The federal government has flagged its intention to increase protections for consumers who make purchases using mobile phones, buy now, pay later services and cryptocurrencies. 

A group of Indigenous community leaders from far-western New South Wales have launched a national political party, with an eye to next year's federal election. 

Convenor, Owen Whyman, a Barkandji-Malyangapa elder living in Wilcannia, said the motivation for starting the party comes after feeling under-represented in the political sphere and from becoming marginalised with other major parties.

The US House of Representatives yesterday passed a $768 billion dollar defense policy bill which is set to increase the US defense budget by $24 billion, despite resistance from anti-war progressives within President Joe Biden’s own party.

The Queensland Government has signaled it will join the federal government in its boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in China, despite pressure from the International Olympic Committee to attend the games.

The Federal Government cited human rights abuses against the minority Uyghur population as justification for the escalation, supporting a similar diplomatic boycott undertaken by the United States.

South East Queensland’s wild weather is expected to continue this afternoon with rain and a possible thunderstorm as an elderly woman was killed last night in floodwaters in Brisbane’s outer west.

Emergency services took three hours to locate the 75 year old and her car due to the flooding.

Deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has tested positive for COVID-19 while in Washington DC as part of an international delegation.

The deputy PM is experiencing mild symptoms and chose to get tested. He will remain in isolation in the US until otherwise advised. 

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved Moderna’s proposed COVID-19 booster shot for adults.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation will now consider whether to approve the shot and for it to be used alongside the already approved Pfizer vaccine as part of the booster program.

Early data indicates that the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 seems to lessen the ability of the Pfizer vaccine to combat the virus.

The report out of South Africa consisted of laboratory experiments that suggested that vaccinated people might be vulnerable to contracting the Omicron strain of the virus as a breakthrough case, however that booster shots may provide more effective protection.