Problems with diesel particulate filters in popular Toyota cars are producing excessive smoke that is polluting the environment. 

The state and territory environment protection authorities have issued over 1,200 warning notices to drivers regarding the pollution coming from cars over the past year.

Clean energy campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation Suzanne Harter said, "Australia is currently lagging behind the rest of the world on vehicle-emissions standards".

Scientists at the University of New South Wales have published a new framework today for building and managing coastal infrastructure on a global scale.

Dr Mariana Mayer Pinto said, "there is great opportunity to improve how we build on the coast."

The framework proposes a design of built infrastructure that should increase the overall resistance and resilience of coastal systems.

Bob Katter and other MPs from the Katter Australian Party and One Nation have called for Queensland to be split into two states. 

Queensland politicians who support the divide say the north should rule itself with its own economy, parliament, name, flag and constitution. 

Katter Party MP Robbie Katter said the disparity between voters in the north and west and those in the state's south is too great, that there is a disconnect between them, and that their values are not the same.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles announced $12.4 million is being invested into cardiac care in regional Queensland. 

The new model of cardiac care will be introduced over four years beginning in Townsville and Cairns hospitals. 

"Cardiovascular disease is even more challenging for people living in North Queensland and the Torres and Cape, some of whom live more than 2,000 km from major cardiac hospitals in Brisbane," said Mr Miles.

Lawmakers have rejected British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s call for a snap election on October 15, 2019.

The motion failed to reach two thirds majority with 298 votes for and 56 against.

Labour leader Jeremey Corbyn said they would support an election after a bill is passed preventing a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Corbyn said the Prime Minister is "playing a disingenuous game" to force a no-deal. 

French winemaker Gerard Bertrand was awarded Best Vineyard Experience of 2019 for his biodynamic wine estate.

American Airlines’s luxury publication selected the estate based on its multisensory experience which allows guests to sense the energy of life.

"It's an honour to see our hard work pay off and promote a concept we care so deeply about - showing respect to nature, from the vines to the bottle,"Mr  Bertrand said. 

The estate located between France’s La Clape Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea offers guided tours, wine tasting, and an annual jazz festival.

Labor will pressure the government to reveal over 150 proposed sites for nuclear reactors across Australia. 

Labor’s Shadow Energy Minister Mark Butler said Scott Morrison should reject the nuclear option or be upfront with Australians about exactly where he wants to build nuclear reactors.

“Mr Morrison should forget nuclear energy and focus instead on practical ways of dealing with his government’s energy crisis,” said Mr Butler. 

South Queensland may be facing water restrictions as early as next year if dam levels continue to drop. 

The South-East regions water grid capacity is currently sitting at just over 65 per cent, with Wivenhoe dam down to 53 per cent.

A spokesperson for Seqwater said there’s still “a way to go”, but water restrictions will need to be considered if dam levels continue to plunge.

"We're really looking at this wet season to understand whether we'll see rainfall back to what we usually see during the summer months,” said the spokesperson. 

The Palaszczcuk government has passed tough new drink driving laws for Queensland.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said drink drivers will need to have an alcohol interlock in their vehicle until they can show a consistent record of clear breath tests over time.

“We know mid-range drink drivers account for more than a quarter of all drink driving offenders and have a crash risk 20 times greater than someone who hasn’t had a drink," Mr Bailey said.