Advancements in rights for Australia's trans-gendered and intersex citizens
New amendments to the Births, Deaths and Marriage Act propose an advancement in rights for transgender and intersex people in Australia.
The Labor opposition and Greens party are putting forward a document which would allow Australian citizens to delete or change their gender on their birth certificate and remove the requirement for transgender people to undergo sexual reassignment surgery before their gender is recognised.
Ban of single-use plastic bags results in 80% drop of usage nation-wide
The ban on single-use plastic bags implemented by Australia's two largest supermarkets has prevented 1.5 billion bags being introduced into the environment over the last three months.
Although the decision by Coles and Woolworths midway through this year was met with endless public backlash, it has translated to an 80% drop in the consumption of plastic bags nation-wide, according to the National Retail Association.
Thousands of additional seats available for commuters on SEQ's train networks
Thousands of additional seats for commuters will be available on trains today when six-car units replace three-car units on Queensland Rail services.
The change has been made possible by the roll-out of 35 New Generation Rollingstock trains onto the network.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey says the new services will increase carrying capacity by more than 46,000 seats a week across the south-east Queensland network.
Australian students protest political inertia on climate change
On Friday, thousands of Australian students defied calls by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to stay in school and marched on the nation's capital cities, and some regional centres, demanding political action on climate change.
Protests were held in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Coffs Harbour, Bendigo as students banded together to pressure the Morrison Government in the lead-up to a federal election.
Trump 'likes' North Korean leader and will 'fulfil Chairman Kim's wishes'
US President Donald Trump continues to woo North Korean leader Kim Jong un, according to a message delivered to South Korean president Moon Jae-In during the G20 summit over the weekend.
Trump says he likes Kim Jong Un, plans to implement the rest of their agreements together and wants to fulfill his wishes, according to a statement by Moon to reporters.
The US government hopes a warmer diplomatic relationship with North Korea will lead to successful denuclearisation talks.
French PM to meet protestors after Saturday riots
French president Emmanuel Macron is in talks with protestors after anti government riots on Saturday lead to the worst violence Paris has experienced in over a decade.
Over one hundred people were injured in the riots that saw thousands march upon the champs-elysees, torching cars, homes and banks.
Right wing opposition parties are pressuring the Macron government to resolve tensions quickly and address the protesters concerns over rising fuel prices and the new green tax.
Commonwealth Bank customers' medical data exposed in potential privacy breach
The Commonwealth Bank is under a potential data breach in which customers’ medical information is suspected of being exposed and misused.
Medical information supplied by an unknown number of customers to CommInsure was made available to other arms of the bank, according to staff who decide whether to approve or decline loan applications.
Although the issue was discovered in July, the bank had not informed its CommInsure customers about the unauthorised access of personal medical information.
Refugee footballer in Thailand refused flight back to Australia
Pasco Vale refugee footballer Hakeem Alaraibi is being detained in Thailand at the request of the Bahrain government.
Mr Alaraibi was granted refugee travel documents from the Australian government to holiday in Bangkok with his wife.
As he was preparing to return to Australia, the Bahraini courts issued an extradition order for vandalising a police station - a crime Mr Alaraibi says he was tortured at length over.
Human rights watch says it will be a test of Thailand’s commitment to respect human rights, as Mr Alaraibi has recognised asylum seeker status.
Brisbane outpaced by Toowoomba and Gladstone for growth
New research by SGS Economics and Planning reveals regional centres such as Toowoomba and Gladstone are outpacing Brisbane in terms of economic growth.
Despite Brisbane's gross domestic product growth in 2017-18 being the highest since 2011-12, Cairns, Townsville, Toowoomba, Mackay, Rockhampton, and Gladstone are all powering ahead at a faster rate.
Brisbane motorists now can shop around for the cheapest petrol on their smartphone
From midday today, Brisbane motorists will be able to shop around for the cheapest petrol from their smartphone, thanks to a new two-year fuel price-monitoring trial from the Queensland Government.
Over one thousand of Queensland's servos will be required to lodge their fuel prices via an online portal within half an hour of them changing and otherwise facing fines of up to $13,000.
RACQ public policy head Rebecca Michael says the initiative will help put the power back into the hands of drivers and allow them to reward retailers that offer the best deal.