Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad has condemned proposed changes to the GST, which she says would cost the state up to $1.59 billion.

Ms Trad says the loss would equate to the wages of around 5000 teachers, 5000 nurses, 3000 police officers and 1135 firefighters.

She also says the losses would result in difficulty providing services to people in remote and rural communities.

A recent study published by Trends in Ecology and Evolution, suggests whales, sharks and other marine species are at risk from microplastics in the ocean.

The study found that certain species of whales and sharks are ingesting tiny particles of plastic, which can impact their ability to absorb nutrients, and may have toxic side-effects.

The authors of the study warned that in addition to current issues in overfishing and pollution,  the added stress of microplastics could push some species further toward extinction. 

The Maldives government has declared a state of emergency, amid the deepening political crisis between the president and the judiciary, to release imprisoned opposition leaders.

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, is facing mounting pressure from the US and India to release former president Mohamed Nasheed from a 13-year jail sentence.

In a statement released by the president’s office on Monday, Yameen defended his actions as ensuring the safety and security of every citizen.

A new program designed to identify genes that may cause ovarian cancer has been launched in Melbourne this week, aimed at testing over 11,000 women to see if they are hidden carriers of the BRCA gene mutations.

Before the Traceback program there had been no active program dedicated to finding women who may be hidden carriers of BRCA mutated genes, and so far has found at least 1500 women who have unknowingly inherited the gene.

The founder of a circus based in the Blue Mountains has been charged alongside seven other people with the alleged sexual and physical abuse of three boys.

A total of 127 charges have been laid against people linked with The Arcade Circus for abuse that allegedly took place between 2014 and 2016.

The founder of the circus, Therese Ann Cook, has been charged with offences including aggravated sexual assault of a child under 10 and aggravated kidnapping. 

The United States has decided to reduce its number of troops in Iraq following Baghdad’s victory over the Islamic State last year.

This decision marks a significant shift in focus for the United States after the collapse of the self-imposed Islamic State Caliphate, with only 4,000 troops planned to remain in Iraq for training purposes.

The withdrawal of troops also comes about three months ahead of Iraqi national elections in which paramilitary groups with close ties to Iraq are set to play significant roles.

A report by an international aid coalition claims hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees are being pushed to return home, despite ongoing unrest.

The NGO’s report says the Syrian government’s defeat of Islamic State in many parts of the country have created a misleading rhetoric.

Governments in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey have issued eviction notices and sent refugees home, though research indicates that for every Syrian that returns, three more will be newly displaced.

Formula One have decided ‘grid kids’ will replace the long standing practice of having ‘grid girls’ walk the track to hold up drivers’ numbers.

The decision was made in order to make the pre-race ceremony more interesting and relevant to young fans, who will be selected by their local motorsport clubs based on merit or by lottery.

Formula One’s commercial managing director Sean Bratches says the experience will be an inspiration to “keep driving, training and learning.”

One of Western Australia’s largest building firms, Cooper and Oxley, has suspended operations because of financial viability issues, leaving many subcontractors out of pocket and the company’s future in doubt.

Work has stopped at major projects all over the state, leaving many subcontractors unable to collect their machinery and tools from locked construction sites.

One such project put on hold is a 101 million dollar development in Subiaco, which is believed to have contributed to Cooper and Oxley’s financial issues.