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calendar    May 01, 2019

The Weekly News Roundup - 24th April 2019

Do you like hearing about what is happening in Australia? Take a look at our weekly news roundup!

WEDNESDAY 24TH

'Slashed': Morrison government delays assessments for threatened species

Almost two dozen threatened species and habitats have had their threat updates postponed by the federal government, in one case for three years, raising concerns about extinction risks and a lack of departmental funding.

Elderly amputee wins court battle after being prevented from living on yacht

An elderly amputee has been given the all clear to return to live on his yacht after being held in hospital under a guardianship order for eight months. The case is likely to pique the interests of the aged care royal commission and the upcoming national inquiry into the disability sector.

Children's contact services under scrutiny as father with DVO against him opens facility

Unlike government-funded services, these privately operated services, where separated parent are able to do change overs, are unregulated, and despite staff often having to deal with highly stressful, complex family disputes, they required no relevant qualifications or even blue card accreditation.

THURSDAY 25TH

‘They’re not property’: the people who want their ancestors back from British museums

The remains of indigenous people from all over the world have ended up in various British institutions. Why do their descendants have so much trouble getting them returned?

Handshakes could be banned under new workplace rules to avoid expensive sexual harassment claims

Kate Palmer, an associate director of advisory at human resources consultancy Peninsula, said employers may ban all forms of physical contact to avoid confusion about what kind of touch is appropriate.

Domestic violence victim forced on to ParentsNext welfare program in 'horrifying' case

A ParentsNext provider signed a woman up to the controversial program less than two weeks after she was assaulted by a former partner, despite government guidelines providing exemptions for domestic violence.

FRIDAY 26TH

Three sons who stole $1.6 million from their elderly parents yet to face criminal charges

More than two years after $1.6 million was siphoned from her dementia-affected grandparents' estate by their three sons, a young Perth woman wants to know why no charges have been laid.

Parrot seized by cops for warning druggie owner about raid

A parrot in Brazil was taken into custody for warning his drug-dealing owner that cops were about to launch a raid — squawking, “Mummy, police!” in Portuguese.

Pet-nups for Perth’s barking mad couples

Perth couples are seeking shared custody of their pet like they would a child in divorce proceedings, while some are going as far as including a beloved dog or cat in a prenuptial-style agreement before getting married.

MONDAY 29TH

'Gut-wrenching': Queensland police try to block compensation for domestic violence victim

The Queensland police service has launched another attempt to block compensation to a domestic violence victim, who was forced into hiding after her details were accessed by a senior constable and leaked to her abusive former partner.

Lindt Cafe sniper to sue police

The chief sniper during the Lindt Cafe siege will sue NSW Police, alleging he and fellow officers were prevented from doing their jobs and the lives of cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson could have been saved.

How Amazon automatically tracks and fires warehouse workers for ‘productivity’

Critics say those fulfillment center workers face strenuous conditions: workers are pressed to “make rate,” with some packing hundreds of boxes per hour, and losing their job if they don’t move fast enough. “You’ve always got somebody right behind you who’s ready to take your job,” says Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and a prominent Amazon critic.

TUESDAY 30TH

Australia’s ‘watergate’: here’s what taxpayers need to know about water buybacks

In 2017, the then agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, signed off on an A$80 million purchase of a water entitlement from a company called Eastern Australia Agriculture. The problem is that Energy Minister Angus Taylor used to be a director of Eastern Australia Agriculture – though he didn’t have a financial interest – and the company is a Liberal party donor. What’s more, the value of the water purchased for A$80 million is under question. Now, as the election looms, this issue has resurfaced. But why should taxpayers be concerned?

Tami was lured to Australia for a $120k job. Three months later he was left with nothing

The promise of a $120,000 contract lured Tami Kunjil from Papua New Guinea to Australia away from his wife and four children and his secure job of 14 years. When he arrived in Australia, the lucrative offer of an annual $120,000 salary for three years evaporated within months.

WEDNESDAY 1ST

Australian cricketer Alex Hepburn jailed for five years for rape

An Australian cricketer who raped a woman he found “dozing” in his teammate’s bedroom has been jailed for five years by an English court. Alex Hepburn, 23, was convicted after an attack he carried out during the first night of a sexual conquest “game” he helped to set up on a WhatsApp group.

Blue sky to fund 200th anniversary renos of Hyde Park Barracks

The 200-year-old Hyde Park Barracks is raising nearly $20 million towards its future conservation by selling its air rights - or unused development space above the building - to private developers for use elsewhere in the city. It is the first time in Australia that a UNESCO-listed building has sold its air rights, and the second government building in Sydney to do so.

Snake Man and Snake Hunter in court tangle over 'defamatory' posts

Rival snake catchers are locked in a venomous legal duel over Facebook posts that one says implied he was a dishonest reptile handler, trademark infringer and "a violent sex offending rapist".

frank law-16

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