Queensland grazers fear unexplained pasture dieback has become a ‘creeping cancer’ that is moving into some of the states best cattle country.

Researchers are unable to find what is causing the reduced pasture growth, or why the dieback makes grass unpalatable to cattle.

The first case was reported in 1993 but there has been a major increase in reported cases since 2016.

Internal emails reveal the nation’s top consumer cop fears political parties’ use of big data is ‘harmful’.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims’ concerns came to light after an unknown person used freedom of information laws to obtain and exchange between him and staff working on the ‘digital platforms’ inquiry.

Demands are now being made for an end to parties’ exemption from privacy and spamming laws, as well as the introduction of new rules covering psychological influencing on social media.

Starting today, the childcare system changes will be rolled out across Australia following years of reports, inquiries, promises and delays.

The Education Department estimated close to one million families will be better off while about 280,000 will be worse off.

Low to middle income families where both parents work or a single working parent will be better off because of changes to the subsidy rate and the annual cap.

The British council has been accused of censorship in the Bahamas after they distanced themselves from an art catalogue deemed too political.

The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas said the council caused distress and disappointment after removing their logo and text on a project that reflected on Britain’s involvement with the Caribbean slave trade.  

Mexico is choosing a new president with citizens showing up to vote after months of violent campaigning.

Since campaigning began in September, more than 130 candidates and political workers have been killed.

Presidential front-runner and former mayor of Mexico City, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, is showing a double digit lead in opinion polls, pledging to crack down on corruption.

Brisbane is leading the war disposable coffee cup waste through the Responsible Cafe program that encourages patrons to bring their reusable cup.

Brisbane was first with 226 registered cafes, the City of Sydney was second with 149 and Melbourne was third with 109.

Cafes sign up with Responsible Cafe for free and are encouraged to offer an incentive, such as a discount, free upgrade or complimentary treat for patrons who bring their reusable cup.

Queensland legislation came into force over the weekend banning the use of single use plastic bags from being provided in supermarkets, takeaway stores, pharmacies, goods sold online and markets.

Woolworths and Coles announced a nationwide ban on the bags at the same time, which has been met with mixed responses and confusion.

To support the transition, Woolworths has offered free reusable bags for a week and Coles will have additional registers open.

Women experiencing homelessness in Sydney will have access to pop-up temporary accommodation, as Uniting Care repurposed one of their disused aged care homes to provide housing for older women.

Uniting’s director of property and housing said the project will provide 30 rooms, with second-hand furnishings provided by a major hotel chain who were refurbishing their premises.

The cost to taxpayers for the Australian Government’s six-year legal battle with the tobacco giant Philip Morris over plain packaging laws has been revealed.

According to freedom of information documents obtained by the Guardian, the commonwealth government spent nearly $40 million defending its world-first plain packaging laws.

Philip Morris Asia lost the multi-year case, with the court ordering the tobacco giant to pay Australia’s legal costs in 2017.