The Queensland Government has announced there will be more funding for outback roads and upgrades.

A $24 million upgrade on Richmond-Winton road is already underway, with more around the Winton-area expected.

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia and Federal Member for Maranoa, Queensland, David Littleproud has said, quote “This is also an investment in improving access for remote and Indigenous communities to health and social services.”

Katter’s Australian Party Leader Robbie Katter argues that the lack of palliative care specialists in North Queensland goes against the Government’s proposed euthanasia laws to provide dignity in death.

Figures reveal an almost 70 per cent shortfall to nationally-recommended standards of palliative care specialists in these areas is due to state government under-funding.

Mr Katter believes this shortfall means more sick Queenslanders would feel compelled to seek out voluntary assisted dying should the laws pass in September.

Isiah Firebrace, First Nations pop star, aims to lobby the federal government to introduce Aboriginal history classes to primary and secondary schools.

Firebrace launched a petition eight months ago on change.org with a target of 75,000 signatures but received even more success, receiving more than 270,000 during the 2021 NAIDOC Week. 

The 21-year-old star is currently on his Spirit and Beyond tour to regional communities to help inspire youth both of indigenous and non-indigenous backgrounds to pursue their dreams.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is reviewing potential rorts of hundreds of millions of dollars of JobKeeper payments.

As part of the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce, the Australian Federal Police is leading nine ongoing operations that focus on tackling alleged crimes against the stimulus measures.

The ATO has identified $284 million in JobKeeper overpayments. It has managed to collect back about $138 million, with some of the money recouped relating to people deliberately acting to defraud the system.

Australia has signed a joint statement with members of the Media Freedom Coalition expressing concern about the future of press freedom in Hong Kong. 

The statement, published by the United Kingdom and signed by 21 members of the coalition, says it has "strong concerns" about the closure of the Apple Daily newspaper which was closed after police arrested its chief editor and four senior executives for "suspected contravention" of the national security law

The LNP is demanding the Griffin Report, which investigates COVID-19 breaches, to be released before the Premier’s estimates hearing on the 16th of July.

The report will detail how the unvaccinated COVID ward receptionist contracted COVID-19 and spread it, which led to Queensland’s third lockdown this year.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli argues the report needs to be released so that important questions about the state government’s COVID safety protocols can be asked to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk before she leaves for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Queensland Government has indicated that $380 million will go into the state’s economy over the next 6 months through government-approved major events.

As Queensland’s tourism industry remains a key part in rebuilding the state’s economy, the Premier says it is important that local and interstate Australians feel welcome to visit the state.

Whilst the ongoing outbreak in New South Wales has halted some visitors, the Government is hopeful that upcoming events will still attract holidayers to come to Queensland.

A report by Diabetes Australia has found that thousands of Queenslanders face stigma and shame because of their diabetes.

Diabetes Queensland CEO Sturt Eastwood is asking people to be more aware of the pressure placed on these individuals, and offer understanding and support.

Melbourne has announced Australia's first purpose-built LGBTQI+ centre. Victoria governments says this will allow community members to connect and celebrate who they are, learn about their history and appreciate art and performances.

A range of trusted LGBTIQ+ organisations will also be based at the centre, including health services, media outlets, Transgender Victoria, and the Melbourne Queer Film Festival.