The Queensland government has been accused by Brisbane City Council of stripping 30% of funding over four years from the First 5 Forever literacy program.

Peter Matic, Brisbane City Councillor said as the Queensland government looks to change the funding model, concerns have been raised.

The motion for consistent funding for literacy programs has gained the support of all Brisbane councillors.

A Herald investigation has revealed over 30 Federal MPs have failed to declare free gifts and trips, as well as the donors behind them, for close to two years.

The failure of the MPs to update their register of interests in spite of parliamentary requirements has raised concerns about transparency and potential conflicts of interest, with 7 MPs having added nothing since September 2016.

MPs are required to register gifts valued at more than $750 if received from official sources, or more than $300 if received from others.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has been accused of hate speech in India after posing with a sign saying “Smash Brahminical patriarchy, criticising the country’s caste system.

The sign was given to Dorsey by a member of the Dalit, the lowest caste, and has angered Brahmins, the highest class, as well as Hindi nationalists who seek to downplay the religion's fissures and unite the country under a single cultural and political umbrella.

The company has since apologised, saying neither Twitter or Dorsey support the signs message to dismantle the Hindu caste system.

New figures obtained by the ABC indicate that taxpayers are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly for the decontamination of drug laboratories found in government housing.

It was found that over the last two financial years alone, taxpayers paid more than $550,000 to decontaminate about 140 houses in Queensland, but the offending tenants are not being banned from reapplying for a house.

Although tenants are evicted for this misconduct, reapplying for housing is not prohibited under public housing policy.

Daughter of US president, Ivanka Trump, and top White House advisor, sent hundreds of emails about government business from a personal email last year.

Spokesperson for Ms Trump’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell did not dispute the report, saying that while transitioning into government a private account had been used, purely for logistics, and no emails had been deleted.

Donald Trump heavily criticised 2016 US election opponent Hillary Clinton for the use of a personal email,  saying she belonged in jail, coining the term ‘crooked Hillary”.

Following APEC meetings hosted by PNG capital Port Moresby over the weekend, PNG police and security forces have stormed parliament in anger over not receiving allowances owed to them.

There were reports of looting and rioting all over the city, whilst parliament was destroyed with plants and paintings being ripped down and security systems broken.

Port Moresby Governor, Powes Parkop, has since spoken out saying the unrest is now under control with the issues triggering the riots are being resolved by Parliament.

US President Donald Trump has defended US ties with Saudi Arabia while acknowledging the possible involvement of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.

Trump acknowledged the Kingdom as a “steadfast partner” and says that foolishly cancelling arms contracts would massively benefit Russian and China.

The president said he would meet with the Crown Prince should he attend next week’s G20 meeting in Argentina, but maintains the US’ relationship is with the Kingdom as a whole.

An instagram account titled ‘Vote Tony Out’ has formed part of a grassroots campaign to oust Tony Abbott from the seat of Warringah, which he has held since 1994.

Posts on the account, operated by resident Mark Kelly, feature Warringah residents wearing anti-Abbott shirts, explaining why they believe their local member’s time is up.

The account now boasts over 4000 followers, including ex-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife and son.

An ABC investigation has found thousands of hectares of trees from Victoria's most endangered ecosystems are being felled to be sold as products in retailers like Bunnings and Officeworks.

The Victorian government defined what areas of forest can be logged, and it appears company VicForest has been taking trees from hundreds of areas outside its allocation.

Lawyer at Environmental Justice Australia, Danya Jacobs, said the logging is tantamount to stealing from public forests.