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Wednesday, 21 June
00:06
Will the world save Antarctica in time? News - Fraser Coast FM 107.5
Antarcticas rich biodiversity is at risk from fishing and mining. China and Russia look set to block the wildlife protection proposals as they see value in the immense wealth of minerals and sea life as an opportunity for plunder.
An international meeting being held in Chile this week will aim to break a deadlock over proposals to protect this precious environment.
Image: Can we save Antarctica and its wildlife? Image: Shutterstock
Produced By: Wendy Frew
Featured In Story: Adjunct Professor Tony Press, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 20 June 2023
The post Will the world save Antarctica in time? appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
00:00
Lebanon Fails to Elect President News - Fraser Coast FM 107.5
Lebanon, a once vibrant tourist hotspot, has been in crisis for years. Corruption of officials long pre-dating the pandemic was exacerbated by COVID-19. Since then, Lebanon has endured the Beirut ammonium nitrate explosion of 2020 that destroyed 77 000 apartments, wounded 7000 people and displaced 300 000 people. Rapid inflation has seen the countrys currency, the Lebanese Pound, lose over ninety-five percent of its value in February of this year effectively rendering the currency useless Now the Lebanese economy runs on American dollars.
Education has increased by 191% and healthcare has increased by 176% leading to severe medication shortages, including cancer drugs, leading patients to gamble on black market medications in the hope of saving their lives.
To add to the pile of problems, the Lebanese parliament has failed for its twelfth time to install a President. The country has been without a head of state since October last year.
Image: Image: Shutterstock: P.jowdy
Produced By: Dominic Giles
Featured In Story: Amar Mustafa PHD Student in History and International Relations Specialising in Lebanese and Syrian Politics at Monash University.
First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 20 June 2023
The post Lebanon Fails to Elect President appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
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Tuesday, 20 June
23:55
PwC hit by massive Cyber breach News - Fraser Coast FM 107.5
PricewaterhouseCoopers the huge accounting, legal and consulting conglomerate who was already reeling from multiple Government confidentiality breaches, suffered another setback with a massive cybersecurity breach.
The firm, who specialises in cyber security consulting, was itself the target of Russian-linked criminal group CLOP which broke into their file transfer system MOVEit . Once there, they had access to any detail from any moved file globally. Rival consultancy EY was also affected.
This pile-on disaster for PwC was mirrored in organisations across the world including the BBC, Shell Energy, and multiple US Federal agencies.
Image: Image: Shutterstock TK Kurikawa
Produced By: Roderick Chambers
Featured In Story: Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Senior Lecturer Computer and Security, School of Science at Edith Cowan University
First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 20 June 2023
The post PwC hit by massive Cyber breach appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
21:27
Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi Role Helicopter A40-003 "Pegasus 87" Calls into the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour Central Queensland Plane Spotting
On Thursday 18 May, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-003 was spotted flying around the Whitsundays and eventually landed at the Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour.
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21:21
Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-033 "Snooker 40" Passes Through Rockhampton Airport - Plus More! Central Queensland Plane Spotting
On Wednesday 17 May, Australian Army NH Industries MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter A40-033 was noted passing through Rockhampton Airport.
Photo taken by Steve Vit
21:17
Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang Bizjet VH-KXM Pops into Longreach Airport - Plus More! Central Queensland Plane Spotting
On Wednesday 17 May, Gulf Coast Aviation Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-KXM was noted visiting Longreach Airport.
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RDO Equipment Co. Pilatus PC-12/47 VH-WPH visited Emerald Airport from Toowoomba.
And Link Airways (Corporate Air / Vee H Aviation) Cessna 441 Conquest VH-VEH as "Survey 23" flew down from Mackay Airport to complete airwork near Emerald before then landing at Emerald Airport. It then departed for more airwork before then returning bac...
16:13
Pets in Crisis News - Fraser Coast FM 107.5
With one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, Australians love their furry best friends. However, Australias cost of living crisis has left many pet owners in a difficult and expensive situation, wondering if their beloved pets are worth the costs.
