Musicians aged 12 years and over will once again compete in the ultimate musical showdown, performing songs in front of crowds at this year's Ekka festival. 

Entries for the country music showdown open up to willing contestants today creating pathways to boost an artists music career. 

Head of entertainment Tony Laffan said, “The Ekka is all about celebrating the best of Queensland and encouraging emerging talents across all industries, including the arts.”

Australia is granting three members of a Tamil asylum seeker family 3 month bridging visas to work and study in Western Australia.

The Muruggapan family who were detained for more than two years on remote Christmas Island, were evacuated to the state after the family’s youngest child developed a potentially life-threatening condition thought to be the result of untreated pneumonia.

The CSIRO have developed a DNA test capable of improving management of wild fish populations by determining the ages of fishes.

The cost effective and non-lethal alternative to counting growth rings can be used for conservation or harvesting, proving a vital tool towards the management of fisheries.  

Postdoctoral member of the CSIRO Doctor Ben Mayne said, "We’re now hoping to share this test with fisheries managers to support conservation projects and sustainable fisheries worldwide.”

Anti-virus software pioneer John McAfee was found dead in his prison cell near Barcelona on Wednesday, according to press reports, hours after Spain’s High Court ruled he could be extradited to the United States for tax evasion charges.

During a court hearing in Madrid last week, he argued that the tax fraud charges filed against him were linked to his failed presidential run in 2020 as a Libertarian Party candidate.

A shed on the Gold Coast has sold for a record setting $1.2 million  price. 

The hefty price tag is similar to the cost of a family house in south-east Queensland, however, the large warehouse will be used as a secondary personal space. 

The new owner plans to turn the location into a man cave setting a new benchmark for a block of its size

A man who travelled from the United States to see his dying father has been granted an exemption from hotel quarantine to cross the Queensland border.

Mark Kilian and his wife had initially been refused permission from Queensland Health to travel to the Gold Coast to see Mr Kilian's father, who has terminal pancreatic cancer.

The Queensland Premier says she'll now grant an exemption with New South Wales finalising an arrangement for the couple's transfer to Queensland so the family can say their final farewell.

The federal government will today introduce legislation that adds miscarriage to the compassionate and bereavement leave entitlement, which means two days of paid leave will be provided to those who miscarry before 20 weeks.

Samantha Payne has lobbied the government for the measure over the past three years as the CEO of Pink Elephants, which supports those impacted by early pregnancy loss.

She says for too long, women and their partners have either gone to work without taking any leave, or used up their sick entitlements after miscarriage.