The latest report from the Queensland Audit Office (QAO) has found the 16 bodies established to run Queensland’s hospitals are in substantial debt.

The QAO  found 11 of Queensland’s 16 hospital and health services experienced losses in the last financial year, compared to 8 in the year before.

The report also found the 16 bodies do not have adequate systems in place to effectively communicate with each other and the health department.

Ghana’s parliament will suspend its activities for three weeks after a COVID-19 outbreak amongst members of parliament and staff. 

At least 17 MPs and 151 staff members have become infected with the virus. 
 

“Our COVID-19 treatment centres have gone from having zero patients to now being full because of the upsurge in infections,” President Nana Akufo-Addo said.

“At this current rate ... our healthcare infrastructure will be overwhelmed.”

Australian biosecurity is set to increase to prevent African swine fever from entering Australia.

New variants of the viral disease have emerged in Asia and have wiped out 800 million pigs worldwide. 

The pork industry and the Australian government are concerned the disease could enter Australia in pork products via mail or travellers.

"With Lunar Chinese New Year celebrations approaching, more gift items arriving and increased travel in the region, this is the perfect storm," Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said.

Obtained ministerial briefings reveal Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton fast-tracked a one-off $880,000 grant to an association after it made a political donation in personal support of him.

The National Retail Association (NRA) made a $1,500 donation to the Queensland Liberal National Party at a NRA event.

The donation is described in the NRA’s 2019 financial report as "support for Peter Dutton Dinner at Norman Hotel 21/11/18".

Dominique Lamb, CEO of the NRA, told 7.30 that Mr Dutton had attended the event.

Leading youth justice advocates warn the Palaszczuk Government’s new measures on youth crime will fail to reduce offending, and will instead push children further to the margins.

"GPS devices don't prevent crime, all they do is tell the police in a snapshot where somebody was at a particular time," said Former Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts.

"It's something that might make the public feel good, but which doesn't necessarily prevent crime,” said Mr Potts, suggesting the Government instead address the underlying causes of youth offending.

A medicinal cannabis farm will be set up in the Scenic Rim.

The Federal Government granted funding for a multistage $330 million dollar facility in South East Queensland in 2019.

150 full-time jobs are expected to be created during the construction with at least 80 being created once functional.

Pressure is growing on the Federal government to support the Queensland tourism industry.

 Opposition leader Anthony Albanese says financial support for tourism businesses will be inadequate after the JobKeeper wage subsidy ends on March 28th.

Border closures during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in significant revenue loss in the Queensland tourism sector.

Mr Albanese said he would continue to advocate for adequate financial support for the industry, claiming he is on “Queenslanders side”.

It’s currently 24 degrees in Brisbane with an expected maximum of 29. 

Today will be partly cloudy, with light winds becoming easterly in the afternoon, and easing in the evening.

The fire danger is Low to Moderate and the UV index is predicted to reach 13, which is in the Extreme band.

Tsunami warnings for New Zealand and Lord Howe Island have been cancelled by authorities. 

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near New Caledonia at 2.20 am today.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the main tsunami waves have now passed all expected Lord Howe Island locations, though residents of South Pacific islands should stay away from coastal areas for the rest of today.