New mufflers will be installed on Brisbane KittyCat ferries by the end of June following concerns of the fleet’s noise. 

Brisbane City Council’s public transport chairman Ryan Murphy said the muffler system will be fully compliant with Australian standards for onboard and offshore noise levels. 

The Kittycats were first introduced in January 2021 to replace the previous wooden hull ferries.

The Queensland Government has appointed 96 new members to eleven fishery working groups across the state to assist with the rollout of their Sustainable Fisheries Strategy.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner says the new panel members “represent a range of stakeholders including commercial and recreational fishers, charter operators, seafood marketers and processors, scientists and conservationists”.

Lauren Jackson was named in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021, being the first ever Australian athlete to be inducted. In accepting the award, Ms Jackson said everyone in her life and basketball career share in the same honor from the induction. 

Currently Head of Women in Australia Basketball, Ms Jackson is a seven-time WNBA all star and three-time WNBA most valuable player. 

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has been extended after a request from the Commission Chair, Ronald Sackville QC.

The final report for the Royal Commission will now be due on 29 September 2023.

Advocate groups have welcomed the extension, with Priscilla Atkins of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services saying the “extension is essential in order to implement measures to reduce the mistreatment, harm and marginalisation” of First Nations people.

China has successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars, only the second country to be able to do so while maintaining communications.

The six-wheeled spacecraft, known as Tianwen1, spent 17 minutes after landing unfolding its antenna and solar panels before sending signals back to Chinese scientists and engineers confirming the success of the mission.

The United States and Russian space agencies have both offered their congratulations for the mission.

From today, all Queenslanders above 50 are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination from their General Practitioner.

The vaccine was previously only available to over-50’s through special vaccination hubs and respiratory clinics, but a recent agreement between the state and federal government extended the rollout capabilities. 

Issues with the AstraZeneca vaccine and breaches in the supply chain have slowed the vaccine rollout, but State Health Minister Yvette D'Ath says Queensland is "on track in delivering our vaccinations, as planned".

A new link road connecting Stafford Road and South Pine Road has opened to traffic six months ahead of schedule.

The new Everton Link Park Road will redistribute traffic through the retail district, in hopes that it will ease traffic during peak hour. 

The Queensland Government has reported that the project has supported over 60 jobs over the past year

Parts of Queensland have experienced sub-zero temperatures today, with Applethorpe falling to -2.7 degrees celsius and Roma reaching -2.4 degrees.

At many locations, the temperatures were some of the coolest for the year. 

Temperatures are expected to increase to the May average over the next couple of days.

The first repatriation flight after the government's travel ban ended on 15 May arrived without half of it’s passengers over the weekend.

The Australians were prevented from boarding the flight, which landed on Saturday, after they tested positive for COVID-19 or were identified as a close contact of someone who was a positive case. 

Two more repatriation flights have been booked for 23 and 31 May, but demand far outweighs the supply with around 9,000 Australians still stranded in India.