Joe Biden White House Statement by President Joe   Biden on Phone Call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of   Ukraine President Zelenskyy reached out to me tonight and we just finished speaking. I condemned this unprovoked and unjustified attack by Russian military forces. I briefed him on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation, including tonight at the United Nations Security Council. He asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin’s flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine. Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the Leaders of the G7, and the United States and our Allies and partners will be imposing severe sanctions on Russia. We will continue to provide support and assistance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Statement by President   Biden on Russia’s Unprovoked and Unjustified Attack on   Ukraine The prayers of the entire world are with the people of Ukraine tonight as they ...

  Global crude oil prices have already reached their highest levels since 2014 in response to Russia’s military incursion into Ukraine. With Russia being the world’s second-largest exporter of crude oil and refined petrol, as well the world’s largest exporter of natural gas, we can expect prices to go even higher as the conflict deepens. Skittish global energy markets are now factoring in disruptions to Russia’s supply through Western sanctions as well as Russia cutting off to supplies to Europe, its main market for both oil and gas. Australians will feel these market anxieties too, with changes in retail prices largely determined by international price benchmarks for refined petrol. It typically takes more than a week for changes in international prices to flow through to retail prices in Australian cities, and longer in regional areas. But based on what is happening internationally we can expect petrol prices in Australia to soon reach an average of $2.10 a litre. ...

Queensland's first Digital Licence The announcement follows a successful trial of the app in the Fraser Coast in 2020. Queenslanders can expect to go digital with their drivers licence next year, with a contract to deliver the Digital Licence App to Queenslanders now signed.  Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said Thales Australia & New Zealand would finalise the development and delivery of the app, which would be rolled out across the state next year. “Queensland is modernising it’s approach to licencing, as we progress with the development of a Digital Licence App that will hit Queensland phones next year,” Mr Bailey said. “The Fraser Coast trial was a resounding success, with users reporting a 94 per cent satisfaction rating during the testing. “This gives us confidence that we’re on the right track to ensuring the smooth and successful roll-out of the Digital Licence App across the state. “What we’re doing here is creating a modern, innovative solution that adop...

Image by  Gerd Altmann  from  Pixabay   For more than a decade we’ve been deeply immersed in a love affair with social media. And the thought of ending things can be painful. But like any relationship, if social media is no longer making you happy – and if curating your online persona is exhausting instead of fun – it might be time to say goodbye. Late last year, Meta (previously Facebook) came under intense scrutiny after leaked documents revealed the company was fully aware of the negative impact its products, Instagram in particular, can have on users’ mental health. Meta went straight into damage control. But it seemed no one was particularly surprised by the news – not even teenage girls , who Meta identified as most at risk. Was the leak just confirming what we already suspected: that social media has the potential to be much more harmful than helpful? How did our once carefree relationship with social media turn sour? And perhaps most importan...

Roads and footpaths will be safer for Queensland commuters as the Palaszczuk Government rolls out new measures to better regulate e-scooters. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said stronger laws like lower speeds on footpaths, mandated safety measures, a safety education campaign and clearer signage and markings would be part of a suite of new actions to help ensure e-scooter riders, cyclists, motorists and pedestrians can safely share spaces. “The rising popularity of e-scooters is a clear sign they aren’t going to disappear,” the Minister said. “We know that people are going to keep using them so the key is making sure that shared spaces like footpaths and bike-lanes are as safe as they can be. “That’s why I joined industry and user groups, disability advocates, health, police and government experts late last year to understand what needs to be done to make e-scooters and their use safer for people riding them and those they ride near.” Immediate action will incl...

Speeding motorists are being put on notice as police ramp up efforts to stop the rising trauma on Queensland roads. Twenty lives have already been lost on Queensland roads in February while 600 people have been injured in traffic crashes. Queensland’s Lives Lost toll stands at 40, which is 3 more than at the same time last year and more than double that at the same time in 2020 (18). Acting Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder said speed continued to be a contributing factor in the majority of serious crashes. “Already this year we have seen a lot of trauma, a lot of shattered families and a lot of preventable tragedies on our roads,” Acting Chief Superintendent Rohweder said. “In many of these incidents, excessive speed has been the main cause of the crash.” He said police had ramped up enforcement activity, conducting operations across the state. “Our officers are seeing extremely dangerous risk-taking behaviour on our roads, particularly when it comes to speeding. “Some of the worst of...

