A left-wing movement within Sydney Mardi Gras is pushing for the Liberal Party to be excluded from the 2019 march.

Pride in Protest spokesperson Holly Brooke says the Coalition’s policies have harmed the LGBT community and the parties should not be welcome at Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras’ present organisers have opposed the motion, saying it goes against the events inclusive values.

Brisbane and much of the south-east are set for a heatwave this weekend while the Bureau warns of a warmer-than-average summer.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Chris Joseph says temperatures would be eight to nine degrees above average this weekend with today reacking a six degrees above the October average.

The RSPCA is reminding pet owners to take measures to reduce the risk of heat stroke such as putting out at least two to three bowls of water, place treats in ice-cubes, and not leaving animals in cars under any circumstances.

A member of the House of Lords has named the billionaire, under parliamentary privilege, who was accused by the Daily Telegraph of sexual and racial abuse.

The accused is Sir Phillip Greene, the owner of Topshop, who had previously obtained a court injunction to prevent the media publishing his name.

Sir Philip denied the allegations.

A law school in Kolkata, India, is offering specialised courses on the legal principles of the Harry Potter universe.

The program coordinator says he created the course as a way of maneuvering the country’s heated political climate where slavery, discrimination, and torture are still problems throughout India.

The course will examine how other creatures in the story such as house elves, centaurs and giants are marginalised in society and the role of the Daily Prophet as an outlet for official propaganda.

It is the final day of annual corporate national cycling relay, Tour de Office, with the charity having raised over $1 million since it began in 2011.   

The event sees staff from organisations across Australia take place in a week-long cycling relay in order to get staff out of their chairs and raising funds for charities.

Major corporations including the Commonwealth Bank, Heritage Bank, News Corp and Optus have supported charities such as Starlight Children’s Foundation, Reach Out and YoungCare.

Liberal MP Julia Banks has joined calls for children and their families to be removed from offshore detention in Nauru by accepting New Zealand’s resettlement offer.

Ms Banks says political point scoring by both of the major parties have resulted in a stalemate in which more than 50 children are still in offshore detention.

Following the leadership spill in August Ms Banks announced she would not recontest the next general election, but indicated she may run as an independent in an email to constituents.

And another story on transport, over one million people living on the fringes of Brisbane do not have access to public transport within walking distance of their home, finds an Infrastructure Australia report released today.

Residents on the outskirts of Brisbane represent half of the city’s population but a lack of public support serving the outer regions is contributing to inner-city congestion.

An increasing number of charging docks for electric cars could soon reduce the number of parking spaces across Brisbane.

Brisbane City Council has sent a submission to a Queensland parliamentary inquiry into transport technology, warning the impacts that decreased on-street parking availability could be significant.

The recent surge in interest for electric car charging infrastructure comes amidst the Transport and Public Works Committee investigation into the readiness of the Queensland transport network for electric vehicles and driverless cars.