Brisbane activists will rally outside the CBD watchhouse at 4pm tomorrow in solidarity with a New South Wales climate activist sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Eric Herbert was sentenced at the Newcastle local court this morning for his role in disrupting a coal project in the Hunter region.

Mr. Herbert was arrested last week after disrupting a coal train for 5 hours by climbing on top of it and was convicted of charges including causing obstruction to a railway locomotive or rolling stock, and attempting to hinder working of mining equipment.

Tasmanian Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has criticised Pauline Hansen’s bill to scrap vaccine mandates in an impassioned speech. 

During the debate yesterday, Senator Lambie spoke against ending the vaccine mandates saying it was not discriminatory to have separate rules for the vaccinated and unvaccinated. 

She described the bill as, “playing Russian roulette with people’s lives.” 

Canada is ending their covid-19 policy of turning away asylum seekers.

Since march, Canada has turned away 544 would-be refugees as a result of increased Covid measures. 

Refugee lawyer Maureen Silcoff said it didn't make sense to allow entry to tourists while denying entry to people seeking protection. 

She says, “It's a relief to see the measure for refugees align more with our international obligations and I think it's been clear… public health and refugee protection could coexist.” 

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has sent a letter to QLD health minister Yvette D’Ath to “raise concerns” about Queensland's testing policy, with the federal health department describing the testing as “not clinically relevant”. 

This comes after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk defended the rules which require interstate travellers to get a Covid-19 test at least 72 hours before arrival.

The covid-19 PCR test thus far has cost the tax pay $1.75 billion.

The Northern Peninsula Area estimates 80,000 visitors passed through since April, putting extreme pressure on the region's resources. 

Mayor Patricia Yusia says, “we need more influx of dollars coming into the northern peninsula area communities, to try and look at how we can address those issues.

The two Wonnarua men describe the land as “hallowed ground” of the Wonnarua people. 

Glencore has taken out an advertisement in the community paper naming the duo stating they are “seeking to stop our project”. 

Mr Franks described the advertisement as a “flat-out attack on First Nations people.”

Federal environment minister Sussan Ley is set to consider the protection claim from Franks and Lester under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protections Act.

The Kenyan health minister is announcing, from the 21st December, locals will not be allowed in bars, restaurants and public transport without being fully vaccinated. 

Having only administered vaccines to 10% of the population, 20 million Kenyans are yet to have their first dose. 

The measures come as a plea to get everyone vaccinated ahead of the festive season.

However those living in barely habitable villas, some without hot water at Kuranda Resort have been given eviction notices. 

Mareeba Community Housing Manager Patricia Goldfinch says her organisation is working with about 30 families after they had been given eviction notices following liquidation of two thirds of the villas. 

Ms Goldfinch says, "There’s still others living there, in a deplorable situation, some of them don’t have electricity... [or] cooking facilities.”