PoliticsPage 2
Darwin is set to become the epicenter of international air combat training as Exercise Pitch Black 2026 commences, bringing together thousands of personnel and up to 100 fighter jets from 20 nations. This biennial event strengthens global alliances and hones advanced aerial tactics in complex, realistic scenarios.
A Queensland inquiry has heard harrowing testimony of sustained intimidation, mental health crises, and alleged political interference involving a powerful construction union. Former industry leaders detailed a pattern of aggressive tactics and undue influence on state policy, including claims of contract termination due to union pressure.
A major 12,000-home development on the Sunshine Coast has been fast-tracked by state authorities, transferring planning powers and overriding local schemes. The move has been welcomed by business leaders keen to address housing shortages but draws sharp criticism from environmental groups concerned about its impact on sensitive wetlands.
Queensland MP Tim Mander has returned to his cabinet role as Olympic and Paralympic Games Minister after being cleared by the Australian Federal Police. The Everton MP stood aside in May following voter registration allegations, which have now been dismissed.
A state inquiry has heard gripping testimony from a former building industry CEO, detailing a harrowing campaign of alleged intimidation by a prominent union that culminated in a suicide attempt. His emotional account sheds light on the profound psychological toll of such tactics, with further allegations emerging against a former Labor minister.
The Queensland Government is facing fierce backlash after state budget papers revealed a nearly $40 million reduction in domestic and family violence prevention funding. While ministers defend the drop as the conclusion of temporary programs, advocates and the opposition warn the cuts threaten vital safety momentum.
Australian veterans who served at the Butterworth air base in Malaysia between 1970 and 1989 are still fighting for official recognition of their deployment as "warlike." Decades after their service in a volatile region, these former troops decry ongoing government inaction, fearing time is running out.
The Queensland government has pledged $60 million from this year's budget to commence geotechnical works on the full rebuild of Paradise Dam, rejecting previous proposals for a smaller or new downstream structure. This crucial commitment aims to restore long-term water security for the Wide Bay region's vital agricultural sector.
The state government is moving forward with its controversial 'breach bail, go to jail' policy for youth offenders, even as concerns escalate over the already strained capacity of juvenile detention centres. Critics, including unions and advocacy groups, are questioning the logistics and potential impact on young people.
Dozens of Indigenous families in Mount Isa are facing the grim prospect of homelessness as 25 properties, owned by an Aboriginal welfare organisation, are slated for auction due to a nearly $1 million unpaid rates debt. Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe has amplified calls for urgent government intervention, warning that without a solution by September, residents face a catastrophic loss of their homes amidst a severe housing shortage.
Randwick councillors have voted against a proposal to introduce 1,400 paid parking spaces across popular eastern beaches, leaving ratepayers to continue solely funding the area's significant beach maintenance costs. The decision comes after extensive community consultation and a divided council vote.