Pacific National, one of Australia’s largest rail freight companies has publicly announced its willingness to service Adani’s Carmichael mine, despite opposition by environmentalists. 

"We haul coal, that's what we do,” a spokesperson for Pacific National said. 

The company is critical for the mine to go ahead and a number of other rail freight organisations have said they will not deal with Adani. 

Competitor Aurizon is also facing threats from investors that they will sell their stakes if the company agrees to transport coal from the mine to the coast. 

Farmers are being forced to surrender their dogs to shelters in Brisbane as drought conditions worsen. 

Natalie Haddock from Brisbane’s Eavings rescue says the organisation has seen a recent influx of working dog breeds, and that farmers don’t have the money to feed or water their pets anymore. 

"We're seeing people who usually wouldn't [surrender their dogs] having to because they're destocking their properties as there is nothing for them," Ms Haddock said.

Ms Haddock says the animals are being fostered out to loving families across the city.

Extinction Rebellion protesters are expected to block traffic in the city again this morning after last week’s series of protests for climate change action. 

The groups says they will be meeting at Bunyapa Park, then deciding which intersections to swarm. 

Brisbane City Council and the police are warning travellers to be aware of potential impacts if they are entering the CBD.

NASA will carry out the first all-female spacewalk this week, after a spacesuit debacle earlier this year resulted in accusations of sexism.

Traditionally a male-dominated agency, NASA announced that Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will venture outside the International Space Station either Thursday or Friday this week to replace a power controller unit that failed over the weekend.

An animal testing laboratory in Germany that subjected monkeys to “barbaric” treatment and kept unwell dogs in squalid conditions is under investigation amid calls for the closure of the centre by animal rights groups.

The calls come after footage, allegedly shot at the Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology facility near Hamburg, shows a monkey strapped in a metal harness, and a bleeding dog left untreated in its cage.

New research has revealed that 60% of all barramundi consumed in Australia come from overseas, a discovery which has surprised consumers.

Meredith Lawley, a marketing professor from the University of the Sunshine Coast, said because barramundi is considered to be an Australian name, consumers do not even consider that it might be imported, most prominently from South-East Asia.

Fish producers say they want country-of-origin labelling laws to be changed, to give Australian produce a better chance of competing against cheaper imports.

A six year report into hearing health has found that thousands of Aboriginal children have outstanding referrals for specialist hearing appointments in the Northern Territory because services have been cancelled.

Hearing loss and ear disease is currently considered a public health emergency in the Northern Territory by the World Health Organisation, due to it affecting 12% of people in Aboriginal communities on average.

Brisbane City Council has banned Extinction Rebellion from using council libraries to plan protests

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, put forward an emergency motion at Tuesday meeting, arguing that libraries are not suitable for meetings that incite or advocate illegal activities.

Councillors Jonathan Sri and Nicole Johnston spoke out against the move, with Cr Sri questioning whether places King George Square could be considered a "council facility" under the change.

The Queensland Government has struck a deal that will see Air New Zealand fly new aircraft into Cairns from April 2020.

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said Air New Zealand would introduce more efficient aircraft to service the airline’s existing 15,000 yearly visitors who visit Cairns via this route more frequently, making it easier for tourists from New Zealand to visit the region.