The Indonesian Consul has visited the shores of Northern Australia for new ways to help prevent plastic waste on Arnhem Land.

An estimated one tonne of discarded bottles, thongs and nets has been washed up per kilometre with much of it originating from Indonesia.

The Australian Marine debris team welcomed the Indonesian visit and says it could signal the beginning of a solution to the rubbish issue.

The Australian government is preparing artificial intelligence guidelines which will aim to keep Australians safe and employed including more than 29 million dollars in its last budget to support the responsible development of AI.

Federal Minister for Technology, Karen Andrews says the government has recently sought on the use of AI and raised the concerns of job losses.

Research as part of the New South Wales Government’s Saving our Species program reveals dingoes are helping the endangered Manning River Helmeted turtles survive by preying on foxes who are a major threat to the freshwater turtles.

Office of Environment and Heritage researcher Andrew Steed says surveys in 2018 found 87 turtles while the surveys done in March and April this year found a further 188 turtles at 47 sites including a new location.

New direct flight services from Brisbane to San Francisco and Chicago will be announced today by Qantas and flights to begin early next year.

It is the first direct flight to Chicago from any Australian city and will be serviced by Qantas Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners which is the same aircraft used for non-stop flights from Perth to London.

The Department of Education said in a statement earlier today, Upper Mount Gravatt State School and the after-hours care centre will remain closed today, but both are set to reopen tomorrow.

The DES department says new book packs will be provided free-of-charge to students who lost their supplies in the fire, and guidance officers and other support staff will be available for any students or staff who require it.

In local news, Darwin has just finalised a $10million project to make the city smarter with Chinese inspired surveillance technologies.

The project rolled out 900 LED lights, 24 environmental sensors, parking sensors, free wifi and a network of 183 new cctv cameras throughout the Darwin CBD.

Lord Mayor of Darwin, Kon Vatskalis said technologies would help people feel safer and create a new opportunity for business in the city but privacy experts question the appropriateness and have privacy concerns.

All mums who are living in New Zealand or Australia and are over the age of 18 who have given birth in the past two years have the opportunity to access helpful online information and guided activities as part of a research trial at The University of Queensland.

All participants will complete two eight week apart online surveys and have free unlimited online access to the materials for six months after the study ends, allowing researchers to pinpoint exactly what effect the materials are having on their well being.

In national news, Euthanasia became legal in Australia this week in over two decades with Victoria’s first jurisdiction opening the way for ill patients to end their life with medical assistance.  

The state government describes it as the safest way with 67 safeguards to ensure only eligible patients can die with medical help.

It is the first time Euthanasia is allowed in Australia since Northern Territory legalised it two decades ago which was quickly overturned by the parliament.

A teenager who shattered his skull falling from a cliff at Cape Byron in New South Wales will undergo surgery this week at the Mater Hospital to have a piece of 3D printing fitted to his damaged skull.

Mater Hospital neurosurgeon Rob Campbell said the technology is world class using a custom-printed section of the skull which mimics natural bone with its elastic capability and strength, allowing tissue to grow in and incorporate the implant to the skull.