The Queensland Building and Construction Commission has issued a state-wide alert warning homeowners of audit price gouging on cladding audits following the Grenfell London tower fire in 2017.

Industry experts and authorities said tradies have been increasing quotes up to 160 per cent to check if Gold Coast homes have the same external materials as the Grenfell tower.

A Federal Minister has proposed shortening a Gold Coast tram line extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads to end disagreement on the Federal Government’s funding commitments to the project.

Federal MP Karen Andrews for Gold Coast seat McPherson said rescoping the project 700 metres shorter than before so the tram stops at Burleigh Heads State School rather than the township is a way to get the project moving without the Federal Government having to commit further funds to their $112 million pledge to Stage 3 of the light rail.

A new report has found that bacteria causing gonorrhoea, meningitis and other health issues is becoming increasingly resistant common antibiotics in Australia.

The report into antimicrobial use and resistance trends showed antimicrobial resistance, increased by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, showed little sign of decreasing and is posing a risk to patient safety.

The long delayed results of Thailand’s first election since the 2014 military coup that have come in six weeks after the election show the opposition “democratic front” alliance have secured the most seats, but the ruling military junta’s existing policies mean a pro-army party could potentially choose the nation’s next prime minister.

The opposition threatened to take legal action over the results that were released on Wednesday saying that a new seat allocation formula deprived the alliance of a majority in the 500-seat House of Representatives.

The UN humanitarian coordinator has warned that a lack of health funding in Gaza could mean 1700 people shot by Israeli forces could face amputations in the next few years.

Jamie McGoldrick said 1700 people need serious and complicated surgeries to be able to walk again after being shot at protests in the past year and without surgery, are at risk of needing an amputation.

The UN is seeking $20 million to fill the gap, with 120 amputations already having been carried out in the past year.

A woman who returned to Sydney after travelling in south-east Asia has been diagnosed with measles, as health authorities warn people who frequented the same areas to be on alert for symptoms which may take 18 days to appear.

Between the period from 29th of April to 6th of May, the woman visited Capitol Square and World Square and travelled on public transport between Town Hall and Artarmon stations in the Sydney area.

The Western Australia budget is expected to show a surplus a year early after iron ore in Brazil experienced supply disruptions.

WA treasurer Ben Wyatt has delivered his third budget, which is expected to show high iron ore prices and put the State’s books back in the black earlier than expected.

Premier Mark McGowan has not confirmed the expected surplus but said “good financial management has a consequence”.

A report has found that extreme weather could wipe $571 billion off Australia's property market by 2030 unless immediate action is taken to address climate change.

The Climate Council report also found the risk for Queensland was double that of other states and territories, with the Gold Coast, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast local government areas being identified as facing some of the highest risk to extreme weather and climate change, as one in 19 property owners face nearly unaffordable home insurance premiums by 2030 as a result.

The Brisbane City Council will evict popular pub Pig ‘n’ Whistle out of its Queen Street Mall site after deciding to put out a tender seeking bids for demolition and a new lessee.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the council's decision is part of the Queen Street Mall Visioning Plan focusing on revitalising the mall for everyone through incremental improvements on existing facilities on the ‘much-loved’ Queen Street.