QLD Govt propose to host NRL grand final for the first time and more 10am zedlines

QLD Government propose to hose NRL grand final for the first time The Queensland government is in talks with rugby league bosses to wrestle the NRL grand final away from Sydney and be played interstate for the first time. The refurbishment of ANZ Stadium, which hosted every NRL decider since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, has opened the door for Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium as an alternate venue. Queensland’s push for the final comes after NSW Premier Mike Baird announces on Thursday his government will spend $1.6 billion to revamp the 83,500-seat ANZ Stadium, as well as the 40,000-capacity Allianz Stadium. Southport children hospitalised after chemical exposure Nine Children have been hospitalised after chemical exposure in a private pool in Southport. The incident is believed to be the result of a large imbalance in the chemicals used to treat the pool. The children mainly suffered from irritated eyes and a minor upper respiratory condition. The scene was declared safe after a 45 minute investigation. Transparency International pushes for new anti-fraud and corruption agency Australia’s leading anti-corruption group says there is a definite need for a Serious Fraud and Corruption Office to take on corporate crime and industry rorts in the nation. Transparency International Australia is calling for a new anti-fraud and corruption agency to take over the investigations and workload of the proposed Building and Construct commision. Transparency International’s worldwide corruption perception index shows Australia has slipped from 6th to 12th position, due to federal police struggling to make charges in several long-running and high-profile foreign bribery cases. Australia needs to close coal-powered power plants, says The Climate institute A new analysis has found Australia may miss its long term climate-change goals and slow down its clean energy investment, if it doesn’t start forcing the closure of dirty, coal-fired power plants. The Climate Institute says putting of the plant's closure till 2030 would force the country into more extreme measures to meet the longer term goals of the Paris climate agreement. The Institute says Australia’s best chance is to cut emissions to zero by 2050 and 90 percent of electricity would need to be generated from a clean source. At least nine people dead and hundreds injured after Japanese earthquake At least nine people have died and hundreds injured after a magnitude-6.5 earthquake hit Japan’s south-western island of Kyushu, according to Japanese government officials. Emergency officers are making efforts to save lives and help those affected by the earthquake. Firefighters and authorities have been dispatched to help those trapped under the rubble of collapsed houses and buildings. Many residents have evacuated their homes, with some squatting in front of government buildings. Aftershocks will most likely continue for a week. Thailand medics urge for road safety during holidays Thailand Police and medics have braced themselves for the annual Songkran holidays. Known as the “seven dangerous days,” this period marks the considerable increase in road accidents often caused by a mixture of speeding and alcohol. Paramedics urge party-goers not to drink and drive. They’ll even let those who need it sleep in the back of the ambulance. Last year, the holiday period claimed the lives of 364 people on Thailand’s roads, as well as 3,559 confirmed injuries.