Italy’s new Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini is joining a group of Italian leaders calling for changes to the European Union’s Dublin treaty which requires refugees to be processed in the country of their arrival.

He claims it is necessary to stop migration boats to save lives after 46 people died when a boat sank off the coast of Tunisia yesterday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she is committed to a single European asylum system to solve the migration crisis.

Queensland Ballet is set to receive a $35 million upgrade of the Thomas Dixon Centre at West End.

Acting premier Jackie Trad said the state government will commit $14 million in the upcoming state budget, allowing the ballet to increase the number of dance studios and upgrade their performance centre.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said while she is supportive of the arts and welcomes the funding, it is another project within the acting premier’s electorate.

The State Government has announced a commitment of more than $5.5 billion in the 2018/19 State Budget to help Queenslanders’ household budgets.

Acting Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad said the budget allocation will fund energy rebates and concessions for households along with 17 concessions listed on the smart savings website.  

Ms Trad said the financial concessions included textbook and resource allowances for secondary students and travel, as well as accommodation subsidies for apprentices and trainees.

Barnaby Joyce’s partner and former media advisor Vikki Campion said she was pressured by conservatives in the nationals party to terminate her pregnancy.

Ms Campion said she was advised if she did not terminate her pregnancy they would go after her.

Ms Campion told Channel Seven in a paid interview, she contemplated termination but could not go through with it.

A cleanup is underway in the New South Wales mid-north coast after a cargo ship lost 83 shipping containers in rough seas 30 km off the coast from Port Stephens.

Nappies, sanitary products and surgical masks fell overboard from the Taiwanese ship YM efficiency.

Volunteers have been clearing debris which has washed ashore, debris has been found in Hawks Nest, Port Stephens at Rocky point near Anna bay and at Fingal head.

A new Catalan nationalist government is in power after being sworn in on Saturday, marking the end of Spain’s rule over the region.

Quim Torra, a close ally of sacked leader Carles Puigdemont, is now leading the new government alongside 13 councillors.

This election result is a blow to the Spanish government who attempted to contain a separatist push in the region.

Newly elected president Pedro Sanchez, says he wants talks on Catalonia but is opposed to another independence referendum.

An accident off Tunisia’s southern coast led to the drowning of 46 migrants while dozens were rescued by the coast guard.

Security officials said 180 migrants were on the boat with a rescue operation still ongoing.

Tunisia is increasingly being used as launch pad for migrants heading into Europe due to tightened controls from Libya’s coastguard.

This latest accident is the most deadly shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea since February when 90 people drowned off the coast of Libya.

Brisbane City Council has purchased 90 hectares of bushland across the city as part of their bushland acquisition program this weekend.

This includes 16 hectares at Kholo, forming part of an ecological corridor with the existing council-owned Kholo bushlands.

The council plans to acquire 750 hectares of land as part of a fast-track program started in 2016.