An April 12 announcement from former Navy SEAL and House Rep. Daniel R. Crenshaw (R-Texas) that he must lie “face down for the next week or so” to stop the retina detaching in his one remaining eye has shone a spotlight on a niche demographic of combat-injured veterans. Over the weekend, Crenshaw shared that he had undergone an emergency procedure to address retinal detachment in his left eye, only days after National Blinded Veterans Day. “I am sorry to inform everyone that I will be pretty much off the grid for the next few weeks,” Crenshaw wrote, explaining he had…
Author: zenger.news
CANBERRA, Australia — Some of Australia’s top bosses will again sleep rough to raise money to end homelessness, which is beginning to creep towards pre-pandemic levels. Australia will witness one of the longest nights of the year on June 17, when leaders in businesses, communities, and the government will spend the night without shelter for the annual Vinnies CEO sleepout. About 1,500 people are expected to participate in the event, which Vinnies hopes will raise AUD 7.9 million ($6.07 million). Organizers were forced to adapt last year with Covid-19 restrictions prohibiting large gatherings. Last year, the participants from various locations across…
CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian government is open to bolstering laws making it clear that employers have a duty to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace. Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins recommended her report Respect at Work, which the government recently responded to after having it for a year. The recommendation was to change sex discrimination laws to force all employers to eliminate the behavior proactively. At first, the government only committed to assessing whether that change would create complexity, noting similar provisions in work health and safety legislation provisions. Assistant Minister for Women Amanda Stoker said the government already…
MELBOURNE, Australia — The game hunting regulator of Victoria, a southeastern Australian state, has loosened duck season restrictions after a new aerial survey found the state’s population was “much higher” than estimated. The Game Management Authority (GMA) on April 14 increased daily bag limits from two to five and removed shooting bans on teal species for the 2021 duck season. But the duck shooting season length remains the same, running for 20 days from May 26 to June 14. It is believed the changes were prompted by a pilot aerial survey from November 2020 that found Victoria’s estimated game duck population…
BRISBANE, Australia — Miners at the northeastern Australian state of Queensland may downplay the true cost of mine rehabilitation after a recent court ruling, activists warn. In 2018, laws were introduced to establish a standardized rehabilitation financial assurance calculator created by the government, to stop mining companies from underestimating the cost of using their own calculators. One of the laws included the Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020 (EPOLA Bill) which ensured that Queensland continues to lead the way in the resource sector and encourages mine rehabilitation work. Earlier this year, a successful appeal in the Land Court of…
ADELAIDE, Australia — About 250,000 cubic meters of quarry sand will soon be trucked in to rebuild Australia’s Adelaide’s West Beach after decades of erosion. The sand will be delivered soon as part of an AUD 48.4 million ($37.17 million) project to secure the city’s metropolitan beaches’ future. “Adelaide’s coastline is one connected system, but some of our beaches, such as West Beach, are experiencing significant erosion,” David Speirs, environment minister, said. “Starting in July, we will deliver around 250,000 cubic meters of sand to West Beach from quarries which will bring back the beach in time for summer later this year.”…
HOTHAM HEIGHTS, Australia — The Victorian Police from southeast Australian state investigating the baffling disappearance of Russell Hill and Carol Clay more than a year ago has now moved the focus of their search following a new lead. Search and rescue officers and detectives from the Missing Person Unit started searching the area near the Victorian Alps at Great Alpine Road in Mount Hotham, Australia, from 9 am on April 14. “Detectives are acting on information uncovered during the course of the investigation that has led them to this area and is believed to be of interest to the investigation,” Victoria…
CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian state of New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned “strong and stable” governance in the state may be at risk if the Nationals lose the Upper Hunter by-election and the coalition is forced into minority government. Berejiklian’s coalition held a one-seat majority in the New South Wales lower house before Upper Hunter Minister of Parliament Michael Johnsen’s resignation. Johnsen resigned on March 31 after being accused of raping a woman in 2019, which he denies. A by-election will be held in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Upper Hunter on May 22, 2021. Berejiklian in Singleton on April…
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — New Zealand’s top doctor says the cost of the country’s Covid-19 rollout could be up to NZD 400 ($287) for every citizen of the nation. Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the cost of New Zealand’s largest-ever vaccination program kept expanding and would top NZD 1 billion ($71.36 million) and perhaps reach double that. “I think everyone would agree that it’s a good investment,” Bloomfield said. “The initial envelope that was set aside for the vaccine advance purchases was up to a billion dollars. Not all of that is being used. The cost of all the rollout…
CANBERRA, Australia — Pressure mounts on the federal government of Australia to call a royal commission into veteran suicides, as the opposition from the south-eastern state of Victoria, joins calls for an inquiry. Michael O’Brien, leader of the Victorian opposition, on April 13, announced the Liberal-National coalition would join Return and Services League (RSL), Victoria, and the veteran community in supporting a royal commission. The Return and Service League is a support organization for people who have served or are serving in the Defence Force. He claims more than 500 veterans have taken their own lives in the past 20 years,…