A new study has found that anxiety drug Alprazolam is still being overprescribed and misused by Australians.

The federal government introduced a policy in 2017 to curb inappropriate use and prescription, but it has not had the desired effect, according to researchers at the University of New South Wales. 

Prescription approvals have increased by 18 per cent in the last two years and people are still receiving large doses which are not consistent with best practice guidelines. 

Two wards at Redcliffe Hospital have closed following a norovirus gastro outbreak. 

The hospital admitted to treating a number of patients with gastro and are encouraging all visitors to make an extra effort to wash their hands upon arrival and departure. 

Redcliffe Hospital’s medical director Dr Catherine Yelland says gastro virus cases tend to spike at this time of year, but symptoms subside within a few days. 

Due to contamination, the closed wards include Level 5 east and the Rehabilitation unit. 

Local people with disabilities and carers in South East Queensland will attend a forum in Cleveland next Wednesday to call for urgent changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). 

Attendees will participate in a Q&A style panel to discuss what is working with the NDIS and where the scheme is falling down.

A spokesperson for organisation Every Australian Counts says while the NDIS is making a difference for some people, too many people are missing out on the benefits and falling through the cracks. 

Ecuador’s parliament has rejected a bill allowing abortion in rape cases.

Current laws only allow abortion after the rape of women with a mental disability, or if the mother’s life is in danger.

Women undergoing terminations face up to two years in jail.

The controversial proposal was five votes short of the 70 required for its approval at the National Assembly.

A toxic haze from forest fires in Indonesia is seriously affecting Borneo’s endangered orangutans. 

The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation released a statement claiming the thick smoke is endangering the health of staff and the 355 orangutans being cared for at a centre in Kalimantan. 

"As many as 37 young orangutans are suspected to have contracted a mild respiratory infection," the foundation said. 

Liberal member for La Trobe, Jason Wood has been accused of abusing public resources as a fundraising vehicle for the Liberal party.

Labor reveals the party hosted under the Pinnacle Club, which is a registered associated with the Liberal Party.

The Australian Electoral Commission said the Pinnacle Club’s address is the same as Mr Wood's Berwick electorate office.

A spokesperson for Wood said he managed his offices and expenses according to the guidelines.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will attend a state dinner with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday night.

This is the first time an Australian PM will officially receive a dinner invitation at the White House since the Howard era.

Mr Morrison said Australia is a reliable ally that the United States can trust in a complex and strategic world.

“Australia is always prepared to do the heavy lifting when it comes to our alliance partnerships,” said Mr Morrison.

A Toowoomba widow is calling for more out-of-hospital suicide prevention service in regional areas. 

Beth McEwan’s husband Grant had been struggling with depression and she believed he fell through the cracks while navigating the mental health system.

Ms McEwan says after his husband began struggling under the pressure of his work, staff at Toowoomba Hospital were reluctant to treat him. 

Ms McEwan said she believed her husband could have been saved if there were other services available to help monitor his condition and offer out-of-hospital care.

Drum lines will be removed from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park after the state government lost a challenge in federal court to continue culling sharks.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal ordered the Department of Fisheries could no longer shoot dead 19 species of shark caught in its 173 drum lines offshore from north of Cairns to just south of Gladstone.

The tribunal found overwhelming evidence that killing sharks did nothing to reduce the risk of unprovoked attacks.