Fifteen more schools have opened in northern queensland following the devastating floods, allowing most students in the area to now return to their studies.

Minister for communities Coralee O’Rouke has stated that having the schools cleaned and certified as safe to operate in short space of time is testament to the spirit, resilience and determination of the North.

This brings the total of reopened schools to fifty-five, with an emphasis placed on establishing a routine and a sense of normalcy for all impacted by the floods.

A planned development in the south Brisbane suburb of Nathan for 750 units in an industrial estate is expected to be rejected by Brisbane City Council

Applicants had requested a change of use from industrial to residential, replacing a major vehicle distribution centre and warehouses to units, houses and retirement living about 10 kilometers from Brisbane city centre.

Crossbench MPs will discuss Labour’s three amendments to a bill allowing doctors more say in whether asylum seekers are transferred to Australia for medical treatment.

Independent MP Kerryn Phelps says she is determined to salvage a bill that would fast-track medical  transfers for critically-ill asylum seekers, after Labour shifted its position due to security concerns.

The opposition’s shift follows the government ramping up its attack on Labour over national security.

Children as young as six years old are being forced into child marriage in Australia, with more than 100 cases of forced child marriage are currently being investigated by the Australian Federal Police.

Obtained under the Freedom of Information laws by Seven News, data shows that since January 2017, 171 cases of forced child marriage have been investigated by the AFP, with experts saying children forced into marriage are often too terrified to alert authorities to seek help.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday asking federal government agencies to dedicate more resources and investment into research, promotion and training on artificial intelligence or AI.

Under the American AI Initiative, the administration is directing agencies to prioritize AI investments in research and development, increase access to federal data and models for that research and prepare workers to adapt to the era of AI.

NASA is planning to take the “next giant leap in deep space exploration” as it looks to send astronauts to the moon who are able to stay there.

The space agency’s administrator, Jim Bridenstine, called for American firms to help develop human lunar landers - “reusable systems for astronauts to land on the moon” he said scientist have been given a mandate by the President and Congress to return to the moon for the first time since 1972.

Officials have issued a warning over a text message scam, with recipients receiving a message claiming a emergency has occured and urgent action is required.

When recipients call back the unknown number, they are often played an abusive recording. Scamwatch has said that while no financial loss has been reported, many may find the content of the recording distressing.

Police have advised recipients of the text to not reply and to block the number.

Laws introduced in the Queensland Parliament this week will see child killers spend more time in jail, as the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council found the sentences for the manslaughter of a child were inadequate and did not reflect the vulnerabilities of children.

Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk says the legislation would expand the definition of murder, with many offenders being convicted of manslaughter rather than murder due to a difficult in establishing intent.

Young Aboriginal people in WA’s northernmost region continue to take their lives after a spate of suicides prompted one of the states biggest inquests alongside findings that community services in the region may need to completely change.

Of the thirteen Indigenous people who died over a three and a half year period in Kimberly, five were aged between ten and thirteen, including two sisters.