Qld's public service growing under Palaszczuk government
Queensland’s public service continues to grow with 313 additional jobs in the december quarter. This increase means the state now supports over two hundred and forty five thousand service jobs. The public service has grown by just under 5000 jobs under the Palaszczuk Government. The majority of these new jobs are within the health sector, including 224 nurses and health practitioners. Another 218 full timers were hired for construction work, most notably for the sunshine coast hospital project.Drones used to study climate change effects
Researchers in the Sunshine Coast studying the effects of climate change plan to use drones to collect data. The drones will be part of a project to measure water depth to better understand and predict coastal behaviour. Project leader Dr Javier Leon, from the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), said drones were a great alternative to physically collecting data because they ensured safety to research Dr Leon said collecting accurate data in the dynamic, highly energetic and usually dangerous nearshore and surf zone areas is very challenging.Investigation underway over allegations of racism and sexism towards Greens Member
An investigation into police misconduct is underway after evidence suggested that several employees of the New South Wales police force had posted offensive racist and sexist comments about Greens Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong. Ms. Leong has welcomed the statement from the Police Integrity Commission announcing Operation Colchester, which will investigate the matters. She said the office will work with the police to assist with the investigation as required.4.5 million dollars granted to solar-based research
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has granted 4.5 million dollars to Adelaide University research to help efforts to create new solar-based and environment-friendly products. This new energy could potentially replace natural gas and other fossil fuels in the future. Professor Gus Nathan of the Centre for Energy Technology believes that the new solar energy could potentially cut carbon emissions to 50% in the aluminium industry. The $15 million project has been publicly supported by Alcoa, the CSIRO, and other universities and companies.Two-year anniversary since Nigerian school girls' abduction
Today marks the second anniversary of the abduction of over two hundred and fifty Chibok girls in Nigeria. The “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign sought to save the female students who were kidnapped in 2014 by the Islamic Extremist group Boko Haram. The campaign sparked intense international social media and news attention in 2014 but the fight still continues. Today, hundreds of Nigerians prayed, marched, and chanted for the safe return of the young girls. President Muhammadu Buhari has promised not to spare any effort to ensure the girls’ safe return.Assisted suicide now legal in Canada
Canada’s government introduced a long-awaited bill overnight that legalises assisted suicide. The new bill will exclude non-Canadians, preventing the possibility of suicide tourism from the US and worldwide. It will also exclude those who experience mental illness, psychiatric conditions and advanced consent. Assisted suicide had been illegal in Canada, carrying a maximum prison sentence of fourteen years, until the Supreme Court declared that outlawing the option deprives dying people of their dignity and autonomy.