In a world first, the University of Queensland, with support from Google, are developing Artificial Intelligence to detect and warn of bushfires. 

The project, managed by the School of Earth and Environmental Services, will use AI to trace the movement of embers and deliver real-time updates on extreme bushfire hazards. 

Consultation is underway on the development of an Independent Queensland Environmental regulator. 

The Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs, The Honourable Meaghan Scanlon describes the mission the regulator as “to protect our environment, provide greater investment certainty, and support economic recovery”. 

The bogong moth population has now been declared endangered, it joins 124 Australian species now added to the the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) "Red List of Threatened Species". 

Trees have been planted and a sprinkler system installed in Western Sydney to help flying foxes survive heatwaves. 

Greater Sydney Parklands and wildlife rescue service WIRES installed 36 sprinkler systems and 1,860 metres of piping along the Parramatta River.

The New Zealand Government has announced plans to introduce legislation to ban smoking. 

The legislation implements the Smokefree by 2025 goal, which hopes to see smoking reduced to five percent of the population. 

Hundreds of Queensland have flocked to the NSW-QLD borders ahead of its opening after being stranded for months. 

Residents like Vicki Hutchins have been stuck in NSW after making a trip to help her son who suffers with schizophrenia, one of many Queenslanders stuck after her border reentry was denied. 

Recent research has found that babies are more likely to be born prematurely on hotter days. 

According to a study from the Kolling Institute, spontaneous preterm labour is more likely to occur when the temperature is greater than thirty three degrees than when on a twenty degree day. 

Work continues on a conservation project to protect mur'rindum, also known as the black-breasted button quail.

Traditional owners, state parks and wildlife services, volunteers and researchers are monitoring the birds, which are listed as vulnerable under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act, on K'gari and the mainland.