Latest news with #QueenslandGovernment
West Australian
a day ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Man claims ‘discrimination' after request for Greek Orthodox funeral for deceased 93yo father denied
A man who claimed he was subject to religious discrimination by the Queensland Government after they refused to pay for his deceased father's Greek Orthodox funeral says he was denied 'natural justice' when his case was thrown out. Angelos Angelopoulos' attempt to take the government to the state's civil tribunal was refused in 2022 after he complained he was subject to discrimination when told a grant of funding for a burial service for his father, Anastasios, would not cover the costs of a Greek Orthodox service required to help farewell the 93-year-old. After appealing the decision from the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), Mr Angelopoulos this week suffered an additional blow in court when this fresh attempt was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in Brisbane. Anastasios died in hospital on June 23, 2018. His son sought financial assistance from the Palaszczuk-led Labor government under Queensland's Burials Assistance Act (BAA) as he could not afford to pay for the funeral service and burial at the time of Anastasios' passing. But the aid only covered the reopening of a pre-purchased burial plot, a graveside service, the funeral director's fee, a coffin and 'any required preparation of the body and transportation from the morgue to the burial site'. Angelos desired for his father to hold a Greek Orthodox funeral according to Anastasios' strong beliefs, but further financial assistance for this was refused. The Greek community and the Greek Orthodox Church stepped in to fund a church service, but it did not extend to the costs of the private viewing of Anastasios in an open coffin. It was not for another 20 weeks Mr Angelopoulos' father was buried in November 2018. In his submissions to the tribunal, he argued he was discriminated against over the requirement to bury his father 'without his complying with his father's and his own religious beliefs'. 'According to Mr Angelopoulos, a higher proportion of people who are not of Greek Orthodox faith would be able to comply with the term and bury family members without a church service or private viewing,' the Court of Appeal judgment states. The tribunal dismissed Mr Angelopoulos' application in 2022. In her decision, QCAT member Joanne Browne said Mr Angelopoulos was not treated 'less favourably' than any other person because of the decision to grant him funding under the BAA. 'The respondent's conduct is in all of the circumstances reasonable … on the basis that the conduct was necessary to comply with or is specifically authorised by the BAA,' she wrote. Ms Browne noted Mr Angelopoulos was not denied the additional costs associated with a funeral because of his religious beliefs. Under the Act, the government could only make arrangements for the disposal of a body, such as helping with a burial or cremation, and funerals were not covered under the funding arrangement. The Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG) also wrote to Mr Angelopoulos informing him the Orthodox service was not part of the scope of their funding arrangement. 'Queensland is a multicultural state with diverse range of cultures and religions. Should DJAG agree to provide a church service and viewing in the current circumstances, then it would be obliged to provide a similar offer to all applicants of all cultures and religion,' the department said, according to the QCAT judgment. 'The cost to the state would be very significant and this would be a huge impost on limited government funds to provide specialised funeral services, as opposed to a simple burial, for each and every culture and religion in circumstances where burial assistance is approved.' A subsequent attempt to appeal the decision through QCAT's own appeals tribunal was also dismissed. Mr Angelopoulos then took the matter to Queensland's Court of Appeal, arguing five grounds. Some of his submissions included that he was denied natural justice due to limited evidence, the tribunal overlooked the Human Rights Act and that there was an error of fact in the respondent's argument. The Court of Appeal judgment states there was 'no jurisdiction' for at least three of the grounds of appeal. 'Leave should not be granted to the applicant given the proposed appeal does not raise questions of law arising from the final decision … in relation to grounds 1-3 and 5,' the judgment states. In addressing claims surrounding the Human Rights Act, the court found it did not raise an 'arguable error of law requiring correction to avoid substantial injustice.'
Fibre2Fashion
4 days ago
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Australia's CPI steady at 2.4% in Apr; rebates mask true power prices
Australia's Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.4 per cent in the 12 months to April 2025, maintaining the same annual pace for the third consecutive month, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The annual trimmed mean inflation—which excludes extreme price changes—rose slightly to 2.8 per cent in April, up from 2.7 per cent in March, marking relative stability over the past five months, according to the latest data from ABS. Australia's CPI rose 2.4 per cent annually to April 2025, unchanged for three months, as per ABS data. Underlying inflation indicatorsâ€'trimmed mean and CPI excluding volatile itemsâ€'both rose 2.8 per cent. Housing inflation increased to 2.2 per cent, while new dwelling prices saw modest growth. Electricity prices fell 6.5 per cent due to rebates, and automotive fuel prices dropped 12 per cent annually. Another core measure, the CPI excluding volatile items and holiday travel, also recorded a 2.8 per cent rise in April, compared to 2.6 per cent in March. This indicator excludes items such as automotive fuel, fruit and vegetables, and holiday travel and accommodation. Housing inflation rose to 2.2 per cent in April from 1.8 per cent in March. Prices of new dwellings edged up by 1.2 per cent year-on-year (YoY), slightly higher than the 1 per cent increase recorded in March. This marked the second-lowest annual increase since April 2021, largely due to builders offering discounts and promotional deals. Electricity prices fell 6.5 per cent in the 12 months to April, compared to a 9.6 per cent fall in the 12 months to March. 'Electricity rebates lower the price of electricity for households. In Queensland, most households have now used up the Queensland Government's one-off electricity rebate of $1,000. All Western Australian households have used up the second instalment of both the state government and Commonwealth Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates,' said Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics. 'Without rebates, electricity prices would have risen 1.5 per cent in the 12 months to April.' Automotive fuel prices saw a sharp annual decline of 12 per cent in April, following a 7.6 per cent drop in March. On a monthly basis, fuel prices were down 2.6 per cent in April. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
