Recent data suggest that Queenslanders are the most reluctant in the nation to get a COVID-19 jab - despite opening its borders to interstate travelers on Monday.

Vaccine hesitancy has dropped from 11.5% to 9.6% across the nation in the last two weeks, according to the Melbourne Institute’s latest vaccine hesitancy tracker, while in QLD, 14.2% remain hesitant of getting the COVID-19 jab. 

E-scooter company, Neuron, a brand that has scooters across Brisbane, has implemented a raft of new safety features on their device in a trial intended to improve safety.

This comes after calls from the QLD ambulance service raised issues surrounding members of the public sustaining injuries during the use of e-scooters. 

Longreach Regional Council has recently signed off an application to rename one of its creeks because of its racist name. 

The change is set to rename current “Black Gin Creek” to “Watyakan Creek” meaning “Women’s creek,” paying tribute to those who historically camped near it. 

Indigenous language consultant, Des Crump, who was involved in changing the title, said that the current name was derogatory towards aboriginal women and he hopes that other councils would follow suit and change racist place names as well. 

South Africa’s energy minister has defended Royal Dutch Shell’s plans for seismic oil exploration and blasting along a pristine coastal stretch, home to some of the country's most undisturbed wildlife and a major tourist draw. 

Environmentalists and others say the blasting on the east coast would threaten marine wildlife such as dolphins, seals, penguins and endangered humpback whales. Local people also fear the seismic surveys, set to be conducted over 6,000 square kilometers, will kill or scare away the fish they depend on to live. 

A lawyer representing 6 women suing American car maker, Tesla, over alleged sexual harassment at the company, has stated that more women are willing to come forward and testify.

They claim they were subjected to requests for sexual favours, inappropriate touching, and threats at the hands of their colleagues, and that the company failed to take action.

The documents filed in a California court state: "Tesla's factory floor more resembles a crude, archaic construction site or frat house than a cutting-edge company in the heart of the progressive San Francisco Bay Area."

A senior One Nation official has been charged with fraud over a funding application made during last year's state election. 

Alex Jones, the 22 year old national executive treasurer, will face a QLD court on the fourth of February next year over a fraudulent election funding application he submitted for $24,000.

One Nation's vote share collapsed last state election, suffering a 6.6% swing.

New vaccine mandates will be enforced in Queensland venues from tomorrow, restricting people who haven't been jabbed.

New mandates will mean vaccine certificates will be mandatory for venues like theaters, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and clubs. 

Art galleries, festivals, museums, and libraries will also be banned for the unvaccinated, however, essential shops like grocery stores and clothing retailers won't require a vaccine certificate. 

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) and the Victorian Ombudsman have written to all leaders of Victorian political parties seeking recommendations for legislative change to deter the misuse of public funds.

The reforms are also aimed at strengthening the frameworks for Parliamentary accountability, particularly in relation to breaches of the Members of Parliament Code of Conduct. 

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) could become the first jurisdiction in Australia to make menstrual products free for people experiencing period poverty, under draft legislation to be released on Wednesday. 

The Period Products (Access) Bill, would require the territory government to provide period products free of charge at designated locations.