The Queensland Government will allocate $30 million towards extra funding for domestic, family, and sexual violence services in Queensland. 

Attorney-General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said the pandemic and increased awareness are placing demand on services in Queensland. 

"That’s why we are taking action to give services a boost, with extra funding of $30 million to be delivered over four years because we know more needs to be done to end violence against women," said Ms Fentiman

The southern Italian island of Lampedusa is struggling to cope with an influx of migrants, with more than 2000 people arriving since Saturday. 

The arrivals have filled up the island’s migrant camp, designed to hold fewer than 300 people. 

Almost 13,000 migrants have landed in Italy so far this year -- three times more than the same period in 2020 -- with many making the journey across the Mediterranean from Libya.

Illegal miners have fired on an indigenous group in a protected reserve in the Brazilian Amazon. 

An estimated 20,000 illegal gold miners are occupying the Yanomami area of the Amazon, where violence has increased under Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro.

Critics say the far-right president, a critic of indigenous reserves, has emboldened such activity and has weakened environmental protections.

New South Wales will allocate $50 million to tackling the ongoing mouse plague in the state’s regions.

New South Wales Minister for Agriculture John Marshall said the state government will provide free baits to all primary producers and establish eight grain treatment stations. 

"Where farmers will be able to bring their grain in, we'll purchase the poison, we will treat their grain absolutely free of charge, using the most powerful poison that we can get our hands on," said Mr Marshell. 

"There is no paperwork, they can just show up."

Over 800 music, theatre, comedy, and cabaret performances are taking place from Ipswich to the Sunshine Coast, as part of Queensland’s Anywhere Festival.

The not-for-profit festival has artists perform in backyards, ferry stops, and warehouses, and allows audiences who may not have access to traditional venues to experience live performance. 

The festival has provided nearly a million dollars to local performers to create 137 mostly new productions and will continue until May 23.

Voting for the People’s Choice Awards for the QUBE Effect 2021 are now open.

The awards aim to help evolve and celebrate Brisbane musicians through an intensive development and mentorship program while promoting diversity across cultures, genres, and gender. 

Participant Bashir Ali Jibri said the program made him feel welcome to Australia by accepting the music made in his mother language and helped him embrace his culture.

Hundreds of Sunshine Coast residents remain without power after a severe hailstorm hit South East Queensland last night. 

Impacted streets in Nambour are closed and residents are directed to stay indoors, as Energex works to clear at least eight fallen power lines in the area. 

No one has been injured. 

The pandemic resulted from multiple preventable failures, according to an independent panel reviewing the global response to COVID-19. 

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response also warned another global pandemic may happen unless urgent and vital steps are taken.

Panel co-chairs Helen Clark and Ellen Johnson say the COVID-19 pandemic could have been prevented. 

"[The pandemic] is due to a myriad of failures, gaps and delays in preparedness and response," said Ellen Johnson.