QLD’s new Chief Health Officer will officially take up the role next Monday as the state records a double donut day with zero cases of COVID-19.

Dr. John Gerrard will take over from Acting Chief Health Officer Peter Aitken, who has been in the role since Jeannette Young’s appointment as QLD’s Governor. 

He begins his tenure as the state prepares to open up to fully vaccinated interstate travelers on Monday next week.

Ipswich City Council is set to auction off a collection of sporting memorabilia, fine wines, and historical curiosities today that have been alleged to have been collected during the former council’s tenure likely using public funds.

The former council was disbanded over corruption, fraud and misconduct in 2018 with former mayor Paul Pissale found guilty of extortion and sentenced to two years in prison in 2019.

After three weeks, the towns of Katherine, Binjari and Rockhole have seen it’s COVID restrictions lifted today, as the Territory recorded two cases yesterday. 

A mask mandate will remain in place for the next seven days as the total number of COVID cases from the region stands at 63. 

The outbreak has tragically claimed the life of an aboriginal elder from the remote community of Binjari.

Fire crews in Western Australia have been battling a blaze through the night near Margaret River in the state’s south west. 

At least 1050 hectares have so far been burnt by fire as the Department of Fire and Emergency Services have said the blaze was moving in a north-westerly direction and had neither been controlled or contained.

100 firefighters are attempting to both fight the fire as well as strengthen containment lines to limit it’s spread.

United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, has ordered a review into the United States military bombings in Syria during March 2019. 

Earlier this month, the US military acknowledged that civilians “may have been killed in the bombings in Baghouz, near the Iraqi border in 2019” after the New York Times citied anonymous sources and classified documents accusing the US military of concealing the bombings. 

The newspaper reported that the bombing struck a “crowd of women and children”, killing 64 people. 

250 state schools have signed up to QLD state government’s Organics Waste Smart School’s Program. 

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon stated that: The program aims to reduce organic waste by encouraging school communities to turn food and garden scraps into usable compost and other materials.’

The program allows schools to apply for up to $2500 for projects such as worm farm systems and composting.

80% of QLD residents aged 16 and over are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as per a statement from the Premier this morning.

It comes as the state prepares to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated interstate travelers beginning next Monday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in a statement has said that ‘Very few places in the world have got to this level of protection before a COVID wave arrives… But we can’t stop here. Let’s get to 90 per cent and beyond. Please – get vaccinated.’

An alleged gunman has been shot dead by police after a six hour standoff on Monday night. 

Peter Pilkington is accused of storming a NDIS service provider on Compton Road in the Brisbane suburb of Stretton, where five people were forced to barricade themselves from the gunmen. No others were injured.

Police Commissioner, Katarina Carroll, said there is an internal investigation underway through Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission and that The Ethical Standards Command would also investigate the incident.

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. 

Concerns have been raised in light of the recent collapse of two cryptocurrency trading exchanges, the proposed acquisition of Afterpay by American fintech firm Square inc., and reports from the financial counselors of Australia noting that these services are ‘sending people into a debt spiral’.