Australia’s Catholic bishops are calling for a crackdown on media platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter.

The bishops say platforms should be fined for sharing fake news and offensive content to ensure basic standards are not lost in a profit-maximising scheme.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference says governments "have a responsibility to support robust and independent journalism, particularly through the public broadcaster."

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.