Essential workers in Sydney and Melbourne are being forced to move far from where they work to afford to rent or buy a home.

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute’s Report reveals more than 52,000 essential workers in Sydney, and more than 37,000 in Melbourne, were experiencing housing stress.  

The report indicates thousands of essential workers living closer to work are being forced into overcrowded homes.

One-third of all drivers in Mackay are being drug tested by police as more officers are trained to use drug testing kits. 

Figures show one in three drivers are testing positive for drugs while driving, up from one in five in 2018-2019. 

Senior Constable Steve Smith from the Mackay Police department says drug driving is one of the top five causes for people losing their lives.

The Queensland Council of Civil Liberties is opposing Brisbane City Council’s decision to reinstate restrictions on placing election signs on private property. 

The QCCL’s President Michael Cope says the new rules are incompatible with freedom of speech. 

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced the new regulations last week, which restrict how many election signs candidates can display on private properties and require residents wanting to put a sign on their property to register the location.

West End football club is without a home ground due to dangerous pitch conditions. 

West End Football Club secretary Anne Carter says due to increased population the field has been overused and damaged. 

Greens councilor from the Gabba ward Jonathan Sri says with such high-density housing in this area the council needs to invest in green spaces.

Over 150 people are missing following the capsize of a ferry boat in the northwestern Nigerian state of Kebbi. 

The market passengers were travelling between central Niger state and Wara when the boat went down. 

20 people were reduced alive, while the remaining 156 are feared to of drowned from the Wednesday disaster.

Australian writer Yang Hengjun’s trial is set to take place in Beijing today.

He is facing one charge of espionage and has been detained in China for over two years.

Australia has repeatedly criticised the Chinese Government's treatment of Dr Yang, with the Foreign Minister Marise Payne labelling the legal process surrounding his closed and opaque last week.

If convicted, Dr Yang faces a sentence between three years and the death penalty.

Victoria will enter a COVID-19 lockdown lasting at least seven days as cases grow in the state. 

The recent outbreak has now reached 26 cases, with 11 new cases recorded overnight. 

A press conference held at 10.30 am or 11 am today will outline if the lockdown will apply to the whole state.

Brisbane Victoria Park golf course is set to close on June 30.

The property will then be open as public parkland, as it is transformed into what is being called Brisbane’s version of New York central park.

Initial works on the 45-hectare park will include filling 33 bunkers, pathway improvements and more planting.