A fresh round of government funding released today aims to engage local and grassroots movements to decrease the misuse of illegal drugs like ice.

Existing local organisations are using their share of almost $300 million to develop community sport programs for young people, and implement outreach services in university campuses and workplaces.

Regional Services Minister Bridget McKenzie encourages people who “want to make a difference in [their] community… to build local partnerships and apply for the program.”

The Nationals deputy leader has called for Neo-Nazis to be quickly expelled from the party.

Bridget McKenzie has called the members ‘appalling’ and said the NSW division was acting ‘swiftly to root them out’.

Up to 20 NSW members could be expelled over links to the alt-right movement.

Uganda has made hosting refugees a part of its core national policy.

The country is currently home to as many as 1.25 million refugees who are supported by a large share of a $200 million dollar humanitarian aid fund.

Solomon Osaka, a Ugandan civil servant, said refugees live in settlements, not camps, and are given land where they can build a home, farm, and “be self-sufficient”.

China has been criticised for its move to reverse a decade old ban on using rhino horn and tiger parts for medical and cultural use.

The change in rules would allow rhino and tiger parts to be used in special circumstances such as medical research, educational use and cultural exchanges.

The World Wildlife Fund said the move could have ‘devastating consequences globally’ and was an ‘enormous setback.’

From next week onwards, the speed limit on Ann Street will be permanently slowed down from 60 to 40 km/h .

The reduced speed limit between Creek St and Riverside expressway is in response to interim findings from the Brisbane City Council’s pedestrian safety review.

There have been 10 serious pedestrian crashes in the last 5 years involving the street, including the death of Anne-Marie Stent.

A redevelopment plan for cinemas replacing the old Red Hill Skate arena has been re-lodged by two Brisbane brothers following opposition from a global cinema chain.

Despite Brisbane City Council’s approval of the project, the proposal was challenged by Reading Cinemas, who are located just three kilometres away.

Brothers Peter and Stephen Sourris are known for re-purposing and developing cinemas across Brisbane, owning New Farm Cinemas, the Elizabeth Picture Theatre, and the Yatala Drive-In.

Huawei and ZTE’s ban from Australia’s 5G network in August has been “supported by technical advice”, according to a spy agency.

Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) chief, Mike Burgess, says the Chinese companies were excluded as they were classified “high-risk vendors” that could compromise the security of the network.

Mr Burgess says the decision was “not taken lightly” as “getting security right for critical infrastructure is paramount”.

The Australian Taxation Office’s annual report revealed collectable debt had a record rise last year to just under $24 billion.

The outstanding debt is mostly owned by small businesses, up to half of which the ATO says is subject to appeal, or uneconomical or impossible to recover.

The ATO still met their revenue target by collecting more company tax from high-profit corporations, and by targeting multinationals and wealthy individuals through the Tax Avoidance Taskforce.

Locals were evacuated from Venice yesterday with the highest recorded flood levels since 2012.

Tourists were cleared out from St Marks Square as water levels reached 1.5 m.

In the rest of the country, heavy winds and flooding toppled trees and buildings killing six people.