Local government elections in Queensland are expected to go ahead later this month, despite fears over coronavirus.

Queensland’s electoral commissioner, Patrick Vidgen, said they “understand community concerns regarding the virus”, however, “we're planning with what we know and going ahead as normal.” 

The electoral commission is believed to have already sourced a supplier for hand sanitiser to ensure its availability at the 1,100 polling booths.

The founding and long term director of Queensland Performing Arts Centre and founding artistic director of the Brisbane Festival, Tony Gould, has passed away. 

Queensland’s performing arts community is in mourning after the loss. 

A statement from Minister for the Arts, the Honourable Leeanne Enoch, praised Mr Gould and his passion for the industry, a passion that led to Queensland performing arts being placed on the world stage.

Rangers had found the carcasses of a female white giraffe and her calf in a village in north-eastern Kenya's Garissa County after being killed by poachers.

The giraffes lived in a unfenced conservatory and were made famous when they were spotted in 2017.

A third white giraffe, believed to be the only one left in the world, is still alive.

The giraffe’s white skin is due to a rare condition called leucism, which causes skin cells to have no pigmentation.

The UK Health Minister, Nadine Dorries, has tested positive for Coronavirus.

She is the first member of parliament to test positive and is now tracing all the people she has had contact with.

Ms Dorries has taken all the recommended precautions and is self-isolating at home.

If you have concerns for your health, please call 13HEALTH (13 432 584).

Australia’s Indigenous rangers program has committed $700 million in funding. The funding begins next year and will carry through until 2028.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt announced the federal government’s decision on Tuesday. Mr Wyatt says “The rangers conduct all manner of conservation, fire management and biosecurity roles.”

Environment Minister Sussan Ley says Indigenous rangers’ traditional knowledge informs modern environmental science and the ways we adapt to changing climates.

Ride-share giant Uber has announced the launch of Uber Pet yesterday, in a bid to open its doors to passengers who wish to travel with their pets. 

To access the feature, riders can open the app and select the Uber Pet preference when requesting a ride. Riders are enabled to carry primarily dogs and cats that are leashed, harnessed, or contained in a pet carrier. 

However incidents on the ride will incur additional charges. 

An early intervention program is providing Caboolture young mums with the support they need to give their children the best possible life.

Minister for Child Safety Di Farmer says the Young Mothers for Young Women program is giving mothers under 20 years of age the skills they need to care safely for their children. 

Since the program started, it has helped 78 children from 89 families in accessing healthcare and social support.

The Palaszczuk Government has announced a twelve month trial to bring superyachts to Brisbane. 

Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said as part of a state-wide strategy to grow Queensland’s marine industries, the trial will see a dedicated seven mooring buoys below the Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Mr Dick also said superyachts are expected to contribute more than $1.1 billion to gross state product and support nearly 8000 jobs by 2021 in South East Queensland alone.