A destructive mealybug has been identified by scientists as the cause of pasture dieback from Townsville to the New South Wales border.

QUT microbiologist Caroline Hauxwell warns against using chemicals to control the bugs, instead calling for a long term solution.

One proposal is to breed other insects who are natural predators of the bugs, but there are no clear-cut solutions yet. 

Queensland environmentalists say land intended to protect marsupials has been burnt down.

The Australian Conservation Foundation discovered greater gliders in land expected to be cleared at Meadowbank Station.

The ACF say they asked the federal government to suspend approval of the clearing, but no action was taken.

The ACF’s nature policy analyst, James Trezise, says aerial images show about 400 hectares of woodland has been burnt, including the area gliders were found.

Queensland and New South Wales coastal communities are feuding over beach sand, with Tweed Heads residents claiming that Gold Coast beaches are taking too much sand.

The Tweed River entrance Sand Bypassing Project has resulted in sand being moved up the coast to Queensland beaches and worsening erosion.

The erosion being caused by the changed shape of the beachfront could result in homes, a campground and a cemetery all at risk of damage. 

Australia's High Commissioner to Malaysia has welcomed a statement from the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledging Canberra's concern about the high numbers of Malaysians applying for asylum in Australia.

In an interview with The Malaysian Reserve newspaper last week, High Commissioner Andrew Goledzinowski said 33,000 Malaysians had applied for asylum in Australia in recent years, most of them are not considered to be genuine refugees.

With the dairy industry under considerable stress, one dairy farmer is expanding his cheese range and drawing tourists to his farm in Kenilworth.

Kenilworth Dairies sells its products to national and independent markets, but John Cochrane has created new revenue in the form of tasting tours. 

Since buying his farm two years ago, he has focused on using local ingredients like ginger and macadamia. 

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch has announced a new 1500-seat theatre to be built in South Bank next year, with Lendlease picked to be the contractor. 

The performing arts theatre will make the Queensland Performing Arts Centre the largest centre in Australia.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says the State Government has committed $125 million to the project, the largest investment in the arts since the Gallery of Modern Art.

Several hundred protesters rallied outside the British consulate on Sunday to demand they receive a full British passport.

Last year, declassified files revealed that Britain even pressured Portugal repeatedly not to grant rights to citizens of Macau before it handed the region back to China, fearing that it would increase the pressure to grant Hong Kong similar rights.

The Australian Medical Association has officially labelled climate change a "health emergency".

The AMA says there is “clear scientific evidence indicating severe impacts for our patients and communities now and into the future”.

Mitsubishi has announced a national recall for more than 6000 of its Pajero models sold between 2017 and 2018.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says the affected vehicles have a steering fault that could cause accidents on the road.

“Due to inadequate welding strength, the front right side suspension lower control arm may fail at one of the weld joints,” says the ACCC.