ABC News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
United Nations representatives urge Queensland parliament to vote down 'adult crime, adult time' laws
Two human rights experts have penned a scathing assessment of the Queensland government's latest youth crime measures, labelling them "incompatible with basic child rights". State parliament is expected to pass the second tranche of the LNP's flagship "adult crime, adult time" laws this week. The first lot of crimes where juveniles are tried as adults and face heavier penalties — headlined by murder and manslaughter — were passed in December. If the amendment to the Making Queensland Safer laws is passed, young people found guilty of 20 further crimes will be tried as adults and face heavier penalties. The offences include rape, attempted murder, arson, torture, and sexual assault. In an open letter to Australian authorities, United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on torture, Alice Edwards, and UN special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, Albert Barume, said they had significant concerns about the next round of changes. "Many new or proposed state laws, including Queensland's Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill, are incompatible with basic child rights. "If passed, the Queensland bill would result in additional adult penalties being applied to children for a wide range of offences. The pair said the approach to youth crime was in "crisis nationwide". "Children are suffering undue harm to their safety and wellbeing, as well as to their educational and life prospects as a result of short-sighted approaches to youth criminality and detention," the open letter said. The experts urged a "child-centred approach" to the issue, noting the age of criminal responsibility in Queensland and many states and territories was 10, younger than "most other industrialised countries". "The first goal should always be keeping children out of prison," they wrote. "We are extremely concerned that the system is creating a future underclass of Australians." The UN has repeatedly criticised the Queensland government's laws, with Ann Skelton — the chair of the Committee on the Rights of the Child — noting in December that they showed a "flagrant disregard" for children's rights. In response to further criticism from the organisation last month, Premier David Crisafulli issued a stinging rebuke in parliament. "I say to the United Nations with the greatest respect that this place will govern its laws, this place will determine how we keep Queenslanders safe, and this place will be accountable to Queenslanders, not United Nations boffins," he said. The Labor opposition voted in support of the initial changes and said it would support the new inclusions.
Wales Online
19-05-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Pregnant Welsh woman facing deportation from Australia after spending $40,000 on 'dream life'
Pregnant Welsh woman facing deportation from Australia after spending $40,000 on 'dream life' Sarah Maxwell, a child protection worker, and Lewis Christie, a personal trainer, have spent five years building their life together on the Gold Coast Sarah Maxwell, 32, and Lewis Christie, 30, face deportation while getting ready to welcome their first chid. A Welsh woman living in Australia is appealing for help after her and her Scottish partner are at risk of being deported from their lives in Australia. Sarah Maxwell, 32, is due to give birth in less than 10 days, as her and her partner Lewis Christie, 30, are awaiting a decision from Australian officials as to whether or not they can become permanent residents. Living in Queensland, Sarah claims the pair have spent $40,000 on their visas over the past nine years of living in the country. "I have lived in Australia for over 9 years and my partner Lewis over 5. Our current temporary visas end in August 2025 and we are awaiting a permanent residency offer. Without this, we run the risk of being deported," said Sarah. "Our whole lives are here, and we are proud and grateful to call Queensland our home. We have a baby on the way in May, two dogs, a beautiful and secure rental property, full time jobs/careers, pay taxes, have adequate healthcare, have a solid support network and all of our pregnancy, midwifery and post-partum care arrangements are here in Queensland Australia too. "We have always dreamed of raising our family here and we are so close to this dream coming true, though running out of time." During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sarah worked in an Australian hospital "on the front line, supporting children and young people experiencing homelessness." Article continues below Sarah currently works in a Queensland Government funded role in child protection with some of Queensland's most at risk children and families. But the soon-to-be family of three say their time is running out. If they do not secure a visa by August, they will have to return to the UK. "We have expressed interest in a 491 Skilled Regional Visa via Skill Select, and only have until August to receive an offer, otherwise our little family runs the risk of facing deportation after almost 10 years of building a life here and contributing significantly to the economy," Sarah continued. "We meet all the visa requirements and have more than enough points to receive an offer from Queensland migration. "Over the years, between us we will have spent over $40,000 on visas to remain lawful in Australia. I have studied here and upskilled myself over the years to ensure we would be able to remain here and continue to live the life we adore. "Unfortunately, my employer won't sponsor me, and Lewis is not currently eligible, and so receiving an offer for this 491 permanent residency visa before August is our only and last option. "We are desperate to remain in our secure, safe home and in this incredible country and we please ask that you sign this petition. "It breaks our hearts to think of having to leave the life we have worked so hard to create for ourselves and our family here in Australia. "If we have to go back to the UK, we have nothing and would be starting all over again with a new-born baby." Article continues below "We respectfully ask Mr Tony Burke, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, to review our visa situation. "We are not looking for sympathy but a fair chance to secure a permanent visa, allowing our little family to continue contributing to Australian society and the economy as permanent residents." You can contribute to and read the couple's full petition here.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
IVF law changes considered after patients refused treatment
The Queensland government is considering changes to assisted reproductive laws after some IVF patients were told their treatment couldn't go ahead.
