A miner has died, and at least four others are injured, after an underground collision in a central Queensland mine.

Paramedics were called to the site about 4pm on Wednesday after an incident involving a grader and personnel carrier.

Ten other employees who were inside the personnel carrier also received medical treatment, with four treated for possible spinal injuries.

The cause of the incident is not clear and an investigation will be conducted by Anglo American – the company which operates the site.

An audit into Queensland’s manufacturing stone industry has revealed 98 workers have contracted the potentially deadly lung disease silicosis, with 15 cases deemed terminal.

Across the state, almost 800 stonemasons have been referred for lung testing in a situation which health experts are calling a major epidemic.

The Queensland Government said it is not aware of any workers who have yet died from the incurable disease but said many will need lung transplants to survive.  

Asylum seekers on Manus Island say the Government hired security contractors are “doing nothing” on the ground with the $423 million grant the firm has been issued.

The firm, known as Paladin, have little experience in providing security services in immigration detention, and were reluctantly hired according to a journalist on the island, Behrouz Boochan, after other security companies were hesitant to be associated with Australia’s controversial offshore detention regime.

The RSPCA has backed a new petition to allow pets to be able to travel on buses, ferries, and trains in Brisbane to boost the economy.

The petition, which was kickstarted by New Farm resident Annie Boxall who gathered 700 signatures in support would seek to mimic the transport in cities like New York and Paris, where pets are permitted.

A proposed revision to the plan would see a certification program where pets would be issued with a “good behaviour” tag once approved for their behaviour and socialisation skills.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says early estimates of the current cost to Queensland from the “summer of disasters” is $1.5 billion, which could increase.

Ms Palaszczuk says cabinet was briefed on Monday about the impact of floods on the state’s road and rail network in North Queensland, while cattle properties would need fencing replaced and 1200 homes in Townsville were uninhabitable.

A floating rubbish bin, which effectively acts as a vacuum cleaner for the ocean, is being trialled in Perth after a crowdfunding campaign allowed the device to be produced commercially.

The sea bin in the Port Coogee boat marina has captured more than a dozen types of plastic in just over a week, as well as cigarette butts and debris from nearby fishing operations.

Perth surfers Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinski designed the prototype in 2015, which is able to trap up to 20 kilograms of waste and is safe for marine life.