Brisbane activist and Indigenous leader, Wangerriburra and Birri Gubba man Uncle Sam Watson, passed away from a short-term illness yesterday morning in the presence of loved ones.

Mr Watson became politically active at age 16, distributing how-to-vote cards for the Yes campaign in the 1967 referendum.

Among his many achievements and strides for equality, Mr Watson served at the Aboriginal Embassy in Canberra from 1972, working with elders to establish community organisations and peak bodies in health, housing, education, employment and Legal Aid.

The Palaszczuk government has rejected an inquiry into the Queensland bushfires of which firefights have battled over 2000 of already this season. 

Opposition leader, Deb Freckington asked for the inquiry to examine the fire service's responsibility to order landowners to reduce fuel loads as well as reduction burns on state-controlled land and national parks.

Researchers have discovered what they believe to be a 1,000-year-old Viking funeral ship buried under Norwegian farmland.

Archaeologists from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU) used a geo-radar vehicle to scan paddocks in Edoy, in More and Romsdal County, while investigating a possible settlement located nearby.

It is thought the remains of the ship is about 13 metres long and was once buried under a large mound, which was probably lost after being worn down by ploughs.

A famed Tokyo sushi restaurant has been dropped from the Michelin gourmet guide after it stopped accepting reservations from the general public.

The first sushi restaurant to receive 3 Michelin stars, Sukiyabashi Jiro, has hosted names including Hugh jackman and Barack Obama, and the chef’s selection starts at $541 Australian dollars. 

The owners of the 10 seat restaurant say they do not plan on expanding and take pride in their exclusivity. 

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says phone scams have been growing in prevalence since it launched a review 18 months ago into how to better combat the problem.

Authorities are predicting phone scams will leave Australians a record $500 million out of pocket this year alone, prompting the Federal Government to announce a crackdown.

A former Families South Australia worker who blew the whistle on one of the state's worst paedophiles is suing the state of South Australia for damages. 

The woman, who can't be named, is seeking compensation for emotional distress and financial losses suffered after her concerns were ignored by superiors within the government department.

Traditional owners say their formal recognition as native title holders over Moreton Island off south-east Queensland means they can now use traditional fire management practices on the island hit by bushfires last week.

The Quandamooka people were formally recognised as traditional owners of the island in Federal Court yesterday following a legal process first launched more than two decades ago. 

Television presenter Andrew Denton is calling for Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk to introduce voluntary assisted dying laws before the next election, in case the LNP comes to power. 

Mr Denton, an advocate for voluntary euthanasia believes there is little chance of a conservative Queensland government pushing the legislation through.