The Northern Territory has opened more than half their landmass to onshore hydraulic fracturing after lifting a ban on the practice.

An independent report presented by Justice Rachel Pepper found the risks of fracking could be managed and regulated.

Environmental groups are pressuring the government to keep the ban because of the impacts of fracking on the environment and public health.

Staff are concerned after it was announced that all six of Jamie Oliver’s Australian restaurants have collapsed.

All the restaurants, except the Canberra outlet will continue to operate, having been purchased by Hallmark Group.

This is the latest of several of Oliver’s businesses to fail due to financial difficulties.

Labor has promised $2.2 billion for Brisbane’s cross-river rail project if they win the next election.

The Queensland government had committed to fully funding the $5.4 billion project after failing to secure money from the Turnbull government.

The project is a 10km line to run between Dutton Park and Bowen Hills, with four new underground stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street.

An endangered griffon vulture chick that was raised by two male vultures has been released into the wild in Sardinia.

The chick was part of a breeding program in Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo, where an abandoned egg was given to the two male vultures who had been observed by keepers to have been pairing for several years and routinely making nests and attempting to breed together.

The two male birds cared for the egg and it was the first successful hatching of the breed in the zoo in five years.

A volcanic eruption on Ambae Island in Vanuatu led to the Government needing to acquire land to resettle 13,000 residents.

A Government spokesperson, Hilaire Bule, said that the shift in wind direction due to Tropical Cyclone Hola increased the impact of ash fall.

Photos of the volcanic damage showed villages that were heavily covered in ash, destroyed food gardens and polluted water sources.

An online map is being launched in Sydney today for women to map areas where they feel harassed or unsafe as well as areas where they feel safe.

The lead researcher on the project Dr Nicole Kalms said these maps often reveal that women usually have negative experiences in busy, public places rather than in quiet, dark alleys, where people often expect bad experiences to happen.

The findings will be used to help develop the city as well as several other major cities around the globe.

A new joint report by the Australian Treasury and the Department of Home Affairs found skilled migrants are adding to Australia’s wealth.

The report said migrants will limit the economic impact of the aging Australian population.

The report also said further pressures on infrastructure and housing from an increased population needs to be addressed to “fully reap the benefits” of skilled migrants.

Police have released footage of three people setting fire to a Commonwealth Games clock in Southbank in response to police force used against the Stolen Wealth games protest.

While not endorsed by the Stolen Wealth protestors, the three individuals captured on CCTV claimed they were in solidarity with the protestors.

The two females and one male posted the video to social media themselves and stated it was a response to the ‘excessive force’ used by police against indigenous land rights protesters on Friday.

Queensland tow truck companies can no longer set their fees, with state-regulation coming in after a number of rogue operators were exposed.

A pre-tow release is now $150, a holding yard release fee is $250, with a flat charge of $25 per day for storage.

Tow truck operators are prohibited from charging for locating the owner, travelling to collect the vehicle, and allowing the vehicle owner access to the holding yard during business hours.