Brisbane band frontman George Sheppard has attacked the Commonwealth Games organisers saying his band, Sheppard, were offered “peanuts” to perform at the opening ceremony.

The band known for their breakthrough hit “Geronimo”, turned down the gig after being offered a “very minimal fee”.

Mr Sheppard says if they performed they would’ve paid a “honorarium fee”, which meant they would’ve lost money for performing at the opening ceremony.

Papua New Guinea is looking to Australia to assist with natural disaster prevention techniques and infrastructure following a senior ministers forum in Brisbane.

However, with China’s developing presence in the Pacific, PNG’s Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato says the island nation will welcome assistance from all development partners.

He urged Australia and China to work together as greater cooperation will provide “security, prosperity and stability” which will empower all governments and citizens.

Bootleg alcohol in Indonesia has killed eighty-two and left hundreds of others in critical condition.

Hospitals around Jakarta and West Java reported an insurgence of alcohol poisoning related admissions from Saturday with conditions ranging from stomach issues to partial blindness.

Deaths related to the illegal liquor are not uncommon, but this is the largest mass fatality caused by alcohol poisoning; with six people already arrested and police on the hunt for at least two more suspects.

Research has found that Australia’s political and business leaders are overwhelmingly Anglo-Celtic.

Australia’s leadership and executive culture is dominated by people of Anglo-Celtic backgrounds with only 4.7% of senior figures reporting from non-European heritage.

The research also found that only 0.4% were indigenous.

A mystery illness has been spreading through Perth’s bird population leaving magpies, mudlarks and crows paralysed, unresponsive and unable to stand.

Despite tests being conducted, the disease has left experts unsure of the cause.

Water bills may rise by up to $38 a year under a new proposal from the Queensland Competition Authority.

The QCA chairman Professor Roy Green says that increase would account for about 30% of an average household’s water and sewerage bill.

The suggestion comes as a response to low-water availability and is the decision of the Queensland Government whether the recommendations are enforced.

Paralympian Kurt Fearnley has given a passionate address calling for Australians to embrace the inclusion of people with disabilities.

After winning silver in the T54 fifteen-hundred metres final, he met with the media to show how the Commonwealth Games is a great template for how that can be achieved.

There are thirty-eight medals on offer for para-athletes which is a 73 percent increase from what was up for grabs just four years ago.

Tensions in Myanmar continue as ten Rohingya Muslims were found murdered in a mass grave and seven military personnel were accused of being accomplices in their deaths.

In a Facebook statement, the Myanmar army chief said the men have been permanently expelled from duty and sentenced to ten years in prison and hard labour.