News Update: Wednesday, 7 February 2024
Eureka Free Press: Your pro-freedom Australian news source.
Report: Queensland gov't switched off thousands of home air conditioners six times in the last 8 weeks
A new report found that grid is "already on the edge" after Queensland's state-owned power grid remotely shut down almost 170,000 air conditioners six times in the past two months as part of a scheme to protect the electricity network. Energex, for its part, remotely cuts power to 170,000 air conditioners six times in a month.
Aussie entrepreneurs call for a slash of immigration numbers to just 75,000 a year
Australian entrepreneurs said immigration numbers should be capped at 75,000 people, given that high immigration is pushing up house prices and locking out potential first-home buyers. Net overseas migration, which is the number of individuals coming in minus the number going out, was a record 518,000 in the 2022-23 financial year, taking the population to 26.7 million.
COVID-19 vax likely cause of 28 fatal myocarditis cases
A new study found that COVID-19 vaccination was "highly likely" the cause of 28 fatal myocarditis cases. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle. The inflammation can reduce the heart's ability to pump blood.
Expert: Vaccine injury decision 'a clear signal to employers that they have a duty of care to their employees'
The recent tribunal decision compelling an employer to compensate a worker who developed pericarditis after getting a Covid booster under a workplace vaccination directive sends "a clear signal that employers have a duty of care to their employees regardless of what governments impose upon them," according to Dr Rado Faletic, a vaccine-injured scientist. Dr. Faletic, however, said, "when it comes to people with unacknowledged diagnoses or unclear diagnoses, this is where people are struggling to get compensated."
Communist China hands Australian writer a suspended death penalty
The Australian government had expressed "outrage" to Beijing over a suspended death sentence handed to Chinese-Australian writer Yang Jun. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Yang was sentenced to death on Monday with a two-year suspended execution and had all of his property confiscated.
Birmingham: Gov't should make sure Beijing feels Aussies' anguish, anger
In the wake of Beijing's move to hand a suspended death sentence to imprisoned citizen Yang Hengjun, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham said the government should make sure the Asian country feels the "anguish and anger" of Australians. Birmingham said: "The anguish and anger that exists across Australia should be made clear and felt in Beijing, and the expectations of Australia that he ought to receive treatment that ultimately enables his release and return to Australia need to continue to be made clear."
New report: No end in sight for Aussie housing crisis
A new report from Savvy showed there is no real end in sight for the housing crisis in Australia, and the situation is unlikely to improve any time soon. The Savvy report said: "Without increased supply and other methods of bringing housing affordability into the view of the bottom 40 per cent of Australians, there is no real end in sight for the housing crisis."
Albanese's tax cut changes a 'band-aid' for Aussies
Anthony Albanese's tax cut changes are a "band-aid" for Australians who are "$8,000 per person worse off" on average under the Labor government, political leaders say. From July 1, incomes between $45,000 and $200,000 will be taxed at 30 per cent and incomes above $200,000 will be taxed at 45 per cent.
Economist says RBA 'pretty much done' after another looming interest rate hike
Alan Oster, chief economist at NAB, said the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) was "pretty much done" with interest rate hikes and that the cash rate would now remain "on hold for quite a while". His comments come after RBA warned Australians that another interest rate hike is still on the horizon despite keeping it on hold at 4.35 per cent.
WW3 WATCH: Red Sea attacks disrupting Aussie mining giant's operations
Australian mining giant BHP Group said tensions in the Middle East are disrupting their operations, forcing some of its freight service providers to take alternative routes, such as Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The Western Coalition, which involves Australia, earlier launched airstrikes targeting the Houthis in Yemen.
Conroy: Media is splintering in Australia
The problem with media is "splintering" and that messages take "longer to get through" to Australians, according to Former Labor Senator Stephen Conroy. His remarks came after the latest Newspoll report revealed there is no change in the two-party preferred vote.
Energy producers want gov't to abolish wholesale gas price caps
Producers from the Australian oil and gas sector have called on the federal government to remove the wholesale gas price cap to prevent shortages across the country. The call comes after a recent report by the consumer watchdog indicated that southern states would be subject to significant shortages as early as 2027.
Australia agrees to tighten conditions of importers’ compliance with Russian oil price cap
https://tass.com/economy/1742245
The Group of Seven (G7), which includes Australia, agreed to tighten rules of compliance with the price ceiling for Russian oil from February 20. Insurers and carriers are currently required to provide assurance that the oil price is not above the established limit.
Dutton nicknames Albanese the 'Liar in the Lodge'
Liberal leader Peter Dutton has branded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as the "the liar in the Lodge" as he asserted that the Liberals will not stand in the way of bigger tax cuts for Australian workers. He said: "The Coalition will not stand in the way of providing support to Australians doing it tough. The prime minister has made this change for his own political survival. We are supporting this change not to support the Prime Minister's lie but to support those families who need help now."
Excise on beer, spirits and fuel rises this week
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13049145/Labor-reaps-billions-beer-alcohol-petrol-tax.html
The suffering of ordinary Australians continues under the Albanese government as the twice-yearly increase in fuel and alcohol excise took effect on Monday. The tax on petrol rises from 48.8c per litre to 49.6c per litre before GST is applied, while the alcohol excise took pushes up the price of a pint of beer by 90c.