The cost of pet products has jumped by almost 12% in the last couple years. The increased cost of not only pet food, but medications, mandatory shots and, vet bills has forced many to give over their pets to animal rescue organisations. These organisations are now also struggling and encouraging those who can afford it, to adopt a rescue pet. Our cost of living crisis has now left our pets in crisis.
Image: Image: Shutterstock, Holli
Produced By: Julia Schmidt
Featured In Story: Nicki Hutley, President of the NSW Branch of the Economics Society of Australia, and
First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 20 June 2023
The post Pets in Crisis appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
10:44
Lovely memories of my childhood and Queensland's Gold Coast "IndyWatch Feed National"
Real old style tin and fibro Australia!
Monday, 19 June
15:32
Hunter Valley bus tragedy impacts local community News - Fraser Coast FM 107.5
Nine people remain in hospital a week after a deadly bus crash in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, which claimed the lives of 10 people.
The tragedy, which is Australias worst road accident in about three decades, has sent shock waves across the country. In the days following the crash, the Hunter Valley community was still trying to process the loss.
Hit particularly hard is the town of Singleton, home to about 25,000 people, where a number of those who died had lived.
Chaplains are providing pastoral care at crisis centres set up in Singleton and Branxton.
David Riethmuller from the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network speaks about this tragedy and how it has impacted the community.
Image: Image courtesy Sky News Australia
Produced By: Aryana Mohmood
Featured In Story: David Riethmuller from the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, and
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Hunter Valley bus tragedy impacts local community appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
15:22
Migrating populations from cities to regional towns News - Fraser Coast FM 107.5
Australian researchers have found that the migration of populations from major capital cities into smaller regional towns does not ease population growth pressures in major metropolitan cities.
As the cost of living skyrockets in major cities, some city dwellers are looking to escape the city for a more affordable and comfortable lifestyle in regional towns.
The new study recommends long-term management strategies to help alleviate potential issues arising from population growth in these regional areas in order to maintain their local regional lifestyle and careful population management.
The Wires Toni Pankaluic spoke with Dr Laura Crommelin, Senior Lecturer in City Planning at the School of Built Environment at the University of New South Wales Arts, Design & Architecture to find out more
Produced By: Toni Pankaluic
Featured In Story: Dr Laura Crommelin, Senior Lecturer in City Planning at the School of Built Environment at the University of New South Wales Arts, Design & Architecture
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Migrating populations from cities to regional towns appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
15:17
Impact of Qld State Budget on Queenslanders News - Fraser Coast FM 107.5
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick handed down the 8th budget of the States Labor government this week. The good news for the government was an unexpected windfall from state coal royalties, which the government used to provide cost of living relief for Queenslanders.
4ZZZ Reporters Alexis Pink and Eliza Marlow were in the budget lockup and brought us a breakdown of the measures and how it will impact Queenslanders.
Produced By: Alexis Pink, and Eliza Marlow
Featured In Story:
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Impact of Qld State Budget on Queenslanders appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
15:15
Queensland State Budget for Social Housing Not Enough to Fix Housing Crisis News - Fraser Coast FM 107.5
Last weeks state budget saw the Queensland government announce a $320 million investment to assist those facing housing insecurity.
But advocates say the five hundred new social and affordable houses promised by the state government are not nearly enough to address the current housing crisis.
The Wires Mary-Kate Hannagan spoke to Queensland Council of Social Services CEO, Aimee McVeigh, to find out more
Image: Image courtesy: Ikram Shaari/ Pexels
Produced By: Mary-Kate Hannagan
Featured In Story: Aimee McVeigh, CEO Queensland Council of Social Services
First aired on The Wire, Monday 19 June 2023
The post Queensland State Budget for Social Housing Not Enough to Fix Housing Crisis appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.
12:01
Albanese government makes some concessions on affordable housing policy "IndyWatch Feed National"
Contributed by Joe Montero
Theres no to ways to look at it, the Albanese government has had no other choice but to offer more than what it had offered in Mays budget to extend social housing. It has not only been about the Greens holding out for more in the senate. A steep rise in the cost having a roof over ones head has become a huge issue with an electorate facing difficulty as the cost of living overall continues to rise.
