The Victorian government has announced a new range of support measures for the tourism industry.

Acting Premier James Merlino says the support is particularly important given Melbourne is facing different restrictions to regional Victoria.

The $32.2 million package will include funds for regional tourism vouchers, a supplement for tourism operators and the alpine support package.

All tourism operators across the state would receive an additional $7,000 support.

On Saturday, Australia celebrated World Environment Day with tree planting, clean up events and conservation rallies across the country.

Around 200 people gathered in Sydney's Hyde Park to call for the government to strengthen legal protections for koalas.

Conservationists say NSW koala populations have plummeted in the past 30 years.

Even before the Black Summer bushfires that devastated habitats, it was estimated to be fewer than 20,000.

A content warning on this next story, which mentions deaths of Indigenous Canadians.

An update on the discovery of a mass grave of Indigenous children in British Columbia. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Catholic Church should take responsibility and release records on Indigenous residential schools under its direction. 

The government assured it is set to take legal action, to obtain the documents demanded by victims, if the church failed to comply.

The Sunshine Coast Council has purchased 94 hectares of land to add to its conservation estate.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson says the purchase secures a valuable biodiversity corridor. 

The funds were acquired from the Environment Levy, which is paid by all ratepayers.

Independent not-for-profit LGBTQ+ organisation, Rainbow on the Reef, will bring a new event to Gladstone to celebrate diversity and pride in the region.  

Organisers are distributing a survey via social media to help them understand what needs to be considered when designing the event. 

The survey is open to everyone interested and closes on the 18th of July.

You can find it on Rainbow on the Reef’s Facebook page.

Demonstrators responded with laughter after their protest band Riff Raff were given move on orders Wednesday.

The orders came during a musical protest against the land forces expo at local Southbank bars on Wednesday night.

One musician told 4ZZZ the experience was “exciting”, with the band enjoying the protest.

A final protest of the land forces arms expo is set for 5:30pm on Friday June 4 at the Brisbane convention centre.

Victorian authorities added four new COVID hotspots to the growing list.

All four exposure sites were on the Mernda metro train line late last week. 

The Victorian government urged anyone who may have been exposed to get tested urgently and isolate until receiving a result..

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites

Chief Executive Officer of Inclusion Australia Catherine McAlpine has called upon the Australian Government to urgently review the rollout of vaccines for Australians with additional needs. 

The Senate estimated less than 2 percent of Australians living with a disability and living in a group home have been fully vaccinated, leaving those without the vaccination in facilities and homes, at risk.

In SPACE NEWS, NASA announced they will be launching two probes to Venus, totalling six-hundred-and-forty-five million dollars, in 2028 and 2030.

These probes, DAVINCI+ and VERITAS will explore Venus’s atmosphere and analyse the planet’s geological composition. 

NASA’s return to Venus after over thirty years has been spurred by the discovery of phosphine gas in its atmosphere.

Phosphine gas is associated with evidence of life on earth, which implies possible microbial life on Venus.