Queensland and New South Wales are set to fall short of their greenhouse gas reduction targets according to the Green Energy Markets advisory group but research found Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania are on track to hit their goals.

The Queensland government wants renewables to make up 50 per cent of the electricity mix by 2030 but based on existing wind and solar commitments, are currently tracking towards 29 per cent, a figure rejected by the Queensland energy minister.

The 46th Parliament kicked off today with the Morrison government’s income tax plan set as the first bill to be introduced.

The federal government will jump the first hurdle in its bid to cut income tax by securing lower house support using its slim majority.

The $158 million cuts are likely going to come down to winning Jacqui Lambie’s support in the Senate, as it needs four out of six crossbenchers to get the three-stage plan through the upper house.

A Moscow court on Monday sentenced Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to 10 days in prison for taking part in a protest in support of a journalist last month, a move which prosecutors deemed to be in violation of Russia’s strict protest laws.

Navalny was one of 400 people detained when police sought to break up the peaceful protest that called for the end of the alleged impunity of law enforcement agencies.

New York City held the largest Pride parade in the movement's history on Sunday, in midtown Manhattan.

The march paid tribute to the uprising that began at the Stonewall Inn when patrons resisted an officer, on the 28th of June 1969.

The parade marks the 50th anniversary of the infamous police raid on the tavern, the march was celebrated with exuberance and colour.

An auditor-general’s report in Queensland has revealed that rape investigators are being hampered by a lack of qualified forensic staff.

According to the report rape victims are being left for hours in hospital waiting rooms wearing the same clothes that they were assaulted in. 

Di Macleod from the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence backed the auditor general’s suggestion that the insufficient staff could have contributed to rape cases being dropped.

Queensland drivers who use their mobile phone behind the wheel may soon be hit with a hefty on the spot fine.

The Queensland government’s planned crackdown on distracted drivers would introduce a $1000 penalty, more than double the current $400 fine.

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the measures are necessary to deal with the epidemic of distracted driving and is confident it will deter dangerous behaviour.

The fate of coral reefs under climate change could improve if management efforts take evolution and adaptation into account, according to an international study.
 

The University of Queensland’s Professor Peter Mumby contributed to the pioneering Coral Reef Alliance study which aimed to find ways to save the world’s reefs.

According to Professor Mumby, the study has revealed that by making smart decisions now, conservation managers can generate the conditions that can help corals adapt to rising temperatures.

Personal data from mobile phones, apps and GPS devices could be gathered by the Victorian Government as part of a bid to monitor travel times and track demand and punctuality of the state’s public network.

The information would be used to track where people are travelling to and from, including mode of travel, purpose and time as well as measure delays across all modes of transport.

Turkish police used tear gas to break up a banned Pride march in Istanbul which was calling for rights for gay and transgender people.

Istanbul pride organisers said they would continue to fight to get sexual orientation and gender identity recognised in Turkish laws.

Amnesty International say authorities rejected all the suggested locations for the pride rally deeming the LGBT+ community as socially objectionable.