Leaders of two of Australia’s largest church networks, the Uniting Church and the Anglican Church, are spreading the message “don’t get upset about same-sex marriages” to orthodox Christians.

Lulu-OHa’angana Senituli, the minister at Sunnybank Uniting Church, resigned after several complaints were raised against him after the congregation joined a conservative group within the UCA, the Assembly of Confessing Congregations.

For both the Uniting and Anglican churches, the basic issue is similar.

Thousands of businesses and Queenslanders enjoyed freedom last night after the lockdown ended at 4pm.

While the South-East’s re-opening is promising, and gives businesses a chance to support themselves and their staff, many are still worried that the Delta variant could lead to another lockdown in coming weeks.

The uncertainties of looming lockdowns and tight restrictions means that for many businesses every day that they are allowed to be open is a relief.

Australians could, in the future, be required to show proof of vaccination to enter pubs, grocery stores and sports stadiums, under a plan being considered by the national cabinet.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week said state and territory leaders are in talks about the idea, which would take place under phase B of Australia’s COVID-19 exit plan, when 80% of the population is vaccinated.

With the conclusion of the Olympic Games, there is a push to recognise and support the mental health of Australia’s elite athletes as they transition out of the high-stress competition and cope with the aftermath. 

A study by various Sydney and Melbourne university researchers into the experiences of athletes during the post-Olympic phase aims to bring the challenges of these athletes into focus.

Google has made a step towards acknowledging Indigenous Australian communities as it launches new Google Pixel wallpapers featuring Indigenous artwork.

The wallpapers were designed by Ryhia Dank, a proud Gundaji and Wakaja woman, to show off the natural beauty of Gudanji, Northern Territory, in traditional painting styles.

The themes of the art include coexistence in nature and regeneration.

The release marks International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which is today.

An enterprising village of 1,400 people in southern Spain is seeking to have the tradition of outdoor chats recognised by the United Nations as a cultural treasure.

The mayor of Algar, José Carlos Sánchez, says he wants to protect the centuries-old custom from the encroaching threat of social media and television.

Residents in the small village have reacted warmly to his bid for world heritage status, as he is waiting to hear back about next steps, but he expects it to be a slow process, one that could take years.

Work on the Pinkenba COVID-19 quarantine centre is reported to begin by early October, as confirmed by the Finance Minister Simon Birmingham’s office.

The centre is designed to take pressure off Queensland’s system of hotel quarantine and provide additional space for international arrivals.

It will include suitable medical facilities for testing, ambulance transfer and will be able to cope with COVID-19 positive cases with mild symptoms.

A football club in Brisbane is giving equal opportunity for challenged-ability young people to get involved in sport.

The Brisbane Paralympic Football Program, was created years ago when Jay Larkin, father of Jarrod Larkins-Law, who has cerebral palsy, found the then paralympic football scene in Brisbane disrespectful.