Category: Australia

Family Plea to Help Solve Australian Teenager’s 1988 Death

More than 35 years after Aboriginal teenager Mark Haines was found dead on train tracks in rural New South Wales (NSW), police are offering $1 million (US$670,000) for information to catch his killers. The reward and another coronial inquest could bring answers for his grieving family. Mark was 17 when he died near Tamworth on…


Aussies Live Longer and Prosper but Face Money Worries

Australians live longer, are happier in their jobs and trust each other more than they did two decades ago. But more people are battling chronic disease, struggling to make ends meet and having bad experiences online. There’s also less trust in government and more concern for the nation’s safety than there was 20 years ago….


Virtual Modelling To Change Barramundi Production

As virtual modelling becomes increasingly available everywhere, the field of aquaculture is also taking advantage of it, new research in Australia shows. Jessica Hintzsche from the University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia is using a computer simulation for the development of ‘digital twins’—a virtual model for the genetic tools available for barramundi farming. A digital…


Australian Government Pledges $5.5 Million to PNG’s NRL Bid

The Albanese government has pledged $5.5 million (US$3.7 million) in support of Papua New Guinea’s bid for the next NRL license. Federal Minister for International Development Pat Conroy made the announcement during his visit to PNG this week and said the funds would be used to develop pathways programs. “Talent identification and player development are…


Vulnerabilities in Solar Panels Could Be Exposed by Chinese Hackers: Senator

The rush to net zero could leave gaping holes for Chinese-backed hackers to disrupt Australia’s energy grid, warns Senator James Paterson. Solar power is a key pillar in the march towards reducing emissions with Australia estimated to need 2.7 billion solar panels to reach net zero by 2050, according to estimates from the University of…


Australian Doctor Suspended for Saying COVID-19 Vaccine Is Dangerous Appeals High Court’s Decision

An Australian doctor suspended for speaking out on the harmful side effects of COVID-19 vaccines has appealed a High Court’s decision after it refused to adjudicate his lawsuit, which was filed against the country’s medical regulators. In August 2022, Dr. William Bay, a Queensland GP registrar, received a medical registration suspension notice from the Australian…


Rare Dolphin Rehab Centre on the Brink of Closing

Ellie, the country’s oldest captive Australian sea lion, and her dolphin neighbours may be forced from their home on the New South Wales (NSW) coast amid financial difficulties. The Dolphin Marine Conservation Park in Coffs Harbour—midway between Sydney and Brisbane—entered voluntary administration this week, citing a lack of funding. It is one of only two sea-life…


Bubble Bursts on Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Lifeline

Gold Coast’s bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games has been torpedoed as pressure mounts on Victoria to explain how long it kept quiet on cost concerns. The Queensland city’s mayor Tom Tate launched a late bid, contingent on federal funding, for the Games after Victoria pulled out of hosting the event because the cost had…


Australians Warned Against Using Thumbs-Up Emoji Following Canada Ruling

Aussies who use a thumbs-up emoji in text messages, particularly in business scenarios involving official documents, are being urged to exercise caution after a Canadian court deemed the common emoji to be a valid signature. In a dispute before a Canadian court in June, the presiding judge said an emoji—in this case, a thumbs-up emoji—can amount…


WeChat Only Has a Few Hours Left to Respond to a Parliamentary Inquiry

WeChat has only hours left to respond to an Australian government inquiry after it refused to front a parliamentary inquiry earlier this month. Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media, Senator James Paterson, said that he has sent WeChat detailed series of questions after it failed to appear to give…