According to Queensland Health’s acting deputy director general and chief medical officer Keith McNeil, Ross River accounts for the largest number of human mosquito-borne diseases in the state. 

Queensland Health data shows there has been a dramatic increase in infection rates from 1649 cases in 2019 to 3407 cases last year. 

Professor McNeil says, “There's no vaccine or specific treatment… so it's important you take steps to avoid infection as much as possible.”

Wildlife officials discovered over 20 dead or dying magpies in the suburb of Yeerongpilly in the space of a week with some birds being found with meat in their mouths.

Wildlife officer Cameron Wregg said, "People in the Yeerongpilly area advise that someone in the neighbourhood may be involved in the poisoning of the magpies.”

Anyone found responsible for the birds’ deaths could be fined almost $400,000 or sentenced to two years in jail.

Researchers from UQ and Carnegie Mellon University in the US found even short-term exposure to air-pollution can impact our brain performance and capacity to work. 

The data found air pollution damaged cognitive function in working-age adults. 

Using data from the brain training app Lumosity, researchers found “exposure to moderately high levels of fine particulate matter caused a player to drop by almost six points in a 100-point scale.” 

The Torres Strait was the first region in Australia to be offered the jab in order to fortify the region against neighbouring Papua New Guinea.

However, figures show only fifty percent of eligible people in the Torres and Cape region are double vaccinated, far behind state and national averages.

Many fears are circulating such as sickness or reaction, conspiracy theories or the belief Covid-19 will not affect them.

Some residents woke to snow as low as sea level whilst temperatures near Hobart reached -6 degrees.

The Bureau of Meteorology said preliminary data suggested a few records had been broken with Hobart maintaining the coldest November temperature in 70 years.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Belinda House said "We know spring in Tasmania can bring a mix of warmer weather and these colder winter outbreaks."

US Journalist Danny Fenster who was sentenced to 11 years in a Myanmar prison just 3 days ago, has been released from jail. 

The military government says he was “pardoned” and was released on “humanitarian grounds”. 

Fenster was first detained in May convicted of breaching immigration law, unlawful association and encouraging dissent against the military. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says “We are glad Danny will soon be reunited with his family, as we continue to call for the release of others who remain unjustly imprisoned.”

Over 460 free parking spaces in the CBD will gradually become paid parks as part of a new council strategy that could rake in over $850,000 dollars per year.

Once rolled out by the end of the 2022-2023 financial year, all public parking within a 10 minute walk of the city will require payment.

Toowoomba local Lin O'Sullivan says “It is not a good idea. It would take shoppers away from the city area which has already lost business due to the pandemic.”

The charity have been providing psychological and financial support to those unable to cross the border. 

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced fully vaccinated travellers would be eligible to enter Queensland, but only by air. “That is a protection mechanism to keep Queenlanders safe,” she said. Once 80% have been fully vaccinated, travellers will be allowed to come by car.