Blockaders are setting up camp near the Cherry Tree State Forest in attempts to stop logging that is reported to be in breach of logging rules.

In a media release, North East Forest Alliance or NEFA say the Cherry Tree corridor is an essential piece of forest on the Border Ranges National Park as it is home to endangered species such Black Striped Wallabies and Koalas.

NEFA is calling for the logging to be stopped and protesters are calling for support to blockade the area.

Queensland’s indigenous vaccination rates are being criticised by Griffith University’s Professor James Charles as being a ‘National and state shame’. 

Vaccination rates of indigenous people in Queensland are trailing behind, with communities such as Cassowary Coast, Mareeba and the Central Highlands having rates below thirty five percent of double dosed vaccination for first nations residents over the age of fifteen.

Professor Charles says that opening up the border with these vaccination rates would leave these communities vulnerable to disease

Qantas is requesting an extension to operate freight flights during curfew hours. 

Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry says these flights are disturbing residents living under flight paths and locals want it to stop.

These freight flights were approved to allow for the delivery of medical supplies during the pandemic.

A Queensland man has been charged after allegedly escaping hotel quarantine in Tasmania, after climbing down from a third story balcony overnight

The man flew into Launceston from Sydney on Wednesday without a valid travel permit, and was found after spending about 9 hours in the community

Public Health authorities have advised that the man has returned a negative COVID test

The incident is the second reported escape from the Peppers Seaport hotel since it became a hotel quarantine facility.

South Australian Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman has lost a vote of no confidence in the State’s House of Assembly in a result of 23 to 22.

This is the first time in South Australia that a Minister has lost the confidence of the lower house.

The vote came just hours after an inquiry into Ms Chapman recommended that she be found guilty of contempt of Parliament.

The Philippine Government has condemned the actions of China, after Philippine Military supply vessels were blockaded and fired upon by water cannons by Chinese Coast Guard Ships.
This is the latest escalation of a long running territorial dispute over the body of water.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin warned that the vessels were covered by a mutual defense treaty with the United States, and that the resupply mission would continue as planned.

The Queensland government is not ruling out compulsory vaccinations for teachers and childcare workers. 

Along with Tasmania, Queensland is the last state in Australia to implement compulsory vaccination mandates for those working in the education sector. 

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace says that though a mandate has not yet been implemented, the possibility has not been ruled out. 

The Queensland teachers union say that they are “not opposed” to compulsory vaccination mandates.

South East Queensland regional dams have dropped to levels not seen since the millennium drought.

The Wivenhoe Dam has dropped below 40% capacity, a level not seen since the early 2000’s.

State water minister Glenn Butcher says that residents need to drop their average daily water usage by about 30 liters to prevent water restrictions being put in place by December.

Major hotels in Queensland say they will refuse bookings from unvaccinated people after the new restrictions are implemented in December. 

The Kingfisher Bay and Eurong Bay Resorts confirmed that they will not accept bookings from unvaccinated people.

The hotels say that under the new rules it will be too difficult to police the restrictions put upon unvaccinated people.