Reports are showing green tree frog numbers have been leaping up exponentially across the South East. 

A wetter than average summer has helped increase the frog population, with sightings even reported in built up areas including West End. 

Residents are urged to reduce pesticide use to help increase food sources for the animal. 
 

Unconfirmed reports say a refugee is in a serious condition following a hit and run incident on Nauru late last night. 

The 36-year-old man was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a car, whose occupants fled the scene after stealing his motorcycle, said the Refugee Action Coalition.

"The refugee is still on Nauru and is awaiting an expected air ambulance to Australia for treatment," RAC spokesperson Ian Rintoul told 4ZZZ. 

Romance baiting scams are on the rise with a record $37 million lost last year. 

The Australian Competition and Consumer commission has stated the new scam technique known as ‘romance baiting’ is on the rise. 

Scammers use dating apps to meet victims, and after establishing a relationship over a number of weeks the conversation is then taken to encrypted chat sites. 

The ACCC said scammers begin asking victims for money, or begin encouraging investment opportunities. 

The South Australian Government has announced $450,000 of funding over the next three years for free pads and tampons across all public schools. 

The new program announced on Thursday will see money divided between public schools based on the number of students enrolled in year five and above. 

South Australia will become the second state to provide free sanitary products to state school students following on from Victoria's lead last year. 

Millions of dollars worth of crops are being left to rot as labour shortages sweep across Queensland's agricultural industry. 

A reliance in backpacker labour over the past few years has meant border restrictions have left many farms across the state without pickers. 

There are roughly 7000 unfilled vacancies across the state. The use of backpacker labour has come under some scrutiny with the farmworkers union claiming a preference for cheap foreign worker labour has led to the labour shortage. 

The president of the Land Court excuses herself from coal mine hearings saying her personal views could affect the proceedings.

The legal battle over the New Acland coal mine about 130 kilometres west of Brisbane is re-entering land courts this month, bringing the New Hope energy company into its fourteenth year of attempts to expand the mine. 

Land Court President Fleur Kingham says it would be inappropriate for her to be involved beyond managing the case to a new hearing.

The Gold Coast’s growing property market has seen unprecedented vacancy rates beginning to overwhelm crisis accommodation. 

Vacancy rates have fallen below one percent and property prices have grown by more than 16% following a surge of interstate migration. 

One report from Australian Council of Social Services found that there was an inadequate supply of social housing, with over 3300 people on the Gold Coast housing register waitlist. 

Over 30 organisations are asking the Prime Minister to include mandatory accessibility standards in the national construction code.

The Building Better Homes campaign is tackling the current voluntary accessibility standards, stating the standards adopted over a decade ago are failing people with disability.

"Recognise that the volunteer process hasn’t worked and put this into the building code," said Former Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes.