What we learned; Friday 15 March
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s a wrap of what we learned today:
Australia has reinstated the $6m of funding to UNWRA’s Gaza aid delivery efforts, and committed a further $4m to Unicef. The Coalition does not support the decision to unpause the funding to UNRWA.
Aged care workers will receive a pay rise of up to 28.5%, after the Fair Work Commission delivered the final ruling in a long-running work value case.
Victoria’s treasurer, Tim Pallas, has hit back at New South Wales’ premier Chris Minns for describing Victoria as a “welfare state” after the latest GST carve-up.
Chief executive of the CSIRO, Douglas Hilton, has said he will “staunchly defend” the organisation and its scientists against “unfounded criticism”, after comments made by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
A tropical low moving into the Gulf of Carpentaria in north Queensland may become a tropical cyclone tomorrow, before moving southwards and potentially making landfall around Monday
FRNSW has recorded 63 lithium-ion battery fires this year, subject to review, at a rate of 5.7 blazes a week. Seven people have been injured in the fires.
NSW’s Forestry Corporation has been fined $45,000 and accused of blatant disregard for the environment after tearing down protected habitat trees.
The New South Wales government has knocked back a demerger proposal by the Inner West Council after 60% of residents voted in favour of a split into smaller local government areas.
Updated
Queensland prisoner charged with murder of another inmate
A Queensland prisoner has been charged with the murder of another man in custody at a prison north of Brisbane.
A 42-year-old man was located unresponsive with serious injuries inside his cell at around 7pm on 2 February at Woodford Correctional Centre.
Queensland police identified the death as suspicious and have now charged a 34-year-old prisoner from the centre with one count of murder.
The 34-year-old is expected to appear in the Brisbane magistrates court on 16 March.
Updated