Image by  Afik Eleck  from  Pixabay   Telling The Stories Of Multicultural Victorians Victorians from multicultural communities are invited to enter a new photography competition and tell their story. The first of its kind,  Capturing Culture: A Focus on Multicultural Victoria  is open to anyone in Victoria with a multicultural background.  In addition to the $9,000 in prizes on offer, entrants have the opportunity to contribute to the visual record of a unique time in our history. Shortlisted entries will culminate in an exhibition of 24 artworks in June 2022. Winning entries will be announced at the exhibition. Submissions will be scored by a panel of judges across six categories: people’s choice, days of significance and cultural celebrations, portraiture, daily life and family, community resilience and the Minister’s choice. Applications are open until Sunday 17 April. For more information or to submit your entry, visit  multiculturalcommissio...

The Andrews Labor Government is standing with young queer, transgender and gender diverse Victorians and their families, with a fast-tracked funding boost to give them better access to vital health and support services. The recent unnecessary, hurtful public debate around legal protections for young LGBTIQ+ Australians has had a significant impact on their wellbeing and that of their families and loved ones. Young same-sex attracted people are already five times more likely to attempt suicide – and young transgender Australians are 15 times more likely. That’s why the Labor Government is stepping in to provide support where the Commonwealth has failed and subjected these communities to weeks of harmful and divisive rhetoric. Responding to any additional demand and making sure young LGBTIQ+ people know that in Victoria equality is not negotiable, the Government will deliver a $200,000 package for local organisations that provide crucial support to the LGBTIQ+ community. The investment w...

The Political leaders and Media want to downplay there were 100,000 people in Canberra today, I promise you they would be very worried about the turnout especially people who have travelled so far to get to stinking Parliament House that's full of Rats. We are lucky that Federal Labor Party was not in charge of the Pandemic, We would have had Force Vaccinations. Journalist Question to Albanese referring to the large Convoy Rally in Canberra, Um thousands have a Mask outside parliament again today protesting you guys mandate. Are you worried? Anthony Albanese: says Go home, Go Home Don’t engage in the sort of Behaviour that we’ve seen. Um, my understanding is during the recent period in Canberra there have been people intimidated for wanting to get Vaccinated, uh there’s been behaviour and blocking of people movement it doesn’t advance any cause. It doesn't assist the sort of nonsense that we’ve seen of people dressed up in military camouflage walking around can if you think th...

  House of Representatives Grattan on Friday: Morrison’s religious discrimination package couldn’t fly on a wing and a prayer Scott Morrison made three foolish and arrogant assumptions this week when he embarked on trying to push his controversial religious discrimination legislation through parliament. As a result, he failed in the mission and emerged from Wednesday’s all-night sitting with his authority diminished. With time almost out before the election, this legislation, which he claimed was “very important”, has reached a dead end. First, Morrison thought he could tactically outplay Anthony Albanese, wedging Labor on an electorally sensitive issue. This smacked of hubris – it is safer to think your opponent just might be smarter than you are. Second, he underestimated the spine of the moderates in his own party. He was not properly tapped into his backbench, especially those in the leafy suburbs who are under pressure from independent candidates. The moderates h...

Virgin Gold Coast Airport Photo Blow the Truth The Palaszczuk Government is joining forces with Sunshine Coast Airport and other international airports across Queensland to invest $200 million in the state’s international reopening. The nation-leading agreement sees the government partnering with Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns Airports to attract more overseas flights to Queensland. Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said this was another crucial part of Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. “More flights. More tourists. More tourism dollars. More jobs. That’s what today’s announcement means for regions like the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Dick said. “This partnership will see our government working with Queensland’s major airports to secure more flights and new overseas routes so we can continue building back better. “Best of all, our investment is going to safeguard employment across the aviation and tourism sectors. “It will bene...