Queenslanders are being told they could bring an end to the current coronavirus lockdown scheduled to end at 4pm Sunday by coming forward, and getting tested. 

But the easing of restrictions also depends on how many new cases the state records today.

It comes as Queensland hospitals are filled with dozens of sick children infected with the Delta variant.

Yesterday the state recorded 16 new locally required cases, with more than a dozen new exposure sites in Brisbane and Cairns. 

Paralympics Australia believes the 2032 Brisbane Games will deliver an immaculate societal change in the way we view disability in Queensland. 

Since those first Games, the Paralympics has grown to become far and away the world’s biggest event for promoting inclusion with a global showcase of the true value of sport.

Paralympics Australia President Jock O’Callaghan said, "The impacts of Brisbane 2032 would reinforce the Paralympic Movement’s strength in demonstrating what people with a disability can achieve and contribute in sport and beyond."

Researchers from the University of Queensland have refuted claims that coronavirus can enter a person's DNA. 

The researchers from the UQ Queensland brain institute said the claims have led to “scaremongering” and people should not hesitate to be vaccinated.

Professor Geoff Faulkner said his team’s research published in Cell Reports showed there was no evidence of COVID-19 or the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines entering DNA.

Faulkner said, “The evidence refutes this concept that is being used to fuel vaccine hesitancy”.

The Prime Minister has announced one billion dollars in over five years of new fund measures to “close the gap” in life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people in Australia. 

Lead Convener of the Coalition of Peaks, Pat Turner said “the investment includes some very significant initiatives important to our people's wellbeing like the breakthrough in providing reparations to survivors of the Stolen Generations in territories which was long called for but long denied until now.”

Dozens of Australian Churches and other religious institutions pocketed millions of dollars in JobKeeper payments while remaining in black during 2020.

Recent figures from the Australian Tax Office show 35,000 religious entities received over $6 million in JobKeeper payments despite seeing little financial impact from the COVID-19 economic shock. 

​​As an ongoing investigation ensues, only a fraction of the total amount of JobKeeper paid to religious groups can be traced because most religious institutions are exempt from financial transparency rules. 

Former President Barack Obama has scaled back his planned 60th birthday party due to growing concerns over the highly transmissible Delta Variant.

More than 400 guests, including celebrities and the former Obama administration officials were expected to attend the birthday bash with 200 hired staff working the party.

After the party was reduced to close friends and family a spokeswoman for Obama said, "President Obama is appreciative of others sending their birthday wishes from afar and looks forward to seeing people soon."

Calls for AstraZeneca doses to be delivered directly to pharmacies are being urged by Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath to help speed up their delivery into residents’ arms.

Ms D’Ath made a request to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt asking for the doses to be delivered directly to 224 community pharmacies approved this week.  

The local health minister says, “We still believe the pharmacies and our GP’s are in the position to roll out AstraZeneca to the general population because people have confidence and trust going to them”.

Brisbane’s latest fast-food burger restaurant In & Out Aussie Burgers is being sued for trademark infringements by a US fast food restaurant In-N-Out Burger. 

The business cooks food primarily for food delivery apps and does not have the option to dine in. In response to the lawsuit, the owner of the new restaurant, Puneet Ahori says, “My logo is ‘In & Out Aussie Burgers’, I’m a small operator in Queensland, and they’re basically pressuring me to de-register all the names I have.”