, which Simms introduced in August last year, would introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for renters and have penalties of up to $25,000 for landlords who don’t comply with providing adequate cooling and heating in rental properties. Today, Simms will move to refer the Bill to a parliamentary committee where stakeholders can give feedback…