Bolmo elders are calling for the closure of Gunlom falls, Kakadu in the Northern Territory amid a court battle over infringement of a sacred site.

Parks Australia is facing charges for carrying out work on a sacred site near the Gunlom Falls infinity pool.

Mick Markham, a Bolmo elder who chairs the Gunlom Land Trust says he wants tourists to enjoy the areas but traditional owners must have some control over where they go and what they can see.

The World Health Organisation has accused China of withholding data from investigators who travelled to the country to investigate the origins of COVID-19. 

A joint statement released by Australia and 14 other nations states says, “The international expert study on the source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was significantly delayed and lacked access to complete, original data and samples.”

All Queensland health care workers are set to receive a COVID vaccine in the next 48 hours.

The announcement has come after the Greater Brisbane region was sent into a three-day lock down following a cluster of positive cases detected in the community.  

A rule will be put in place from today that only vaccinated workers can care for COVID patients.

Queensland’s tourism sector may lose up to $35 million dollars in revenue over the Easter holiday period due to an excess of holiday cancellations, says the Tourism and Transport Forum’s chief executive, Margy Osmond. 

A number of Qantas and Jetstar flights in and out of Brisbane have been cancelled this week with a spokesperson for the companies warning more cancellations are to be expected in the coming days. 

The Northern Territory government is considering whether a heritage listed site of high Aboriginal significance should be destroyed for a mining waste dump.

The Glencore mining company has sought approval to remove artifacts and destroy the Borroloola sacred site.

The Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities advised the NT Heritage Minister that refusal of the plan will draw criticism as a decision which inhibits economic development of the NT.

Federal Labor has promised to demolish taxes on electric cars as part of a new suite of climate policies aimed at cutting costs on Australian households.

The opposition is due to announce the plan today, and it would remove government charges on non-luxury electric vehicles, including import taxes and fringe benefits tax.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese will also reveal a $200 million package to install 400 community batteries, which would support 100,000 households by storing energy from rooftop solar.

Papua New Guinea has seen its numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases double in the past week. 

The country has now recorded more than 5,300 cases and 49 deaths. 

Australian fly-in-fly-out workers can no longer travel to and from PNG with the Australian government placing tough restrictions on travel after the surge of cases began.