With everything that's happening at the moment, our social-media feeds and news websites are becoming inundated with waves of coronavirus-related information – almost too much to keep up with! To help you stay on top of the most-important announcements, we've put together a regularly updated rundown of the day's top stories – some lighthearted, some a bit more serious, but all worthy pieces of information. more
The last few months have been full of bad news and this last week might have been the worst yet. There is a lot of pain and anger across the world right now – and rightly so. The Weekend Edition believes that to be silent, is to be complicit. We recognise that we have a voice and that we have a duty to speak up and support our Black, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and ethnic minority friends, both overseas and here in Australia. We know that everything happening is upsetting and overwhelming to see, read and hear – but it is not acceptable to give in to being overwhelmed or simply shut off because we don't understand. If you don't understand, make it your priority to understand – not just what's going on, but how you can enact change. It is also not acceptable to consider this a solely American issue – here in Australia we are faced with an enormous number of Indigenous… more
The second half of 2020 is looking up, fellow Queenslanders. In a media conference held yesterday, Sunday May 31, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed that due to the small number of active coronavirus cases, she is able to ease some stage two restrictions earlier than expected from Monday June 1. The changes, which includes bringing forward intra-state travel as well as an increase of people allowed to gather in homes, hospitality venues, gyms and much more is a welcome change for Queenslanders. From dining in at your favourite brunch spot to taking advantage of your gym membership again, here's a taste of everything you can do from midday today, as stage two restrictions ease in our sunny state. more
On Friday May 8, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Queensland's roadmap to easing coronavirus restrictions. The changes will come in three stages, each four weeks apart, starting this Saturday May 16. The easing falls in line with the Federal Government's three-step plan for reopening Australia, which was also announced last Friday. We understand there is a lot of information to process between the state and federal announcements, so we've broken down what applies to us here in Queensland in a nice digestible format, answering all of the important questions like "when can I switch from quarantinis to social martinis?". For now, we'll mainly focus on what applies to us for Stage One (Saturday May 16 to Friday June 12) – we will update you when the time comes for Stage Two to avoid confusion. more
You know that curve we've all been working so hard (by doing nothing) to flatten? Well, it's working. In response to these encouraging signs and the continually low number of new COVID-19 cases, premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that some of Queensland's stay-at-home restrictions will be easing as of Saturday May 2. Wondering what you can and can't do this weekend? Here's a quick rundown. more
This Anzac Day will look very different to previous years. Typically crowded dawn services have been cancelled due to coronavirus lockdowns, morning marches have been canned too and unfortunately, our veterans won't be able to swap stories over a cold one at their local RSL. However, communities still find a way to come together during tough times and, this year, early risers will commemorate our veterans with driveway dawn services, The Last Post played in lounge rooms and virtual commemorations. Since we will be stuck at home this Anzac Day, State Library of Queensland is encouraging the community to use this newfound spare time to jump on to Anzac Square Memorial Galleries online. more
Following the somewhat anticlimactic super pink moon that we (kind of?) experienced earlier this month, most of us have been left wanting in the ‘breathtaking celestial events’ department. It turns out we might just be in luck – the Lyrid meteor shower is in town from April 16–25, ready to light up the sky for those willing to rise before dawn. more
Yep, 1984, here we come. No, this isn't a recently discovered George Orwell novel – The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that within weeks, Australians will be asked by the Federal Government to sign up for a mobile app to help stop the spread of coronavirus. It will allow us to register if we have contracted the virus and, in turn, notify app users if they come into contact with someone who has been infected. All by tracking our movements. more
We were all a little apprehensive heading into the Easter weekend, not knowing if our fellow Australians were going to continue to abide by social-distancing measures. The results are now in and it turns out the majority of us were very good civilians, earning praise from Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. He has, however, warned us that the end is not yet near and there are three key tests Australia needs to pass before coronavirus restrictions are lifted. more
Due to the new government legislations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the entertainment and creative industries have had to adapt and make changes to help them weather the storm. Included in this resilient bunch are some local paint-and-sip studios that have adjusted their usual routines and have moved their classes online. That means you can now create your version of an artistic masterpiece with help from the experts in the comfort of your sweatpants. We've rounded up a few of the studios that are offering live streamed art sessions so instead of trying to teach yourself how to paint during self-isolation, you can consult the experts – wine in hand, of course. Before you break out the pinot, read on ... more
In these times of uncertainty and distress, you can always count on Mother Nature to provide some relief – or at the very least, something damn pretty to look at. On Wednesday April 8, the world is being treated to one of the lunar calendar’s most spectacular events … we’re talking supermoon, baby! Rather than making you check tides or try to decode an online almanac, we’ve got an easy run-down of exactly when you can see the April supermoon in Brisbane. more
The Federal Government has today, Monday March 30, announced an unprecedented $130-billion stimulus package in response to the coronavirus crisis, the third and largest package so far. The package targets businesses who have been forced or were due to stand down staff due to the pandemic, in a bid to prevent millions of Australians losing their jobs. The 'JobKeeper payment' will see businesses receiving a fortnightly wage subsidy of $1500 per employee. more
With rules differing from state to state, the ongoing government announcements and restrictions can be tricky to navigate. On Sunday March 29, Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young established new directions under the state's home-confinement requirements for residents of Queensland to help slow the spread of COVID-19. What does it mean? Can you leave your house? Should you be working? Who can you visit? Here's a breakdown of the state-specific directions and how it relates to you, as a resident and member of the workforce. more
Now more than ever, we're glued to our phones in a bid to keep up with and decipher rapidly changing government advice, announcements and restrictions – not to mention the time we're spending scrolling through the surplus of jovial (yet highly relevant) isolation memes for a brief hit of positivity. To cut through the noise and make things a little easer, the Federal Government has launched an official coronavirus app and has joined the WhatsApp messaging service to give Australians instant access to the information they need to know. more