Concerning new research by the Tourism and Transport Forum revealed around 20 per cent of jobs in the tourism sector of the Gold Coast have been cut due to the impact of Covid 19. 

The total drop in tourism employment is forecasted to reach 36 per cent by December due to bans on interstate travel, affecting more than 4,500 tourism businesses.

Today marks a special milestone for Torres Strait Islander children, with a new law known as “for our children’s children” being passed.

After 30 years of advocacy by Kupai Omasker Elders, the new law will allow Torres Strait Islanders raised by extended family to transfer their legal identity from birth parents to cultural parents. 

Australian families whose relatives were amongst the 298 passengers and crew killed on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH-17 in 2014 will give their personal testimonies before an Amsterdam court this week. 

Former opposition leader Matthew Guy returned as Victoria’s Opposition Leader after a spill motion challenging Michael O’Brien.

MPs voted 20 to 11 for a leadership spill at a party room meeting on Tuesday morning.

Guy was voted in as leader, unopposed. 

Belarusian opposition protest leader, Maria Kolesnikova has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. 

The 39 year old was one of the key figures of the mass opposition movement during the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.

The families of students at Windaroo State School isolated due to a four year old girl with Covid, are no longer in quarantine.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the risk of the virus spreading through the school community is low and over 900 families could exit quarantine immediately.

Queensland health authorities have allowed more walk-in appointments at mass COVID vaccine hubs to ensure rising supply is used.

According to Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, those waiting for bookings are cleared once they come into the system.

Nearly extinct roughly 40 years ago, the Northern hairy-nosed wombat is making a come-back. 

With the help of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service implementing protective measures such as habitat management, predator fencing and trial and error in understanding the wombat’s needs - has led to a population growth of over 300 - a huge increase to when the species’ number dipped to low as 35.