An online survey of three hundred and sixty eight Australian disability support workers has found that only half are confident in getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Disability support workers have been encouraged to get the vaccine under phase 1-b of the rollout to protect themselves and the vulnerable people they work with.

Lead author of the survey, Anne Kavanagh, says the survey found that out of those uncertain about the vaccine, 60% felt there was inadequate data about safety.

Brazil has become the second country after the United States to pass 400,000 COVID-19 deaths. 

Epidemiologist Pedro Hallal says Brazil is repeating last year’s mistakes of loose restrictions and can expect to remain at an average of 2,000 deaths a day.

The surge in infections is being driven by a coronavirus variant discovered in Brazil that is believed to be 2.5 times more contagious. 

Content warning: This story contains mentions of rape. 

Brittany Higgins will meet separately with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese this afternoon. 

The meeting with the Prime Minister will canvas a variety of matters, including the support given to her immediately after the alleged rape, and whether his staff had briefed the media with information about her partner.

Higgins had expressed disappointment at how long it took for the meeting to be arranged, after the Prime Minister initially offered to do so in March.

An online survey of 368 Australian disability support workers found that only half were confident in getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Disability support workers have been encouraged to get the vaccine under phase 1b of the rollout to protect themselves and the vulnerable people they work with.

Lead author of the survey, Anne Kavanagh, said the survey found that out of those uncertain about the vaccine, 68% percent felt there was inadequate data about safety.

Head of a Queensland domestic violence taskforce, Margaret McMurdo, says women’s experiences of reporting abuse to police will be taken as part of the review into the criminal justice system. 

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Shannon Fentiman, says public submissions for written, typed, or recorded testimonies are now open.

McMurdo says nothing is ruled out in terms of what the taskforce will investigate.

Former Logan City Council CEO Sharon Kelsey has lost her unfair dismissal case after alleging councillors plotted to sack her as revenge for reporting possible misconduct. 

The 2019 accusation led to the entire Council losing their jobs before the charges were dropped a few weeks ago. 

Queensland Industrial Relations Commission Deputy President Daniel O’Connor says there is no evidence of councillors being motivated by a political reason to fire Kelsey. 

Tourism Tropical North Queensland is partnering with the Queensland Government to offer tourism vouchers to 5000 tourists as part of the Cairns Holiday Dollars program.

Each voucher will be worth $200, and they will be distributed to tourists already holidaying in the region using Facebook’s audience targeting tools. 

This initiative aims to stimulate tourism spending in the area. Assistant Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns, Michael Healy, says tourism businesses across the region have reaped very real benefits from the Holiday Dollars program.

Prosecutors are proceeding with their case against an ATO whistle-blower. 

Former debt collector at the ATO Richard Boyle is facing charges for aiding the ABC and Fairfax Media in their investigations into the ATOs heavy handed tactics used to recover debts from small business owners. 

Mr Boyle will be pleading not guilty to offences that include, using listening devices to listen to private conversations and disclosing protected information. 

If Mr Boyle is found guilty of all offences he faces the possibility of one hundred and sixty one years in prison.

The CSIRO released a roadmap for Australia to produce ethical and sustainable edible insects. 

CSIRO entomologist Bryan Lessard said the report draws on expertise from First Nations groups, international scientists, and food processing industry leaders.

CSIRO’s lead professor Michelle Colgrave said the aim is to grow Australia’s protein industry by $10 billion over five years.