Crews are almost ready to start work on the Palaszcuk Government’s $2.5 million Steve Irwin Way and Roys Road intersection upgrade.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the upgrade will drive road safety for the thousands of motorists who use the motorway every day.

Works will start next week at the Beerwah intersection and will be completed between 6pm and 6am to minimise impacts to motorists and residents as much as possible..

Authorities are reviewing the Kakadu Highway’s 110 kilometer per hour speed limit following nine fatal crashes on the road last year.

Northern Territory Police Assistant Commissioner Narelle Beer said high speeds are the leading cause of the Territory’s road deaths.

Kakadu local Matthew Jones said dropping the speed limit is a ‘terrible idea’ as driver fatigue would become more common.

Hydro Tasmania has confirmed the Basslink interconnector is out of service after a fault occurred at a converter station.

Energy Analyst Marc White said the outage is having a physical and financial impact on both the Victorian and Tasmanian energy systems.

The outage is believed to have occurred earlier on Sunday and is expected to be restored by the end of today.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledge $250 million to fund the building of government infrastructure on the Solomon Islands.

The money will come from the education, health and governance sector of the existing foreign aid budget.

Jonathan Pryke from the Lowy Institute says the move will create partnership between Australian and Pacific leaders, but says long term projects will need to be the focus.

An international trial has shown a new drug could improve breast cancer survival rates by up to 30 per cent.

Lead researcher Sara Hurvitz said the treatment is safer than traditional chemotherapy since it can target cancer cells more precisely.

The trial involved women under the age of 59 who were diagnosed with cancer at a later stage in the disease.

A street pantry stocked with tinned foods, toothpaste and coffee was opened to the public on Brunswick street last Monday.

The pantry replicates the ‘street library’ concept where residents can freely donate, swap and take items.

Jacquire Schougarrd, Pantry Organiser and Brunswick Hotel Venue Manager says the idea came from her mother after she saw a similar project happening in Ireland.

Forecasters are warning of localised flooding amid higher-than-normal tide peaks during the next five days near Brisbane’s coast and riverside locations.

The Brisbane City Council said residents in areas prone to localised flooding due to high tides should avoid parking on the street during these times.

The Council will supply sandbags across the next five days at 38 Shamrock Road, Darra; 9 Redfern Street, Morningside; 66 Wilston Road, Newmarket: 33 Jennings Street, Zillmere and Herbet Street, Lota.

Queensland MP Jim Chalmers is the new Shadow Treasurer following the resignation of Bill Shorten as Labor Leader.

Mr Chalmers said stagnant wages and underemployment contribute to a weakening economy.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese announced his frontbench yesterday afternoon, with Richard Marles as Deputy.