Adani mining company receives more than 2,000 handwritten protest letters
The Adani mining company received more than 2,000 handwritten messages this morning in opposition to its plans for coal mining projects in Queensland.
In coordination with the messages, more than 150 protesters briefly occupied the steps to the Indian company’s Brisbane CBD office to speak out against the projects planned for the Galilee Basin and Abbot Point.
The messages were delivered by Aboriginal elder Carol Prior who says peaceful protest is the most effective way for the message to get across.
"Rather than going in screaming and yelling it's best to sit down and talk in a civil tone and act like human beings," says Prior. She added that the mines would devastate the environment and destroy sacred Indigenous sites.
Brisbane residents favouring units over spacious houses
Unit approvals in Brisbane have almost have almost tripled in two years, with analysts pointing to a shift in expectation as the Australian dream of a big backyard increasingly made way for affordability and convenience.
Dwelling approvals for units in Brisbane grew from 3398 in 2012-13 to 11,028 in the 12 months to May this year, an increase of around 225 per cent.
According to this week's Queensland budget documents, "Unlike previous growth phases in Queensland, investment in new dwellings is being driven by strong demand for the construction of medium-to-high density dwellings (flats, units or apartments), particularly in inner-city Brisbane."
While there was also growth in detached houses, it was just a 32.34 per cent increase from 2520 in 2012-13 to 3335 last financial year.
Master Builders deputy executive director Paul Bidwell said it was a sign the "Australian dream" of a multi-bedroom home on a 200 square-metre block of land was shifting.
Moving into national news ....
Muslims gather to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan
Muslims in Australia are gathering at mosques across the country in celebration of Eid Al-Fitr - the feast that signals the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The feast is one of the most celebrated days on the Islamic calendar and follows a 30 day period where Muslims are required fast between dawn and sunset each day.
Chief executive officer of the Australian Muslim Women’s Association, Maha Abdo, hopes to see a morning filled with prayer and the acceptance of the last months worships.
“We also wish and pray for the betterment of all humanity for the month and year to come,” says Abdo.
'No way' Bishop can remain as speaker
Labor's finance spokesman, Tony Burke, says there is "no way" Bronwyn Bishop can remain as Speaker if she signed a form claiming a helicopter flight from Melbourne to Geelong was official business.
Mr Burke said, “We all know people can make honest mistakes, but you don't accidentally get on to a helicopter and turn up at a Liberal Party fundraiser.”
In a call that escalates pressure on the under-fire Speaker, Mr Burke suggested Mrs Bishop may need to resign as Speaker over her misuse of expenses.
Mrs Bishop has promised to pay back the $5227 cost of hiring the helicopter but has not admitted any wrongdoing. She said she believed the travel was within the rules but she was giving a refund to "avoid any doubt".
Finally in international news ....
Japan takes first step in amending pacifist constitution
Japan is in the process of approving legislation to permit Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since World War II.
The country’s lower house of parliament has approved the legislation, as it now moves to the upper chamber to determine its fate.
The vote came one day after roughly 60,000 people took part in protests outside Japanese parliament in opposition to the bill.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has long desired the nation’s pacifist constitution to be rewritten.
"The security situation surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly challenging,” says Abe. “With this in mind, it is an absolutely necessary legislation to protect the lives of the Japanese and also to prevent the country from going to war."
In response, China has publicly criticised the bill and warned Japan of “crippling regional peace and security”.
Greek banks to reopen on Monday after weeks of uncertainty
Greek banks, which shut nearly three weeks ago, are due to reopen on Monday after the European Central Bank (ECB) raised the level of emergency funding available.
However, credit controls limiting cash withdrawals to €60 (AUS$88) a day will only be eased gradually, officials say.
Earlier, eurozone ministers also agreed a €7 billion (AUS$10.2 billion) bridging loan from an EU-wide fund to keep finances afloat.
Although Greece has a conditional agreement to receive up to €86bn (AUS$126 billion) over three years, some eurozone states still need to give the green light.