Extinction Rebellion have continued a week of ongoing direct action in Canberra with giant koalas at Parliament House for the last sitting week before the international Glasgow climate talks.

Koalas are vulnerable and in danger of going extinct unless urgent action is taken to protect habitat and halt global heating. 

In the black summer bushfires of 2019/2020, three billion animals were killed or displaced with Koalas now among them facing extinction in many regions of Australia. 

The federal government will begin winding down Covid disaster payments as each state and territory hits 70% and 80% target vaccination rates for their populations aged 16 and over. 

When a state or territory reaches 70% fully vaccinated people will have to reapply each week for the payment instead of it being automatically renewed. At 80% the payment will be phased out entirely. 

The move is designed to push premiers and chief ministers to minimise their use of lockdowns by withdrawing the financial safety net. 

The United Kingdom's Science Museum has taken funding from a subsidiary of well-known coal conglomerate, Adani Group, to sponsor the gallery on energy transition. 

The museum is hosting the government’s Global Investment Summit next week as part of the preparations for the crucial climate summit meeting at the end of the month in Glasgow. 

Former director, climate scientist Professor Chris Rapley, resigned from its advisory board on the second of October over the issue. 

Demand for affordable family-friendly homes close to schools and parks has sparked a rental boom across some of Brisbane’s western suburbs, with prices climbing by over 20 per cent in just 12 months.

The latest Domain Rent Report released last week for the September quarter revealed that the steepest rent hikes were collected in the middle and outer city rings of the Queensland capital, with Mount Ommaney claiming the most expensive title after house rents there rose a massive $138 per week to $690 over the last year. 

The final Brisbane Metro Vehicle Design has been revealed ahead of its 2022 Pilot Launch. 

After testing in virtual reality and on a life-size timber model, the pilot Brisbane Metro vehicle will contain upgrades to improve accessibility and commuter comfort in the south-east Queensland climate. 

Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner claimed the vehicles will be the first of their kind in Australia when he revealed the final design for the first of 60 articulated and electric buses that would underlie the council's $1.2 billion high-frequency transport initiative.

Leading epidemiologists are encouraging Australian’s not to ‘freak out’ if they catch COVID after lockdowns lift.

Infectious Disease physician and microbiologist at Canberra Hospital, Professor Peter Colington, said people should ‘want’ to get the virus if they are vaccinated to better build up immunity. 

A recent push from Victoria Police for protests to be run safely in the city has come after months of violent confrontations during multiple rallies in Melbourne. 

A review into Victoria police responses during anti-lockdown protests have revealed concerns about inadequate training and tactical shortcomings. 

The review found members of the force felt let down by the Victorian police and the Police Association has recommended urgent changes into how the force handles demonstrations.

Grieving parents are now entitled to leave after the Federal Government passed new laws validating pregnancy loss. New South Wales public sector employees are now entitled to up to 5 days leave while big businesses like Zip flexible payments, Westpac and Price Waterhouse Coopers have also announced their own early pregnancy loss leave policies.

The legislation gives women and partners the right to 2 days paid leave after pregnancy loss before 20 weeks.