Under these circumstances, the cost of housing has the potential of being a make or break for any government. The May budgets provision on this score was criticised as inadequate by organisations dealing with those falling through the holes, for not being nearly ambitious enough and that it would not start until 2026. It said it would do little to make a difference.
Cartoon by Simon Kneebone
Anthony Albanese government had no other choice but to offer more and did so on Saturday. The initial offer of $10 billion or $500 million a year over a decade, was added to by a once off top up of $575 new funding for the states, with $610m for New South Wales will, $496 million for Victoria, and $398 million for Queensland. $209 million for Western Australia, and $135 million for South Australia with the rest divided between Tasmania, the Northern Territory. The Australian Capital Territory, who will receive a minimum $50 million.
A further $200 million will be allocated to repair, maintain, and improve housing in remote Frist Nations communities.
The original promise was supposed to build 30,000 new homes in the first 5 years of the program. This number was always questionable and has now been downgraded to 20,000. It still seems a lot with the promised outlay. This has inevitably led to suspicion that a significant part of new builds will be sold in the private market and that there be far less going into social housing than the impression given.
Aware of this the potential fallout, Anthony Albanese has countered with a promise this isnt going to happen. were not going to have public housing built and then flogged off, he said. time will tell whether the government is going to honour this.
Another problem is the question mark over trusting the Housing Australia Future Fund (also known as the Haff). It will be managed as a...
09:00
Activists block facilitation of the climate crisis at ports in Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne "IndyWatch Feed National"
As part of a coordinated mobilisation of actions in response to what they say is Australias facilitation of the climate and ecological crisis, activist Raffi is on a bipod, halting all operations at Newcastle, the most significant economic bottleneck of the worlds largest coal port.
Raffi is on Kooragang Rail Bridge blocking the coal rail line on what they say is stolen, unceded Awabakal and Worimi Country in an active blocking of impactful action towards a safe climate.
07:49
Over half of Qld Budgets $60bn of revenue upgrades used for additional spending over FY21 to FY24 Queensland Economy Watch
Queensland general government revenues are $60 billion higher than once expected over 2020-21 to 2023-24, but debt is only $23 billion lower, with total spending revised up by around $32 billion. Some of this is understandable due to higher inflation and population growth, but much of it is due to policy choices, such as power price rebates.
Since the current Queensland Treasurers first budget handed down in December 2020, estimates of total general government revenue across 2020-21 to 2023-24 have been revised upwards by $60 billion. The 2020-21 to 2023-24 time period is relevant because these were the four financial years forecast in the Treasurers first budget. Revenues have been higher than first expected because the economic recovery from the COVID-recession was much stronger than expected, meaning higher payroll tax and stamp duty revenues, and because of super-high commodity prices, primarily coal but to a lesser extent oil and gas, associated with the invasion of Ukraine. Partly, the revenue revisions were associated with the Governments new royalty regime which imposed additional tiers of royalty rates.
At the time of the 2020-21 budget, Queensland general government debt was projected to increase to over $88 billion in 2023-24 and the total non-financial public sector was projected to increase to $130 billion. The non-financial public sector excludes state-owned financial corporations such as Queensland Treasury Corporation and Queensland Investment Corporation. Such entities can hold substantial amounts of debt unassociated with the usual business of government or traditional government trading enterprises. For instance, as well as borrowing money for the general government, QTC borrows additional money and lends it to local governments, universities, and private schools, among others.
Thankfully, higher revenues since the 2020-21 budget have resulted in lower estimates of government debt in 2023-24, but not by as much as might be expected. Lets consider the general government sector and Ill aim to examine the total non-financial public sector including the government-owned corporations in a future article. The state Treasury is now forecasting debt levels of $65 billion for the general government and $111 billion for the non-financial public sector in 2023-24. For the general government sector, total debt is only $23 billion lower, despite $60 billion of revenue upgrades. Whats going on?
Since the 2020-21 budget, total operating expenses over 2020-21 to 2023-24 have been revised upwards by around $30 billion, and capital expenses have been revised upwards by nearly $2 billion, meaning around $32 billion of additional spending. Around $14 billion of these additional expenses could be explained by higher inflation, average wages growth, and population on my calculations, which leaves over half of the increase in expenses due to explicit government policy deci...