Despite the Queensland Government promising a jobs boom from the construction of dozens of solar projects across the state, an industry insider says companies are turning to cheap labour over hiring local tradies.

One solar industry insider says their company was actively hiring backpackers because local job seekers posed "drug and alcohol problems".

The construction source — who did not want to be named out of fear of souring relations with government — says there were significant issues with the local labour force.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he's working through a review into religious freedoms in Australia with Attorney-General Christian Porter.

Morrison insists he's not holding off on releasing the report into religious freedoms until after the by-election in Malcolm Turnbull's Sydney seat next month.

Former Liberal minister Philip Ruddock's report was given to Malcolm Turnbull in May after it stemmed from the same-sex marriage debate, with Labor and the Greens since calling for it be released.

French President Emmanuel Macron has today announced he will no longer accept trade deals from countries that don't respect the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

With France having the sixth highest GDP in the world, countries will now be forced to join the climate change pact if they wish to enter commercial agreements with the European superpower.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May says it would not be in the national interest to hold another general election just as she is negotiating the terms of Britain's exit from the European Union.

May is under intense criticism over her approach to leaving the European Union, fuelling speculation she could be ousted by her own party, or that her minority Conservative government could collapse

US President Donald Trump has attacked Iran as a “corrupt dictatorship” in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly this morning.

Twitter reached out to its users on Tuesday for help creating a ban on comments that dehumanise people and promote real world violence.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is insisting there’s no room in the budget for Newstart payments to be raised, despite better-than-expected budget figures.

Business groups say creating a public holiday to recognise Indigenous Australians could cost the Australian economy 3 billion dollars.

There have been calls for emergency funding to support Queensland’s tourism industry, after two recent shark attacks in the Whitsundays.