The Queensland budget will spend big on infrastructure projects in a bid to create jobs and stimulate the state economy, but it will come at a cost for many Queensland households.

The 2018-19 budget has revealed five new taxes will be introduced to deal with the end of the mining and construction booms.

However, the government aims to rebate councils to avoid the the taxes being passed down to ratepayers.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk will deliver on an election commitment to increase express CityCat services running between Northshore Hamilton and the city, and the University of Queensland and the city.  

Approximately $1 million sourced by council’s CityCat and ferry operating subsidy, will deliver 100 new express “SpeedyCat” services.

The Lord Mayor said the service would be part of $68 million spent over the coming year for new river transport services.

Fears drought conditions are severely affecting grain growing regions as farmers begin to scale back their plantings.

After the driest Autumn since 1902, crops that have been sown haven’t grown due to the lack of water stored beneath the soil.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts the drought conditions will continue as there is a lower-than-average rainfall predicted this year.

A fire has decimated a marketplace in Haiti for the third time this year.

The fire in the Haiti capital of Port au Prince began at midnight and burned for several hours, destroying the popular public market and all its merchandise for the third time in six months.

No injuries have been recorded and the cause of the three fires is still being investigated.

North Korean refugee, Yeonmi Park, is urging the United States to pressure Kim Jong-Un to end the 'holocaust' against her own people.

Yeonmi’s plea comes after the historic meeting between U.S President Donald Trump and North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un.

Yeonmi, who escaped North Korea when she was 13-years-old said, “this man runs concentration camps, deliberately starves people for control and assassinates members of his own family.”

The decision to reduce the Queensland First Home Owners Grant scheme in the state budget has attracted criticism from major industry bodies and unions.

The $20,000 Grant will be reduced to $15,000 on June 30th, two years after it was introduced.

Warwick Temby from the Housing Industry Association said the timing was poor considering increased migration rates and the down-turn in the housing industry.

Brisbane City Council wants to reduce the speed limits of mobility scooters from 10 kilometers per hour to 6 kilometers per hour to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians.

Council has also proposed the Queensland Government consider a basic licence for people who want to use scooters.

Harold Scruby, chairman of the Pedestrian Council of Australia said allowing mobility scooters on footpaths presented too many risks to pedestrians.

The Queensland state budget will see a 40 million dollar boost to attract business in Queensland.

Premier Palaszczuk says the funding aims to attract companies to relocate or expand to Queensland which will support regional growth and innovation, creating more than 500 jobs.

The focus will be on growing the manufacturing industry, one of Queensland’s largest employing industries.

Businesses considering moving to Queensland will receive government support in establishing their projects.

A new study from the University of Bristol has found bees can identify flowers by the invisible patterns of scent across their surface.

The new research found that the scent pattern on flowers as well the visible shape of the flower helps guide bees towards the nectar.

Dr. Dave Lawson from the University of Bristol says, “being able to mentally switch between different senses is something that we take for granted, but it’s exciting that a small animal like a bee is also able to do something this abstract.”