Large workplaces could possibly begin vaccinating their own staff from September, the same time the vaccination rollout also opens up to younger Australians, as the new COVID-19 taskforce boss works on an updated rollout plan.

The National NAIDOC Committee has announced NAIDOC Week celebrations will be held from the until the 11th of July. 

The theme for this year is Heal country and seeks substantive institutional, structural, and collaborative reform.

Queensland cafés and restaurants will be empowered to offer healthier menus for children, thanks to the state’s first Healthy Kids Menu initiative launched by Health and Wellbeing Queensland. 

The Palaszczuk Government has struck a deal to secure land for training of Australian and Singaporean military personnel in North and Central Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said growing Queensland’s burgeoning industry sector was an important part of the government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is appearing to be less effective in halting the spread of the Delta strain of the virus, but it is said to be shielding people against severe cases, according to data from Israel's government.

The vaccine protected 64% of people against the illness between June 6 and early July, down from 94% between May 2 and June 5, the Israel Health Ministry said.

The drop in effectiveness coincides with the government lifting virus restrictions at the start of June, just as the new variant was beginning to make inroads.

The Australian Government is under increasing pressure to evacuate Afghan staff who have supported its diplomats and soldiers across Afghanistan, as the US and UK announce plans to pull thousands of at-risk allies from the country.

A retired Australian officer who served Afghanistan told the ABC "If we don't get them out very soon... many of them are going to be killed".

All foreign forces are expected to be out of Afghanistan in under 100 days, by 11 September.

Melbourne's loss of the Australian Grand Prix for a second consecutive year puts the city at risk of a "slow economic death", as warned by a leading business figure.

Innes Willcox, chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, told Today that businesses were being hit hard by city lockdowns and curbs on international travel that hit major sporting events.

Mr Willcox said, getting people more vaccinated is key to businesses surviving and growing.

A woman was fined after breaching Quarantine restrictions in Cairns yesterday after it was noticed she was missing from her room Sunday afternoon.

CCTV footage revealed the woman scaled two sets of balconies, used an outdoor stairway and kicked-in a door to escape.

The woman was found in her mothers house, and was brought to court yesterday morning on charges of contravening public health directions, unregulated high-risk activity and wilful damage.

The number of Brisbane e-scooter riders fined for not wearing helmets is expected to double as shared e-bikes,hit footpaths this month.

Police data shows the number of fines issued so far this year hit 536 as of May 31, compared with 449 across all of 2020.

The figures are expected to spike as eight-hundred dock-less bikes will join a doubled fleet of 2000 electric scooters across the city from July 22 after Neuron Mobility and newcomer Beam were announced to be successful bidders for the rollout of the new bikes.