The Russell Island Development Association is calling for new short-haul barge routes to the island, claiming the current long-haul routes are outdated and residents need faster access to the mainland.

Maritime Consultant, Michael Quain said a short-haul barge in lieu of a bridge will be crucial for easier and faster access for islanders amid the island’s growing population.

The new ferry terminal points could be at Rocky Point and Jackson Road, halving current travel times.

8,600 Brisbane City Council workers will be given a paid day of leave to get the Covid-19 vaccine and those already vaccinated will be credited the time taken off.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Queensland’s higher rate of vaccine hesitancy and lagging figures were behind the decision.

The Queensland Council of Unions passed a resolution this week which calls for all employers to provide paid time for vaccination and any side-effects of the jab, and they also call for the State government to do the same.

Queensland has recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, all linked to the Indooroopilly cluster, with only two of the cases infections in the community for only one day.

There were 48,028 COVID-19 tests conducted in Queensland in the past 24 hours.

Dr Jeannette Young said, "she will need to see the numbers on Sunday” to determine whether lockdown will be lifted on Sunday. She also urged Queenslander's to keep wearing masks and abide by lockdown restrictions.

A $379 million reparations scheme will aim to compensate survivors of the Stolen Generations, with individuals eligible for $82,000.

For years, Eileen Cummings has campaigned for reparations to compensate Stolen Generations survivors in the Northern Territory.

Ms Cummings was forcibly removed from her family when she was four years old and now at 78 years old she's finally won her fight.

The redress scheme has been announced as part of new Closing the Gap measures, negotiated between the Federal Government and the Coalition of Peaks.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has blamed the nation's devastating fires on climate change.

Intense blazes have forced evacuations across southern Greece, and the fire has threatened the power supply to parts of the capital after damaging the transmission network.

Firefighters are still battling the flames and trying to save a former royal palace and the birthplace of the ancient Olympics.

Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya took refuge in Poland on Wednesday after refusing to return to her homeland.

The athlete said her coaches were angry with her last Sunday for her criticism of Belarus and ordered her to pack and go to the airport. She refused to board a flight home and sought protection from Japanese police.

Poland is noted for being critical of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and the country has harboured many activists from Belarus.

Poland has granted the athlete and her husband humanitarian visas.

The design of a Brisbane train crossing where a woman was killed did not meet the Australian standard, a preliminary report by the transport safety bureau has found. 

A report released by Australian Transport revealed that the boom barrier at Lindum station did not extend to the edge of the traffic island leaving a 3.1m gap. According to the report, this meant “a normal road vehicle could turn right from Lindum Road on the correct side of the turn line and easily pass to the right of the lowered boom barrier (as occurred in the case of this accident)”

Redland City residents will be consulted on a City Plan amendment in the coming months that will deliver better designs for apartments and townhouses. 

The amendment comes after a review of dwelling outcomes since the current City Plan was actioned in 2018 and the community expressing strong views about the quality and location of residential growth in the city.

Councillor Wendy Boglary said this is a chance for the community’s voices to be heard and support the changes.

Employers in the Bundaberg Region may now be able to start claiming up to $20,000 under the Palaszczuk Government’s $140 million revitalised Back to Work program.

The program offers incentive payments for employers to take on jobseekers disadvantaged by various means and has already helped 1,700 people get jobs with 700 businesses in Bundaberg.