A Brisbane fertiliser plant operated by Incitec Pivot will remain open until at least the end of 2022 after signing a new gas supply deal, securing more than 400 jobs.

The Gibson Island plant uses gas as a feedstock to produce industrial chemicals and fertilisers, distributing to more than 4000 cotton, sugarcane and sorghum farmers in Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Incitec Pivot CEO Jeanne Johns says the plant had faced closure by the end of 2019 due to rising gas prices and securing the new gas supply agreement provided a secure future for workers.

The Brisbane City Council has proposed a new apartment plan, requiring all new apartment buildings to have two car park spaces for all two-bedroom apartments, instead of one.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told the council chamber the planned legislative change was designed to improve parking issues in suburbs and resolve frustrations around parking demands.

Brisbane’s deputy mayor Krista Adams says the state government should either conserve six hectares of koala habitat land located near Toohey Forest, or give it to the Brisbane City Council.

Councillor Adams says the council is happy to negotiate with the government for the purchase of the land, but the land will not be purchased at its full commercial value of $6 million.

The impacts of climate change on Queensland have been outlined in a recent Ernst and Young report suggesting a lack of change in policies have severe environmental and economic repercussions for the state.

The report outlines a recommended “2-degree scenario” where policy implemented globally aims to keep temperature increases to within 2 degrees of pre-industrial levels.

The Morrison government will redirect migrants to key areas and push back against the Treasury’s reliance on immigration to boost economic growth and tax revenue.

The new Minister for Population, Alan Tudge, says five regional areas will be named as the focus of council and business sponsorship arrangements designed to take population pressures off the east coast by pulling more skilled migrants into the regions.

The world’s largest cruise line company, Carnival, has agreed to pay a $28 million penalty in the US over criminal charges stemming from pollution caused by its ships.

The company acknowledged its ships have knowingly discharged ‘grey water’ and plastic waste in prohibited areas, as well as falsifying compliance documents prior to inspections.

Carnival was originally fined $40 million in 2016 for discharging oily waste from its cruise ships and placed on probation for five years.

An estimated 180,000 people have gathered in Hong Kong to mark 30 years since China’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square.

The annual candlelight vigil, organised by a group of veteran pro-democracy activists, demands justice for victims of the crackdown and calls for China to embrace democracy.