Appearing before a senate enquiry this morning, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has defended the $444 million grant to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation when he was Environment Minister.

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally says if they’re elected to Government, they will take the money back and spend it through the public sector agencies that are tasked and resourced to look after the reef.

Health experts are now calling for refugees, mainly women and children, to be moved off of Nauru immediately.

President of the Australian Medical Association Tony Bartone says increasing health risks to refugees physical and mental wellbeing will only end in tragedy if measures are not taken.

The call to the government comes amidst continuing concern and agitation across the AMA membership and the medical profession due to ongoing cases of health concerns.

Farmers have criticised Coles implementation of the drought levy on milk, calling for a boycott of the supermarket.

The levy will only apply to 3 litre cartons, which the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation says will push customers to avoid the drought levy by purchasing the discounted 2 litre milk option.  

The organisation is pushing for the levy to be applied to all milks of all sizes.

Australia's largest owl, the endangered Powerful Owl, has been spotted in Brisbane’s suburbs.
 

Birdlife Australia has launched the Powerful Owl Project, including a host of information on the nocturnal bird and an app for citizen scientists to help track the majestic creature.

They are the only owl in south-eastern Australia with a classic double 'hoo-hoo' call.

Adobe Systems has today announced they will acquire software giant Marketo Inc for $4.75 billion, in what will be Adobe’s largest ever acquisition.

Marketo, a company selling marketing and engagement software, will build upon Adobe’s ‘Experience Cloud’.

Adobe claims this addition will put them well ahead of competition for their for Business to Business and Business to Consumer services, in a year that saw Adobe stock rise by 78 per cent.

E-commerce giant, Amazon, is considering expanding its Amazon Go retail store initiative with as many as 3,000 stores by 2021.

The first store Amazon opened was in Seattle which offered customers a cashier-free shopping experience that tracks purchases through video cameras and sensors in store shelves.

The stores could also expand their products to freshly-prepared lunch-time meals to attract crowds during their breaks.

Dodgy tertiary education businesses have been given unknowing TAFE students a debt without their knowledge and delivering poor educational results.

Vocational Education Minister Michaelia Cash says the ombudsman has been receiving complaints and it is believed 25000 students to date have claims totalling around $50 million.

The scheme introduced in 2012 by the Labor government, was later replaced by a tighter regulated loans program which Ms Cash assures will keep dodgy businesses out.

Two more Brisbane City councillors are set to retire before the next local election in March 2020, with their positions rumoured to be replaced by female candidates.

Ian McKenzie from Coorparoo and Norm Wyndham from McDowall, both from the Liberal National Party, have announced they will not seek preselection for their wards, adding on to the resignation of Councillor Julian Simmonds who is now contesting the federal seat of Ryan.

Liberal Democrats Leader Senator David (Lionhelm) Leyonhjelm says he will pursue Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s defamation lawsuit after rejecting a settlement offer.

Senator (Lionhelm) Leyonhjelm says he rejected the settlement as he would have been forced to make a public apology to his colleague. He has copped further criticism from the Greens Senator’s lawyers, who say it’s difficult to update the suit because (Lionhelm) Leyonhjelm’s defamatory conduct occurs on a daily basis.