The Minister for Defence Personnel has announced the extension of a secure platform to allow for better communications between personnel and their family members.

The Honorable Darren Chester, member for Parliament, says the Department of Defence owned and operated ForceNet will provide a platform for secure and effective communications, which is important for the morale, performance and retention of Australian Defence Force members.

Media personality, former magazine editor and former Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose is reportedly set to be named the chair of the ABC.

The appointment of the 77-year-old will bring to a close a troubled period for the government-funded corporation following the exit of the previous chair Justin Milne and managing director Michelle Guthrie six months ago.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is expected to bring up the matter with cabinet this week.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the new $44 million Queensland State Netball Centre at Nathan in Brisbane is designed to support players at all levels from juniors right through to seniors and representative players.

$34 million was invested by the Queensland Government for the project, plus $10 million from the Federal Government and $7.3 million for a multi-storey park’n’ride facility.

Minister for Sport Mick de Brenni said there will be new state-of-the-art facilities.

The Brisbane City Council has rejected a proposal for 16 new townhouses in Morningside in an effort to protect the "Brisbane backyard".

Residents lodged 30 submissions protesting against development, citing the Council's commitment to maintaining the big backyard feeling.

Urban Planning Expert Dr Dorina Pojani believes low population density could drive property prices higher and lead to less investment in infrastructure.

Two hectares of koala bushland near the Belmont Shooting Complex in South-East Brisbane has been cleared for expansion.

A proposed suggestion for a further 5.4 hectares to be cleared was passed, however, Sports Minister and Springwood MP Mick de Brenni said the clearing might not need to go ahead.

Consultation on the project is now extended until March 12 and Minister de Brenni says if there is any clearing required, his team will plant koala food trees in another location.

Friends of South Brisbane Cemetery group spearhead Clean Up Australia Day.

The South Brisbane Cemetery is a heritage cemetery site that locals and community members hope to maintain and improve.

Community members can participate by searching for the Clean Up Australia Day - South Brisbane Cemetery event on facebook and register, Clean Up Australia Day is on March 3rd.

In a historic first, Saudi Arabia has appointed a female as its new US Ambassador.

Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan was raised in the US and is a graduate of George Washington University and former member of the Saudi Sports Authority where she championed women’s participation in athletics.

Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan was assigned the role on Saturday and will follow in the ambassadorial footsteps of her father, Prince Bander Bin Sultan, who was the ambassador to the US from 1983 to 2005.

Protests at the Venezuelan border for humanitarian aid lead to violence and injuries of citizens.

After Maduro’s blockades limited medical convoys from entering the country to indigenous populations and citizens.

Musicians, politicians and activists in support of Juan Guido protested at the border, leading the military to fire and injured 16 individuals, among them an indigenous woman and two in serious condition.

Doctors and clinicians face a range of legal and ethical challenges when Victoria becomes the first state to legalise voluntary euthanasia.

Doctors claim this will only complicate the process, as they must ensure Victoria’s complicated laws surrounding euthanasia won’t prevent eligible candidates from accessing it.

The law is expected to come into place by June 2019.

PM Scott Morrison has announced a $2 Billion pre-election climate change policy to reduce Australia’s emissions.

Morrison believes the fund for the climate solutions will include funding for farmers, businesses and local governments which can reduce carbon emissions, and can reach its climate change targets by 2030.

Liberals have flagged the need to climate change ahead of the election, which will be held in May.