Palaszczuk criticised for flying 100 NRL family members in from Sydney

Premier Annastacia Palaszczcuk faced criticism for granting border passes to family members of more than 100 NRL players and league officials despite the NSW border closures. 

Public health orders prohibited non-essential workers from entering Queensland, yet an exemption was given to a charter plane arriving from Sydney carrying NRL families on Monday afternoon.

Cultural artefacts found in Northern territory seabed

New research has found undisturbed artefacts under the seabed off the Northern Territory coastline which could tell the stories of how the first people arrived to Australia.

Flinders University said submerged landscapes around islands hold ancient tools, structures, burial sites and rock art from thousands of years ago, when sea levels were lower.

Urban Utilities first to define 'flushable' standards

According to Urban Utilities, large sewer-clogging wet wipe blockages cost south-east Queensland sewerage providers around $1 million per year. They say though many products are marked ‘flushable’, it does not mean they should be flushed down the toilet. 

There has been no nationally agreed standard between makers, retailers and utilities to what equates flushability...until now.

GC welcomes interstate migration

COVID-inspired interstate migration to the Gold Coast is being estimated to reach 25,000 people in the next year as those in NSW and Victoria continue to relocate to the sunshine state. 

Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk has put a two week pause on new immigration in order for the hotel quarantine system to cope with the influx into QLD from ACT, NSW and VIC.

QLD calls for more blood

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young announces the state’s blood stocks are running low, and wants to remind Queenslanders of the importance of donating blood, plasma and platelets (plate-lets). 

WA halts all non-elective surgery

 WA's Health Department has confirmed that elective surgeries at public hospitals in Perth, Bunbury and Geraldton will be postponed for a month to cope with increasing pressure on the system, despite the lack of COVID-19 in the community.

No metropolitan public hospital will take further bookings for multi-day non-urgent category two and three elective surgeries from Wednesday.

Hurricane Ida wreaks havoc

Hurricane Ida claims a life and has shut down power across the US states of Louisiana and Mississippi. Many water systems are out and emergency services in New Orleans have not been available.

The death toll is likely to increase, with around 1,600 search and rescue personnel deployed.