Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has teamed up with billionaire and Hungry Jack’s founder Jack Cowin, to make and market a plant-based alternative to the beef burger, known as the ‘Rebel Whopper.’

The legume-based patty burger has been launched by v2 food, a joint initiative between of Jack Cowin and the CSIRO.

With the science agencies help, the v2’s burger patty aims to imitate the taste and texture of beef with added nutrients and fibres.

Victoria has launched a suite of incentives to keep the state's best teachers in some of its toughest schools, including a $50,000 lure to draw educators to "hard-to-staff" positions and schools.

The implementation of the ‘biggest investment in their educational workforce in its history’ has been prompted due to a lack of teachers in rural and regional areas.

A Cairns resident has stumbled across a 7 metre snake skin on his daily walk near a creek in the suburb of Freshwater.

Stuart Morris, who lives in the suburb of Freshwater said he initially thought the snake was a native scrub python that had shed its skin, but on closer inspection he decided that it had been skinned. 

Snake expert David Walton said the skin appeared to belong to a reticulated python from South-East Asia, and said it was a mystery as to how the snake came to end up in Australia.

Climate change protestor Paul Jukes, who was found hanging in a makeshift harness beneath Brisbane’s Story Bridge yesterday, has now been charged by police for unregulated high-risk activity and is due to face court today.

Mr Jukes was demanding Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner declare a climate emergency.

He had initially said he was prepared to stay "as long as it takes", packing several days' worth of supplies, but his plan was interrupted when police started looking to remove him.

11 elephants have died of slipping off from the 200-meter high Haew Narok Waterfall in north-east Thailand.

Only two elephants survived from the herd, as the adult elephants were trying the save the younger ones but were all swept down by a strong water current when they were crossing a river at the top of the cliff.

The governor of Nakhorm Nayork said that the cause of death still cannot be confirmed due to the difficulty of the hike between the terrain.11

South Park’s creators have responded with a mock apology to reports that China has censored the programme, ridiculing the country and comparing President Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh.

The apology comes after comes after reports on Monday that China had scrubbed all episodes, clips and content related to the long-running comedy cartoon from Chinese streaming and social media platforms.

Senator Jacqui Lambie has urged those struggling with mental health issues to stay strong and persevere through the hard times they are facing, ahead of World Mental Health Day.

The independent Senator, known in politics for her fight and conviction, has opened up about her own mental health battles, calling on those who are also struggling to take ‘one step’ forward at a time towards recovery.

The Rural Fire Service has said it will begin assessing the damage to structures in northern New South Wales, after two fires spread quickly through the region yesterday.  

Hundreds of fire crew helped battle the blazes overnight, and both fires have now been downgraded to Watch and Act statuses, although 20 homes and structures have been destroyed.

Specialist teams will be in place today to assess the full level of damage, but conditions have improved with cooler temperatures and showers expected at the end of the week.

29 climate change protestors have been arrested in the Brisbane CBD, after police moved in on protests held outside the building of the energy company Santos.

Police surrounded more than 100 Extinction Rebellion protesters on Turbot Street at about midday on Tuesday with some officers blocking the building's entrance.

A primary school in the Lockyer Valley region will close today, as bushfires continue to burn throughout the region.

Education Minister Grace Grace announced that Thornton State School near Laidley would close today, saying that the Department’s priority was the safety and wellbeing of students.

Conditions have eased today, but residents in the Thornton area are advised to stay alert and keep updated on the developing situation.