The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister announced they will expel two Russian intelligence officers from the Russian Embassy in Canberra.

The government said the diplomats will have seven days to leave but said the decision was made in response to the use of chemical weapons by Russians on a former spy in Britain.

This followed eighteen other countries including Britain and the United States who also expelled Russian diplomats.

The Australian Trade Minister, Steven Ciobo pushed for Australia to become part of free trade opportunities enabled by Brexit.

Ciabo paid tribute to the enduring bonds between Australia and the UK and states that some painful adjustments in business sectors will be for the greater good.

The aspiration was for the UK and Australia.

A University of Queensland senior academic has quit amid a sexual assault allegation.

The allegation did not involve students, and it has been understood that he was accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague during a work trip.

The university said it sought advice from the Crime and Corruption Commission, which confirmed it was appropriate for the university to investigate the allegation.

Translink has received 83 complaints of bus drivers smoking at bus stops since smoking laws changed in September 2016.

Translink said they are not responsible for the discipline of these drivers, because they are employed by bus operators such as Brisbane Transport, not Translink.

A spokeswoman for Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said that Brisbane City Council expects bus drivers to follow all laws while at work.

The Egyptian national election has begun with results expected to deliver a second four-year term for President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.

With only one challenger, the ballot has been criticised by human rights activists for a lack of competition.

Two other potential candidates had dropped out and the third was arrested.

An 85-year-old holocaust survivor was murdered in her Paris home in what prosecutors are treating as an anti-Semitic attack.

The holocaust survivor was known for fleeing a mass roundup of Jews in Paris during World War 2.

Two men have been arrested over the woman’s killing and are to be brought before a magistrate to face possible charges of “murder related to the victim’s religion as well as aggravated robbery and destruction of property."

Millions of Australian workers will be able to access five days unpaid domestic violence leave a year after the industrial umpire rejected a union push for ten days paid leave.  

The new leave provisions are estimated to be available for 2.3 million Australians on modern awards and the federal government plans to further this through legislation.

Labor MP and domestic violence survivor Emma Hasur said the federal government had missed the point and paid leave was necessary for victims of domestic violence.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is being questioned over his use of Ministerial power to grant visas to two tourists acting as au-pairs in 2015.

Mr Dutton has denied any personal connection to the women and has said he has intervened in multiple cases to cancel or grant visas.

Further details have not been released with the ministry citing privacy concerns.

The Mayor of Logan City has spent the night in Beenleigh watch house charged with three offences: official corruption, perjury and failing to correct his register of interests.

It has been revealed by the ABC that Mayor Luke Smith received a luxury boat from a Chinese developer who was a significant election campaign donor.

Councillor Smith sold the boat last year, and states he is working willingly and openly with the investigation.