Source : the age
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Premier David Crisafulli has commended the manner in which unions, and his government, have been negotiating public sector pay rises.
Asked about concerns raised by nurses about their pay and conditions, Crisafulli was diplomatic and said “they need to be paid more, and that’s why we’re negotiating with them in good faith”.
“We are committed to paying them more, and we are confident of getting a result in that regard,” he said, without revealing how high the government was willing to go.
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union is rallying members to take protected industrial action this month.
Acting Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy has declined to criticise an officer filmed throwing a mobile speed camera at a car being driven recklessly on the Sunshine Coast.
After video of the incident was distributed on Tuesday, Chelepy was at a media conference with Premier David Crisafulli when he was asked for his opinion on the officer’s actions.
“OK, I obviously expect professionalism of our staff, but, you know, we get frustrated,” Chelepy said on Wednesday morning.
“That officer works hard, on the road, every single day trying to keep Queenslanders safe. Just now we’ve seen over 100 people die on our roadways this year.
“The police are out there every single day dealing with just reckless, stupid behaviour on our roads.”
Chelepy said he would have liked the officer to show more professionalism but understood if he was frustrated.
“Obviously, we’ll have a chat with the officer but I commend him for the work he does every single day on the street.”
Premier David Crisafulli has commended the manner in which unions, and his government, have been negotiating public sector pay rises.
Asked about concerns raised by nurses about their pay and conditions, Crisafulli was diplomatic and said “they need to be paid more, and that’s why we’re negotiating with them in good faith”.
“We are committed to paying them more, and we are confident of getting a result in that regard,” he said, without revealing how high the government was willing to go.
The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union is rallying members to take protected industrial action this month.
Premier David Crisafulli has invited victims of crime to Parliament House ahead of amendments to “adult crime, adult time” laws passing through the house tonight.
In a media conference with several ministers, Crisafulli said it was “time to deliver for victims” and there had already been some improvement in crime rates under the LNP.
“This will not be the last round of changes, there will be more to come,” Crisafulli said.
“Every change we make will be about strengthening the laws, not weakening them.”
Crisafulli also confirmed a policing restructure would see the Youth Crime Taskforce sit under the Crime and Intelligence Command.
As critics continue to raise human rights concerns with the laws, Crisafulli said he made no apologies for being tough on crime.
“I’m accountable to Queenslanders, not the United Nations”.
Premier David Crisafulli is holding a press conference in Brisbane this morning.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Deb Frecklington, Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie are also speaking.
You can watch it live below:
In tech news … Private information stashed in your documents, notes, email replies and internet search history could be used to boost artificial intelligence tools in future to make results more useful.
Google revealed plans to tap into more of its users’ personal information today, as part of a raft of AI announcements at its annual developers conference, Google I/O.
But company executives stressed private data would only be accessed with owners’ permission and that consent could be withdrawn.
The announcements come days after the Productivity Commission named AI regulation as one of its targets for urgent reform as the federal government had yet to introduce mandatory guardrails for its use.
AAP
Swimmer James Magnussen, the first athlete to sign up for Enhanced Games, says other Australians will inevitably join him at the multi-sports event without drug testing.
The dual Olympian will be a centrepiece of Enhanced Games’ launch in Las Vegas tomorrow (Thursday AEST).
The Enhanced Games are the brainchild of Aron D’Souza (left), and Australian swimmer James Magnussen was the first athlete who pledged to compete at the event.
Australian-born entrepreneur Aron D’Souza, with financial backing from multi-billionaires, will detail dates and venue for next year’s inaugural games.
Magnussen is the poster boy for the event featuring swimming, track and field and weightlifting, which financiers say will be a shop-front for an anti-ageing industry potentially worth trillions of dollars.
Magnussen recently took his first course of performance enhancements over eight to 10 weeks in the United States.
“Having to inject yourself with a performance enhancing substance is quite a confronting thing,” Magnussen said in an interview in Las Vegas.
AAP
The home of a missing girl who vanished after reportedly being dropped off for a flight has been declared a crime scene.
The disappearance is now being treated as suspicious by police.
Pheobe Bishop.Credit: Queensland Police
Pheobe Bishop was last seen at Airport Drive in Bundaberg about 8.30am on May 15.
The 17-year-old did not check in for a booked flight that day and has not been seen since.
The Gin Gin property where she was living and a grey Hyundai ix35 believed to be the vehicle she was taken to the airport in have been declared crime scenes.
Pheobe is about 180 centimetres tall, with a pale complexion, long dyed red hair and hazel eyes.
She was last seen wearing a green tank top and grey sweatpants, carrying luggage.
Anyone with dashcam and CCTV footage near the airport is urged to contact police.
Queensland Rugby League boss Ben Ikin has endorsed Australia mentor Mal Meninga as a prime candidate for the Perth Bears coaching job.
The Australian Rugby League Commission is investigating the concept of a Meninga and Sam Burgess duo as the coaching team for the new expansion club to enter the NRL in 2027.
Big Mal.Credit: Getty Images
Meninga and Burgess are regarded as a co-coaching pair who have both gravitas and charisma to steer the Perth side in an AFL-dominated state.
Three-time title-winning Canberra star Meninga won nine out of 10 State of Origin series in charge as coach of the Maroons before steering the Kangaroos to two World Cup wins.
Ikin, one of the game’s most influential voices, said Meninga’s presence in Perth would be a godsend.
“Mal is a great leader,” Ikin said.
“The success he’s had with the Maroons is a testament to that. He knows how to create a great environment and knows how to sell the game and stand for something publicly.
“The Bears are going to need that in Perth.”
AAP
Our southern neighbours are facing yet another flood emergency, with people being stranded in cars and on their roofs as the waters rise.
Heavy rain is persisting around the NSW mid-north coast and is expected to continue into the weekend amid the multi-day flood event.
In the past 24 hours, the State Emergency Service responded to 892 incidents, including 130 flood rescues, the bulk of which were in the towns of Taree, Wingham and Glenthorne.
Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Kempsey, Sawtell, Dorrigo, Barrington Tops, Wingham and Yarrowitch are in line for more rain as rivers continue to rise.
AAP
