TRANSCRIPT
- Queensland tracking dozens who took asbestos tainted mulch from a council depot
- A gun law controversy as New Zealand marks the fifth anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks
- A foot injury forces Caroline Wozniacki out of Indian Wells
Authorities are trying to locate dozens of people who have taken asbestos-contaminated mulch from a Queensland council depot.
Around 24 people have been recorded accessing the stockpile at the Emu Park transfer station in Rockhampton since November - but the depot has now been closed after a small amount of asbestos was detected within it this week.
Livingstone Shire Council CEO Cale Dendle says certified asbestos removalists are being brought in to dispose of the entire stockpile.
_
The CSIRO has called for the country's political leaders to refrain from disparaging science, following criticism from Peter Dutton about the agency's lack of support for the Coalition's nuclear energy policy.
The Organisation has found in its annual GenCost report that nuclear was the most expensive type of energy, contradicting arguments from the opposition leader that atomic energy was the most cost effective way for Australia to reach net zero emissions by 2050, instead of renewable energy.
The agency's chief executive Doug Hilton has published an open statement on the CSIRO website that says the GenCost report is carefully produced, and he will "staunchly defend" the organisation against unfounded criticism.
But Peter Dutton has hit back telling Channel 9 nuclear energy is still the best option.
"There's nothing disparaging about the comments that I've made or that we've made. My point is that we need to compare apples with apples. And at the moment, that report was released - it doesn't take into consideration all of the costs around renewables. I'm strongly in favour of renewables, but we need to keep the lights on and we need to keep power prices down."
_
A man has been arrested over a fire that burned in Sydney's southwest last year.
The 62-year-old man will face court in April, charged with dishonest gain and property damage by fire/explosive.
The charges relate to a fire in Roberts Road, Greenacre, in February 2023.
Police will allege in court that the man deliberately lit the fire for the purpose of making an insurance claim and receiving financial compensation.
_
Authorities in the US city of New Orleans have revealed a unique problem in their ageing police headquarters: rats that have gotten into evidence storage.
City officials are taking steps to move the department to a new space - but Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the vermin infestation and decay at the current offices that have housed New Orleans police since 1968 is out of control.
The chief says her 910 officers come to work to find air-conditioning and elevators broken, conditions she has described as demoralising to staff and a turnoff to potential recruits.
She has told New Orleans City Council members the rats have also been affected - by eating confiscated marijuana.
"That is not valuing your people. In the evidence property room that you took a tour of you know, I stopped you, and I said council member, come back. I want you to see the tray of all of the major rodents on the floor, the cockroaches, the rats eating our marijuana. They're all high."
_
To sport,
In tennis news, top seed Iga Swiatek has reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells after the retirement of former world number one Caroline Wozniacki.
Wozniacki has been forced out with an apparent foot injury.
