Australia is considering whether to join the United State’s efforts to guard against Iranian interference of oil shipments in the Persian Gulf.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the United States made a serious and complex request, which is being considered according to Australia’s sovereign interests.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has placed confidence in an international coalition to protect key shipping routes, following Iran’s seizure of British tanker in July.

The Western Australian government has unveiled plans for a new rail line in Perth’s northern suburbs after a decade-long wait and promises from both major parties.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the network will be a game-changer and halve public transport travel time in the region.

With construction set to conclude by 2022, the Opposition’s Libby Mettam said the projected costs and time frame are unrealistic.

Saudi Arabian women under 21 no longer need permission from a male authority to travel abroad following a royal decree introduced on Friday. 

The new decrees also allow citizens to obtain Saudi passports regardless of their gender, and women will be allowed to register births, marriages and divorces.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been easing restrictions on women after lifting a driving ban last year, but has been cracking down on women’s rights activists.

A widespread 8-hour-long blackout plunged the Indonesian capital Jakarta and surrounding cities into darkness following a failure at a gas turbine plant on Sunday.

Jakarta’s train network, phone connections and traffic lights stopped working and affecting millions during the failure. 

Authorities say the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit the Java coast on Friday may have played a role in disrupting the electricity supply.

The new orange Neuron Mobility scooter rollout is stalling just two weeks after their competitor Lime removed almost half of their scooters from Brisbane streets. 

New council contracts have had Lime reduce its scooter numbers to 400 while Neuron has received permission to roll out 600 scooters by August 10.

The Brisbane City Council directed all questions to about Neuron’s rollout to the company, who is yet to make a statement.

The Queensland government has agreed to replace the existing PCYC facility in Fortitude Valley, with construction on a new facility set to begin later this year.

The planned glass-panelled, four-storey building will be joined by a twelve-storey office complex and a coffee shop on the remainder of the land.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the construction process will create over 160 jobs and be fully funded by Silverstone Developments.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palazcuk has proposed to turn Christmas Eve into part-day public holiday so Queenslanders receive penalty rates after 6pm.  

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said workers will be better off since they will be able to request time off on Christmas Eve on more justified grounds.

Ms Palazcuk hopes to pass the law before Christmas Eve this year following a month-long public consultation, to become the third Australian state to make the change.

The Australian Dental Association is urging people not to use DIY teeth-whitening products due to the dangers involved. 

Dentist Norah Ayad said she sees at least one patient a week due to chemical burns caused by the products, which takes several weeks to treat.  

The teeth-whitening products can be easily accessed and are widely promoted on social media by celebrities and influencers. 

Twenty-nine people were killed in separate shootings on Sunday at a Texas supermarket and in Dayton, Ohio, thirteen hours later.

US Attorney John Bash said investigators are treating the Texas attacks as domestic terrorism upon finding anti-immigration manifesto that the shooter posted online.

Police have not given a suspected motive for the second attack in Dayton at this time.