A Brisbane man has been given a hefty $1500 fine after extinguishing Brisbane’s Olympic eternal flame during Queensland’s 7-day lockdown.

The man presented to court on the 9th and told the magistrate, “it was a drunk and embarrassing mistake.

Cairns residents are awaiting news to find out if the lockdown will be lifted after a 3 day snap lockdown was put into place after a taxi driver tested positive today. 

The lockdown was said to end at 4pm this afternoon, and with no new cases the lifting of the lockdown is looking more likely.

Queensland has recorded 3 new locally-acquired cases overnight. All 3 cases are linked to the Indooroopilly cluster.

Two are students from Brisbane Boys Grammar and Ironside State Schools respectively. The third is a household contact of previous recorded cases at Brisbane Boys Grammar School.

A University of the Sunshine Coast study has found that traffic noise is interfering with the mating habits of Eastern Sedge frogs.This is causing female frogs to settle for low quality mates and putting the frog population at risk.

The researchers are recommending further studies on how traffic noise impacts native fauna.

In the mood to be uplifted by a feel good story with inspiring music? 

Multicultural Australia is partnering with the World Wellness Group and the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma for the screening of Scattered People, a documentary about bringing cultures together through music while exploring the themes of refugees and asylum seekers. 

Frontline child protection workers in South Australia will receive specialised training to support Stolen Generation families in order to reduce the rates of indigenous children entering state care. 

More than 300 workers from government and non-government groups will participate in a two day training program that will include Indigenous Australian history and traditional customs. 

Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink says the two hundred thousand dollar program launching this month is a quote “significant step in a total reform of the child protection system”.

On Tuesday, WA Premier Mark McGowan will introduce several new bills to stop people breaking self-isolation and social distancing rules. These new measures include electronic tracking devices, criminal charges for assaulting or threatening to assault frontline officers, and fines for failure to social distance. 

WA Police are now using drones in public places to implement the new two-person social distancing rule.

These extraordinary new laws will only be used during the State of Emergency and will be repealed after 12 months.

The Australian Tourism Industry Council has called for the federal and state governments to take action by approving a proposed Three-Point Plan to minimise burdens from the lockdowns.

The three areas cover the following: having a targeted financial support program to support operations and staff, reintroduction of flexibility provisions in the Fair Work Act, and a detailed Covid 19 transition roadmap to provide certainty for recovery. 

ATIC Deputy Chair Daniel Gschwind says “In our darkest hour, we are asking the government to stand with us”.