Payroll tax rebates for businesses employing apprentices and trainees will be extended in this year’s State Budget.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said next week’s Budget would see an extension of the payroll tax rebate initiative, maintaining it at 50 per cent until 30 June 2019.

Ms Trad said This $26 million initiative will not only continue to provide tax relief for business it will support the employment of more than 26,000 apprentices and trainees over the coming year.

New South Wales is set to follow Victoria’s lead in closing the Eilis defence, which prevents child abuse survivors suing the church.

The defence is named after John Eilis, who decided to take legal action against the Catholic church in 2002, but lost the case on appeal as the court found the church did not legally exist as its assets were held in a trust.

New South Wales attorney general Mark Speakman says institutions have been abject failures at reporting child sexual abuse in the past.

Victoria’s five construction unions are engaging in a stand-off with the consortium appointed to build the West Gate Tunnel project, accusing the companies of trying to slash conditions and pay by using Turnbull government legislation regarding greenfield agreements on new projects.

Streets in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales were filled with marches to celebrate 100  years since women won the right to vote in the UK.

In 1918, the enactment of the Representation of the People Act granted property-owning British women over age 30 the right to vote.

Participants in the marches dressed as Edwardian suffragettes or wore sashes in green, white or violet in celebration.

The ‘greatest possible’ measures have been put in place by the Greek government to protect eight Turkish commandos accused of an attempted coup.

Turkey’s capital, Ankara, said it will do everything possible to bring them back as Athens confirms they are under 24/7 guard in an undisclosed location, for fear of retaliation.

The Greek supreme court is rejecting any notion of sending the men back as they would not get a fair trial in Turkey.

$250 million will be will be spent over the next two years to build more space in 60 schools by 2020.

The high school population which grows around 1,000 students per year, will jump to 17,000 students per year, with 57 schools being identified as being in critical need of funding.

The $250 million building boost in the state budget is on top of $20 million already spent on 10 schools to prepare them for 2020.

Six Queensland Fire and Emergency Services personnel have been recognised in part of the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours for their dedication to community safety.

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said the awards were a testament to the outstanding commitment and service shown to Queenslanders.

QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it’s a privilege to see the recipients recognised and celebrated for their professionalism, dedication and commitment.

The regional Queensland town of Wooroolin has become the set of a Hollywood movie.

Vietnam War film, Danger Close: the battle of Long Tan, will tell the story of Australian diggers in the wars most well-known battle.

The film stars Vikings actor Travis Fimmel, and has made downtown Wooroolin extremely active with people walking into the town hall in costume.