New government data shows Queensland’s south-east has seen a 6 per cent drop in bus and ferry patronage, while rail patronage has virtually flatlined.

Public transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track says while the population grew by almost 6 per cent between 2012 and 2016, there was no corresponding growth in public transport usage.

Robert Dow of Rail Back on Track believes Queensland commuters were shunning public transport because it is not meeting the community’s needs.

Queensland taxi drivers are calling for the State Government to impose a one-year ban on the rideshare services pushing them out of business.

The value of a Queensland taxi licence has collapsed by 77 per cent since 2012 due to the growth in services such as Uber.

Queensland Taxi Council Chief Executive Blair Davies said the government’s lack of action is appalling and encourages cabbies to lobby in order to take back Brisbane streets.

South Australian Treasurer Rob Lucas handed down his first budget in 17 years yesterday and has singled out TAFE for its supposedly unsustainable budget.

Seven TAFE campuses are set to close, which will hit rural students chasing an alternative course the hardest.

New saving measures in the budget also threatens Single Housing Trust tenants who  will face rent increases and public service cuts.

The Government is currently mulling over a potential 10 cents per litre milk levy to support drought-hit dairy farmers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has played down government support for the proposal, saying he doesn't want to push up costs for households.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud, said the consumers who are outraged on social media would do more for farmers by paying a ten cent levy than they do by sharing a video on Facebook.

Sporting goods giant Nike has faced backlash for their decision to use Colin Kaepernick as the new face of their ‘Just Do It’ campaign.

Blacklisted NFL quarterback Kaepernick caused a political firestorm in 2016 after he kneeled during the US national anthem to protest racial injustice.

The campaign has prompted calls for Nike boycotts, with critics of the footballer and of Nike tearing, burning and defacing their products in response and using hashtags such as #justburnit.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has defended taking a $45 000 flight to Nauru for the Pacific Islands Forum.

Arden flew a day after her deputy as she wanted to minimise time spent away from her baby.

The NZ PM says she weighed up the issues and logistics and decided to take a separate flight as she felt it was a unique set of circumstances.

Ardern is still breastfeeding her 11 week old daughter, who isn’t old enough to receive vaccinations required to travel to Nauru.

A Queensland construction company has been fined $405,000 over the deaths of two workers at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Racecourse.

Criscon plead guilty to two counts of failing to comply with health and safety plans over the October 2016 deaths.

The boss of subcontractor Construction Building Technologies also failed to comply with basic requirements of safe work methods and has been charged with manslaughter for alleged gross negligence.

The Brisbane City Council have proposed an amendment to prevent the construction of townhouses and apartments on lots better suited to single homes.

The council’s city planning chairman Matthew Bourke says the amendment would ensure future suburban development keeps in-line with its surroundings.

The amendment was proposed as an effort to preserve the unique character of Brisbane’s backyards.