New figures have revealed almost six hundred of Queensland’s most crowded schools enrol students who live outside of the catchment area despite having enrolment management plans.

Enrolment management plans ensure students get access to nearby schools by restricting out-of-catchment enrolments once a school passes eighty percent capacity. 

LNP education spokesman Dr. Christian Rowan says the Labour government should be transparent about why so many enrolments at crowded schools are out of catchment and how this impacts students in catchment areas. 

The Remote Area Planning and Development Board, a rural housing body, released a media statement this month saying rural Queensland is undergoing a housing market failure. 

Board CEO David Arnold says the inability to secure housing leads to rural shortages in skilled labour, public services like health and education, and casual workers integral to the tourism industry.

Given evidence is largely anecdotal and piecemeal, the Board is calling for an investigation into the issue by the Regional Institute of Australia. 

The Brisbane Lord Mayor has urged the State Government to ease restrictions on live music venues, with concerns about the city’s music culture facing huge losses .

Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner is arguing that it is unfair sporting venues such as the Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba were able to go to full capacity, whilst concert venues are struggling with ongoing restrictions.

The comments come as the music industry conference BIGSOUND has announced it will be returning next year, the biggest event for artists to showcase their talent in the southern hemisphere.

Protesters will gather at an immigration detention centre in Pinkenba to show solidarity with 35 detained refugees.

The 35 detained refugees were brought to Australia for medical treatment, after being detained on Nauru and Papua New Guinea for up to 6 years.

"They should have been processed under Australian law and given permanent protection in Australia," said organisers Refugee Action Collective Queensland. 

The protest at Brisbane Transit Accomodation Centre will begin at 11am, Saturday, 1 May. 

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed will no longer seek a two-year extension to his term in office after it provoked three days of clashes in the capital.

Forces loyal to the president and those backing the opposition have been occupying different parts of the capital, Mogadishu.

The UN says between 60,000 and 100,000 people have left their homes since Sunday due to the violent clashes.

India has reached 200,000 COVID-19 deaths as the country battles a devastating second wave. 

There have been at least 300,000 new infections every day in the past week, with fears the real number of cases and fatalities are significantly higher. 

Oxygen supplies are critically low, with many turning to the black market to save infected family members. 

Australia announced it may send ventilators to the nation earlier this week. 

The Victorian government confirmed this morning it has chosen a site in Melbourne's north to develop a 500-bed quarantine hub for returned travelers.

The facility will be built next to an existing pet quarantine site in Mickleham - 30 kilometers north of Melbourne CBD.

Construction is not expected to begin until after September and is subject to federal government approval.