Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has slammed Labor’s plans to lift Australia’s refugee intake to 32,000 people.

An analysis covering the cost of settlement, welfare, and health shows that the lift would cost an extra $6.2 billion.

Morrison said if the intake lift occurs, the nation ‘would be paying for it for decades’.

A University of Queensland research team will take part in a $2 million international study to find out what type of exercise is best for brain health in older adults with memory issues.
 

Professor Jeff Coombes and his team at the School of Human Movement and Nutritional Sciences will study over 500 people over the age of 60 across Australia and Canada.

Professor Coombes says this will be the first direct comparison of three very different kinds of exercise to improve memory and thinking abilities in older adults.  

Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni has officially opened the new NRL Cowboys House Girls’ Campus in Townsville today, as the nation acknowledges International Women’s Day.

The girls’ campus opened its doors to 30 young women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The Palaszczuk Government invested $12 million towards construction of the House, which supported more than 80 local jobs during its construction, and has also committed $2.5 million over four years to support its operation.
 

The UK's attorney general says Brexit negotiations will continue as EU officials call for "acceptable" ideas to be given by Friday to break the impasse.

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said plans to solve the deadlock over the Irish backstop were "as clear as day", with just days until MPs vote on the Brexit deal.

The backstop is an insurance policy designed to prevent physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

36 states at the UN council for human right have released a joint statement criticizing Saudi Arabia’s detaining of women’s rights activists.

In a joint statement the council expressed concerns about the use of counter-terrorism law and other national security provisions against individuals exercising their rights and freedoms.

Saudi diplomat Aziz Alwasil has denounced the use of such statements "for political causes", stating "interference in domestic affairs under the guise of defending human rights is in fact an attack on our sovereignty."

A new report has found that nearly one quarter of working women are currently experiencing a mental health condition, compared with 15 per cent of men.

The study released on International Women's Day, surveyed more than 5000 business owners, senior managers and workers across Australia.

SuperFriend chief executive Margo Lydon states on the problem ‘it's crucial to recognise that women need different things from work than men.’

The Federal Government is looking for ways to block Wicked Campervans and the offensive slogans attached from legally being driven on Australian roads.

Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer has written to state and territory leaders to urge them for their support in a national approach for the company to comply with community standards.

Ms O’Dwyer said we have no tolerance for sexist, misogynistic and offensive slogans on campervans, or those displayed anywhere else for that matter.

The Palaszczuk Government is working directly alongside community organisations and local contractors as North Queensland continues to mop up from the devastating floods of early 2019.

Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said that 1704 people had reached out for housing support since the once-in-a-lifetime floods and no-one was without accommodation.

Mr De Brenni says the entire government is focussed on rebuilding North Queensland and ensuring everybody has a safe, secure and affordable place to live.

Throughout Central Queensland and much of New South Wales cattle producers are making the tough call to destock their remaining breeders along with hordes of young cattle, with no relief from drought in sight.

The kicker is that the yardings have been boosted by female cattle and young stock that have been weaned early as the scarcity of water begins to take its toll.