A senate inquiry will be launched into Newstart and similar welfare programs following calls to raise the rate of unemployment support. 

The motion put forward by the Greens and Labor succeeded after the cross-bench backed the inquiry.  

The government is still resisting pressure to raise Newstart, which has not increased since 1994. 

Construction has started on the State governments $80 million dollar upgrade plan to help ease congestion at Mount Ommaney.

The plan will include upgrading the Summer Road Interchange with a bike underpass, additional u-turns, and four new lanes

Bicycle Queensland advocacy spokesman Andrew Demack “Riders from 8 to 80 will feel safer on the Centenary Cycleway, as the new underpass will cut out the signalised crossing at busy Dandenong Road.” Mr Demack said.

Brisbane’s Night Noodle Markets launched early this week, and will be open until the 4th of August. 

The markets, which feature a range of Asian cuisines, will be open daily. 

Entry is free and the markets will be entirely cashless, with all stalls accepting card payment.

In a congressional testimony, Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller said  he had not exonerated, President Trump of obstruction of justice and defended the integrity of his inquiry under attacks by conservative Republican allies of the president.

The testimony reportedly left Democrats no closer to launching the impeachment process to try to remove Trump.

North Korea has fired two unidentified projectiles from near Wonsan in the East of the country.

Analysts said the characteristics of their flight, including the range, were similar to North Korea’s last missile test in May.

If confirmed, this would be the first missile test reported since U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met at the end of June.

A widespread effort to save wombats with deadly mange disease at a national park in Tasmania's north has been unsuccessful, according to researchers from the University of Tasmania. 

A sarcoptic mange outbreak began in the park in 2010, depleting the population by more than 90 per cent. 

Five months into the treatment regime in 2015, nearly all of the wombats showed no signs of mange, but the treatment wasn’t successful long term and the disease has now reduced the National Park's wombats to as few as three.

New Liberal Senator for New South Wales, Andrew Bragg has used his maiden speech to back an Indigenous voice to parliament in the constitution.

He spoke out against some of his colleagues who have labelled the voice a "third chamber", and explained it would not have the standing, scope or power of the Senate or the House of Representatives.

Senator Bragg said almost every comparable nation has landed some form of legal recognition of First Peoples and Australia should not wait any longer.