Queensland microbiologist Pardraig  Strappe and a small team of CQ University researchers says crocodile cartilages could hold the key for treatment of joint injuries and arthritis.

The team has been working to perfect a process that extracts valuable growth factors from the cartilage of crocodiles and removes proteins that trigger an immune response in humans.

The government’s new mining rehabilitation bill will allow a loophole for existing mines to not have to justify plans to leave “non-use management areas” such as pit voids, waste rock and water dumps.

In contrast, new mines must produce evidence including environmental reports to ensure they are safe, cause no environmental harm and can be used for something else after mining.

Business, energy and agriculture groups are demanding Labor state governments to pass the National Energy Guarantee this week or voters will pay the price.

Business Council of Australia, National Farmers’ Federation and the Australian Energy Council issued the ultimatum warning households cannot afford the costs of another cycle of political sparring, indecision and inaction.

Resistance from the ACT and Victoria government is fuelling concerns that a formal agreement will not be ratified until later this year.

Tenants are set to benefit from Victorian reforms to be introduced into parliament including family violence victims able to break leases more easily.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced 130 reforms will be introduced into parliament this week - 10 months after first flagging them ahead of the Northcote by-election.

On Sunday, Premier Andrews that reporters these reforms are about making a rental property a person’s home.

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged his son, Donald Trump Jr and other campaign officials, met with Russians in 2016 at Manhattan’s Trump Tower to get information on opponent Hillary Clinton.

President Trump says the meeting was totally legal and happens all the time in politics, despite the President previously saying the meeting was exclusively about American policy on adopting Russian children.

The deadly Ebola virus is suspected to have killed as many as 33 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thirteen cases of the virus have been confirmed in the North Kivu province and neighbouring Ituri province, with another 30 cases probable cases registered.

The World Health Organisation has released $2 million to help fund the DRC’s response to the latest outbreak of the virus, this is the tenth outbreak since 1976.

A $36 million renovation of Queens Plaza is underway attracting high-end retailers such as Camilla, Dior and Aje to open stand-alone stores in 2018.

The renovation will include the remodelling of level one to include new tenants and two new restaurants.

Queens Plaza centre manager Pamela Wakefore says they are pleased with their progress and look forward to welcoming new level 1 retailers over the coming months.

The Queensland Government has given the go-ahead to commence construction for a specialised youth housing service in Townsville, with contracts awarded to a local builder and a local support provider.

Based on the internationally recognised Youth Foyer model, the Townsville Youth Foyer delivers evidence-based early intervention by providing secure housing and professional support for up to 40 vulnerable young people at any one time.