US President, Joe Biden, has defended his withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan stating that “leaving August the 31st, is not due to an arbitrary deadline. It was designed to save American lives”. 
 

Biden claimed that a tough choice was made, either to leave or escalate- saying, “ I was not going to extend this forever war. And I was not extending a forever exit."

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce whether or not restrictions will be eased in Victoria. 

Victorians are anxiously awaiting the news from the Premier as the government prepares to announce a number of changes this morning. 

However, The Premier has warned Victorians not to expect any major lifting of the stay-at-home orders as covid cases grow throughout the state.

The Queensland Government has eased quarantine rules on interstate students, declaring that students who study in New South Wales but reside in Queensland will be able to quarantine at home. 

This comes after a state and federal initiative was announced to start easing international arrivals into home quarantine.

Queensland has now eased its border restrictions with the Northern Territory with no restrictions currently in place.

However, Queensland Health Officials are on high alert after a South Australian truck driver tested positive after being in New South Wales.

The Queensland Government is facing controversy after allowing the families of several football players to land in Queensland, with over 100 players’ wives, girlfriends, and children on board. 

The families were placed into 2 weeks hotel quarantine despite the Queensland Government’s temporary halt on the scheme to ease pressure on the system.

Queensland has recorded zero new cases Tuesday.

The state has hit over four million total tests, according to Premier Annastacia Palaszczcuk.

Also as of today, a majority of Queenslanders have been vaccinated with at least one dose.

A parliamentary committee has heard that Queensland Police are still not meeting timeframes for Right to Information requests.

Right to Information requests are the way Australians can force agencies to be more transparent.

Last October, QPS executives assured the office of the Information Commissioner that they would release information within the required deadlines.

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.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called on Queensland to bring in home quarantine as seen successfully in South Australia in order to deal with the wait time for hotel quarantine availability.