Top 10 Stories You Need To Know In Australia Today (21 Nov 2019)
No time to catch up on daily Australian news? Here’s a curated list of the most important stories from Australia that you need to know today…
#1 — Peter Dutton States Firmly — Behrouz Boochani Will Never Enter Australia
The Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton clearly stated that Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian refugee in Manus Island will not be allowed to enter Australia even if an asylum is granted by New Zealand. Mr Boochani arrived in Christchurch last week which prompted the speculations. Mr Dutton said, “I note the comments of the New Zealand prime minister yesterday that she didn’t know about this individual coming into New Zealand, so that’s an issue for her and for the immigration minister, and not something I want to comment on.”
#2—Major Infrastructure Projects Worth $1.9 Bn For Queensland Announced
Queensland state government and Federal government has agreed to introduce major infrastructure projects across Queensland worth $1.9 billion with $1.3 billion contribution coming from the Federal government. The projects include $400 million for new road financing, $648 million to speed up delivery of already planned projects; completion of Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3; 2 M1 motorway exit upgrades, among other plans. This financing comes from the Morrison government’s newly launched $3.8 billion infrastructure plan.
#3— Adani Group Expects First Coal Shipment From Carmichael Mine By 2021
In the Q2 earnings conference call, the Adani Group told its shareholders that it is expecting Carmichael mine in north Queensland to start the first coal shipment from August 2021. The company expects an additional expenditure of US$1.7 billion to build a rail line (US$1.1 bn) and the mine (US$600 million) and will look for additional lines for fundraise. The company has awarded a $1.4 million “early services” contract to scope bulk earthworks required along the freight rail route and seems committed to start the project.
#4—$500 Mn To Expand Australian War Memorial Announced By PM Morrison
A fresh $500 million investment to expand the Australian War Memorial was announced by Brendan Nelson, the head of the War Memorial and Prime Minister Morrison on Tuesday. Mr Nelson believes a lack of recognition of military service is a key contributor to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The project will be completed by 2027 and includes development of a new southern entrance, new courtyards, revamped galleries and a research centre. The expansion will add more recent defence history to make it relevant for a new generation.
#5 — A 2-Hectare Oyster Reef To Be Built Off The Coast of Adelaide
The non-profit organisation The Nature Conservancy will develop a large 2-hectare reef off the coast of Adelaide in Gulf St Vincent to improve water quality and revive wild native oyster population. South Australian Government is partially funding the project with a $1.2 million investment. The project is expected to be completed by 2020. Australia’s southern coastline was home to thousands of kilometres of oyster reefs before it got disrupted by lime production and the harvesting of oysters for food.
#6—Christian Porter Wants Social Media Platforms To Be Treated As Publishers
in his address to National Press Club, Attorney general Christian Porter has called for major social media platforms to be treated as ‘Publishers’ instead of platforms to create a fair playground for traditional media companies. He said, “these online platforms should be held to essentially the same standards as other publishers but that how this should occur requires a sensible measured approach.” Important to note that The ACCC’s report released in July this year has already laid out important reform suggestions for the social media platforms.
#7—Treasurer Calls Aged Australians ‘Economic Time Bomb’, Labor Opposes
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been criticised by Labor for his views that older Australians, over-65, must work longer to help clear nation’s debts, calling them an “economic time bomb”. He cited higher life expectancy, growing national median age and shrinking number of working age Australians, as reasons. Labor has accused Frydenberg of engaging in ageism and picking on the aged. National Seniors Australia’s Ian Henschke said that previous treasurers should be blamed for debts, instead of stigmatising older Australians.
#8 — Increasing Opioid Deaths Lead To Release Of An Opioid Use Guide
National Prescribing Service (NPS MedicineWise) has released a guide on the potential dangers of intake and overuse of opioids, as 150 Australians have been reported to be hospitalised due to opioid use, and 85% of drug related deaths have been attributed to the drug. As a result, hospital staff will now provide patients with a 2-page guide on how to manage pain and opioids, which when mixed with sedatives, can be deadly. Medical experts also warn against abrupt end of Opioid use, and urge for a plan to reduce the dosage.
#9—An Australian Among 2 Taliban Hostages Released In A Swap Deal
Australian Timothy Weeks and American Kevin Kingh were released in Zabul province, southern Afghanistan, on Tuesday, after 3 years of getting abducted by Taliban in Kabul, where they were teaching. Their release was a part of prisoner swap deal, in exchange of 3 Taliban prisoners, released by the Kabul government. The swap intends to restart talks to end Afghanistan war and allow withdrawal of US troops from the country. Weeks and Kingh will be flown to Germany, to the US military base in Stuttgart for medical check up.
#10—CommInsure To Refund Over $12 Mn To 30K Customers For Misinformation
Commonwealth Bank-owned insurer, CommInsure pleaded guilty on Tuesday for 87 accounts of unlawfully selling life insurance policies, between 2010 and 2014, through unsolicited phone calls. The company will refund more than $12 mn to 30,000 customers. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) charged the company for misinformation regarding cancelling policies within 6 months of being sold in 2012–13. CommInsure’s fine, a maximum $1.85 mn, will be set on November 28.
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