Queensland councils are planning a $2.5 billion plan to build 5-8 power plants to generate household waste into electricity.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam says it’s not burning but allowing natural bugs to decompose waste to produce gas which generates electricity.

Councils are wanting the power plants in place by 2028.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is committing $18.3 billion in health funding despite predictions the state budget will see debt level at $83 billion.

Funding will include money for upgrades to Logan, Caboolture and Ipswich hospitals.

Labor says the funding was necessary to ensure Queensland can continue to have the best doctors, nurses, midwives and medical transport services.

The Bureau of Meteorology autumn summary has revealed this past autumn has been the fourth warmest on record in Australia.

The reports also revealed below average rainfall for most of the country during autumn, with significant drought conditions for New South Wales, north-west Victoria and eastern South Australia.

The bureau is forecasting winter is likely to be drier than average in south-east Australia and parts of WA.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion travel have been subjected to a number of inquiries by an independent watchdog.

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) began an ongoing inquiry into the couples travel expenses in February, Mr Joyce has been asked 79 questions by the IPEA.

The IPEA ensures federal politicians do not misuse their entitlements.

World leaders at a conference hosted by China criticised the US’ decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the pursuit of mutual benefit at Beijing-Moscow led summit.

The call for unity comes after the recently chaotic meeting of G7 nations.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Netflix Executives will meet in Brisbane and the Gold Coast in November, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk met with them in the United States in a bid to convince the company to film in Queensland.

The $150 billion dollar company has already selected Queensland as the location for upcoming Australian based television series Tidelands. 

Palaszcuck said in an interview that alongside the South-East corner, the rest of Queensland offers great potential for filming sites.

The Iraq government have confirmed a manual recount of their last  legislative elections will occur, after they fired the commission which monitored election tampering, replacing the independent commission with judges.

After a surprise win for the populist Shiite cleric, investigations into electronic voting machines have allegedly given credit to the fraudulent claims.

Over 11 million votes were counted with the new technology, which was a first for Iraq.

The US State Department has confirmed it has evacuated government employees in Southern China, after unexplained health concerns were raised.

The health issues have been likened to another event in 2016, where US investigators suspected a sonic attack on employees.

Symptoms of the attack include dizziness, headaches and an inability to concentrate with unexplained sounds.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that the US has raised no formal complaints with Beijing.

For the first time, parents with sick children at the Royal Children’s hospital in Victoria will be able to assess the expected wait time of hospital service through an automated web portal.

The portal breaks down the activity in the hospital to three categories, and preemptively informs families, without the hassle of having to call-up or visit.

Nurse at the Royal Children’s hospital, Peter Sloman, said the project has been driven by the demand from families.