Emergency services are calling on city residents to have an emergency kit ready in the event of a natural disaster occurring - like the ones rural people keep. 

It is recommended to have 3 days worth of water on hand at all times - with many city dwellers being complacent when it comes to relying on utilities that could be cut off during a severe weather event. 

In addition to water, it's also important to think about medication and things like dog food if you have pets at home.

Labor’s Brisbane lord mayoral candidate has promised ratepayers they’ll get $100 off their annual rates bill if they elect him in the 2020 council elections.  

A $25 discount each quarter would apply if residents pay their rates bills on time.  

Candidate Patrick Condren says he wants to help residents who are crying out to save a dollar wherever they can.

Victorian households could be separating rubbish into six or more bins — instead of the usual two or three — to help solve the state's recycling crisis.  

China's decision - last year - to stop importing foreign waste has forced Victoria to "urgently reconsider" how it deals with recycling. 

Since then, waste from Victorian recycling bins has either gone to landfill or been stockpiled, creating massive fire risks.

All of Australia’s major newspapers are featuring "censored" front pages to show the impact of government secrecy today.  

The Right To Know coalition is behind the campaign, calling for the decriminalisation of public interest journalism, and greater protection for the media and whistleblowers. 

Green parties have made strong gains in Switzerland's parliamentary election, according to initial projections.

The anti-immigration Swiss People's Party (SVP) is set to win, despite losing at least 3% of its support.

But projections show a combined vote for the two green parties of around 20%, which would make them major players in Swiss politics.

Their gains reflect voters' concerns over climate change, seen as the dominant issue in this election.

Australian carrier Qantas has completed a test of the longest non-stop commercial passenger flight as part of research on how the journey could affect pilots, crew and passengers.

The Boeing 787-9 with 49 people on board took 19 hours and 16 minutes to fly from New York to Sydney, a 16,200-km (10,066-mile) route.

Next month, the company plans to test a non-stop flight from London to Sydney.

Qantas expects to decide on whether to start the routes by the end of 2019.