It's been confirmed this year’s Brisbane Festival will go ahead despite the threat of lockdowns and restrictions.

As a result of the pandemic and limited interstate travel, the festival’s lineup is made up of mostly local talent.

Brisbane theatre group Polytoxic, who are among this year’s lineup, said this is a great opportunity to really establish themselves back home after years of touring the globe.

The festival runs for three weeks, starting today and until 25th September.

Asthma Australia has pointed out public data showing Gladstone has Queensland’s worst air pollution, experiencing four of the five worst air pollution days across the state this year.

Scientists say this is partly due to control burns in the area but ultimately due to the heavy industrial works in and around the city.

Asthma Australia says they want people to be aware of the high pollution rates so they can actively minimise their risk of respiratory problems like spending more time indoors and avoiding more polluted routes.

Queensland strawberry farmers are pleading Queenslanders to stock up on strawberries this season as they are losing fifty cents a punnet due to oversupply caused by lockdowns.

Strawberries are unusually cheap for this early in the season selling for only ninety nine cents at Aldi stores.

Farmers say they need people to buy their fruit to cover high labour and packaging costs, both a result of Covid-19.

The latest figures show fifty five to sixty four year olds are the largest cohort currently receiving JobSeeker payments, despite outperforming their younger peers.

Research provided by MAX Solutions reveals thirty percent of employers are reluctant to hire older workers even though they often have more experience in vital skills like conflict resolution, management and mediation.

Fiona Lamb from MAX Solutions said these statistics are concerning and change is needed to support older workers.

Dr Kirby White, a GP from rural Victoria, took initiative during the pandemic last year when she noticed there was a national shortage of personal protective equipment, especially in rural communities.

Dr White designed and produced washable and reusable gowns for medical staff and patients in waiting rooms.

The business was extremely successful and Dr White quickly reached her first goal, which was to supply 1,000 gowns to the Bendigo community, and by September she’d sent a box of gowns to every regional and rural medical clinic in Victoria.

China has introduced new rules for under 18s which prohibit them from playing video games for more than three hours per week.

The new rule says they can only play video games from 8 to 9 o’clock at night on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

China has justified the new rule as a much needed social intervention that is needed to ‘pull the plug’ on a growing addiction, and describe it as a ‘spiritual opium.’

Queensland’s Deputy Premier said he understands the frustration over his government’s acceptance of a charter flight of Sydney-based NRL families while residents are unable to return from hotspot states.

The concession came after a second day of criticism levelled at the move as the state government announced an initial 50 hotel rooms for first-in or priority applicants.

In response to reporters outside Parliament on Wednesday Steven Miles said

25 Queensland turtles are currently rehabilitating at SeaWorld following a busy month for the theme park. 

The Sea World marine team went to extreme lengths to find and recover a number of injured turtles that were found between Coffs Harbour and Hervey Bay

Sea World traced the majority of the injuries as a result of boat strikes, fishing gear entanglement or floating syndrome.

Advocates for pregnancy loss survivors are demanding the federal government back up its legislative support for early pregnancy loss with funding for miscarriage support services.

The Senate on Wednesday night passed historic changes to the Fair Work Act, giving Australian couples who experience miscarriage two days of paid bereavement leave.

Although a huge step, support networks such as The Pink Elephants are pushing for allocated funds to to miscarriage support and research.