Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced this morning that several COVID-19 restrictions will be eased from this weekend.

The premier says gathering limits at homes will increase from 50 to 100 people with gatherings outside set to increase from 100 to 500.

Campsite restrictions will be completely lifted, and elevator capacity will increase from four people to six.

Experts say new species of mushrooms could be waiting to be identified in Brisbane backyards after recent wet weather.

Queensland Mycological Society President Wayne Boatwright says the fungal kingdom is largely unseen until rain occurs and grows mushrooms.

 Mr Boatwright encourages anyone who noticed fungi had popped to photograph them (without touching them) and post the photos in mycological Facebook groups, where experts could help identify them.

Flood warning infrastructure will be implemented in Queensland's north and north-west regions. 

171 warning devices have been secured to combat floods and improve safety and resilience.

The eight million dollar project funded through a disaster recovery package will see signage, cameras, rain and river gauges installed.

An indigenous native title body aims to publish a scorecard to rate mining companies in Western Australia on environmental, social and governance measures. 

The Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation hopes the scorecard will help educate investors and the public, in light of the destruction of the sacred Juukan Gorge by Rio Tinto last year.

Director Tony Bevan says the scorecard will make it easier to hear the perspective of native title holders.

The livelihood of farmers in East Africa is threatened due to the worst locust outbreak in 70 years. 

Swarms of the short-horned grasshopper species have devoured crops and tea plantations, eating into farmers' food source. 

The United Nations Department of food and agriculture says the outbreak is due to unusual weather patterns.

Australian exporters to Europe are likely to face millions of dollars in new taxes.

The European Parliament voted overnight to move forward with a carbon levy on products from countries lacking serious pollution reduction programs.

Australian diplomatic and trade representatives are currently trying to negotiate a free trade deal with the European Union. 

However, MPs in Brussels warn they will not ratify any such deal with Australia until it does more to reduce its emissions.

The number of abortions in Queensland have not increased since they were decriminalised two years ago. 

In 2018, Queensland became the second-last state in Australia to remove the procedure from the criminal code. 

Health Minister Yvette D’ath said decriminalisation has improved women’s ability and willingness to get proper, safe healthcare.

A rare albino green turtle hatchling has been seen making its way into the ocean off Lady Elliot Island in Queensland's southern Great Barrier Reef.

The Island's Ecosystem Management Officer Jim Buck says one in every 100,000 turtle hatchlings is albino and the lack of colour is caused by a melanin deficiency.

The hatchling has limited sight and is more visible to predators, meaning it has slimmer chances of surviving to adulthood than its siblings.

Queensland parliament has passed legislation to ban single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates along with polystyrene foam food containers and cups from the 1st of September, 2021.

Queensland is the second state to ban the items, following South Australia’s decision earlier this month.

Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the single-use items are escaping into our oceans and harming the wildlife and spoiling out streets and parks.