1. Prime Minister Julia Gillard had pledged $14 billion dollars in school funds over the next six years, while also cutting $2.8 billion in funding from Australia’s universities. News Ltd reports that $2.4 billion will go to Catholic and other independent schools, while $12 billion will go to public schools.
2. A 7-year-old girl in Beijing has been confirmed as being infected with the H7N9 virus – a new strain of bird flu. H7N9 has killed 11 people in China since late March.
3. The family of murder victim Sarah Cafferkey – who last year was stabbed to death by convicted killer Steven James Hunter, nine days after his parole finished – is launching a case against the Victorian State Government, over criminals who commit crimes while on parole.
4. The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre is offering teenagers up to $70 – plus a $20 JB Hi Fi voucher – to participate in a study looking at the nature, pattern and context of 16-19 year old’s alcohol use.
5. The Government in planning to crack down on welfare fraud, as Australians are claiming more than $1.8 billion a year in overpayments, reports News Ltd.
6. A Gold Coast circus acrobat, 34-year-old Godfrey Zaburoni – who was accused of knowingly spreading HIV almost three years ago – is finally facing the courts when his trial starts tomorrow.
7. The Archbishop of Sydney George Pell has been chosen by Pope Francis – along with cardinals and a monsignor from Asia, Europe, Africa, and North and South America – to become a member of a permanent advisory group that will help him run the Catholic Church.
8. A Lion Air commercial jet crashed into the sea outside Denpasar International Airport yesterday evening. The plane was carrying 7 crewmembers and 101 passengers –and up to 45 people were injured. News Ltd reports that an Australian surfer in the waves nearby helped paddle passengers to the shore.
Top Comments
Well, up here in Queensland we booted Labor out because they were so BAD. Except what we got was 100 times worse.
At this stage, there's nothing Federal Labor could do (other than killing a baby seal live on TV) to make me not vote for them. And no, the seal is not a campaign idea for either party :P
Really, cutting the funding of our already struggling universities? Well isn't that an inspired idea from Gillard and her party again. the sooner she is out, the better off our country will be.
Universities don't need funding they already took all my money for nothing, there are other ways to get a Job and earn a living.