Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young’s ‘extraordinary powers’ have been extended for a second time to help battle the pandemic.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the state has gone hard and early and the outstanding response from the Queensland health system has ensured clusters have been stamped out before widespread community transmission.

Dr Young will have the power to enforce lockdowns, restrictions and border closures across the state until April 2022.

Another Australian first clinical trial is to be soon underway at the University of the Sunshine Coast to investigate a combined Covid-19 and Influenza vaccine.

The study will assess the levels of response to the NovaVax covid-19 vaccine and NanoFlu influenza vaccine individually and combined.

Researchers said they are expecting to see great results from the trial with expected advantages over current vaccines.

Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, has asked the NSW Government to lift the lockdown on the Northern Rivers region after a month of no recorded Covid-19 cases.

Mr Lyon does acknowledge the three positive family members who allegedly travelled from Sydney and is grateful there have been no new infections from them, saying the sustainable absence of Covid-19 in the area is a good reason for the local lockdown to be lifted.  

Western Australian Senator Patrick Dodson is blaming ‘fringe’ Chrisitan groups for spreading Covid misinformation which has seen low vaccination rates in parts of Western Australia.

Dodson likens these religious groups to ‘terrorists’ and said their anti-vax propaganda is life-threatening and they should be prosecuted.

He said these ‘lies’ are creating anxiety and distrust, especially within First Nations communities who are already vulnerable.

A content warning for this next story it includes domestic violence and sexual assault.

Australian of the Year Grace Tame said there needs to be more funding and energy put into preventing violence against women.

Tame spoke on the ABC’s Q&A program last night where she said there is a lot of reactivity on this issue but not enough prevention.

She said the work has already been done and that there are evidence-based solutions, with political will being the question at this point.

China has ordered broadcasters to ‘shun’ any artists with ‘incorrect political opinions’ in an attempt to strengthen their control over Chinese society.

The Chinese government said certain artists in the entertainment and arts industry are a bad influence on young people and that it is "severely polluting the social atmosphere."

Communist Party authorities can censor anything they believe violates core socialist values.

These latest rules come after a series of scandals within the Chinese entertainment and arts industry involving tax evasion and sexual assault.

The world’s first electronic waste puppet has been created by local Moreton Bay children’s entertainers Larrikin Puppets after Moreton Bay Regional Council granted the company 2,000 dollars through the Regional Art Development Fund.

Larrikin puppets Artistic Director Elissa Jenkins said she came up with the idea when she learned ewaste doesn’t break down but keeps breaking into smaller pieces meaning it is key to keep ewaste out of natural environments.