The Northern Territory government is fighting civil claims surrounding the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre, arguing that its use of ‘spit hoods’ on minors was justifiable. 

Spit hoods are devices put over prisoners’ heads to prevent them from biting, which look like a bag that goes over the head. 

The practice was banned after a royal commission into youth detention, however the device is still being used. 

The Coalition Government's $158 billion dollar tax plan has passed through the Senate.

The legislation went through 56 to 9, with only the Greens voting against the bill. 

Labor initially wanted to amend the bill in the Senate, delaying the third stage which includes long-term structural changes, but failed to convince crossbenchers to support them.

Part of the change means more than 10 million Australians will receive a tax cut up to $1,080 dollars.

The state government has signed a key construction contract as part of the planned Cross River Rail project, a move the deputy premier believes will guarantee the project will go ahead. 

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad described the agreement as a key milestone and expects to see the project create jobs over the next couple of months. 

Ms Trad says major construction will commence later this year as scheduled, starting with the demolition of the Roma Street Transit Centre.

Ulster Lane, which is located at 211 Elizabeth Street, will be renovated into a new public space with restaurants, bars and cafés.

Aria Property Group is working on the transformation, the same group that planned Fish Lane, and they intend to completely refurbish it after the Council’s approval this week.

Work on the refurbishment will begin in October and is expected to be complete by March next year.

Protests have begun in Israel after a 19 year old, Ethiopian man, Solomon Tekah was shot on June the 30th. 

Protesters have blamed the unarmed teen's death on racism and police brutality, but his family has since called for calm following his funeral.

In a statement  Solomon’s family urged “patience” from those supporting the cause.

Japan has ordered nearly 800,000 people on the southern island of Kyushu to take shelter in evacuation centres and other safe areas as heavy rains.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said residents should take steps to protect their lives, including early evacuation.

Some parts of southern Kyushu have received up to 1000mm of rain since 28 of June 2019.

A total of 42 people have now died from the flu in Western Australia after a two year old boy from Perth died yesterday. 

Elijah's condition deteriorated quickly, but doctors fought to keep him alive so his family could say goodbye.

A crowd-funding page has been set up for the family and more than $12,000 has been risen.

New research has found that tourism operators in Western Australia could be putting dolphin populations at risk by allowing them to be fed by visitors.

A new study from Murdock University, which looked at more than 60 dolphins around the Bunbury area, found dolphins which were not fed by the Bunbury Discovery Centre were two times more likely to give birth and had more success raising calves.

Trade figures released on the 4th of July by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show Queensland’s overseas goods exports hit a new 12-monthly record of $85.8 billion in May 2019.

This was an increase of more than 16 per cent over the 12 month period. 

The increase in the nominal value of Queensland’s merchandise exports was driven primarily by coal, liquefied natural gas, minerals and beef exports.