Scientists in Melbourne have created human embryos from skin cells. 

The Monash University led-team re-programed skin cells into three-dimensional structures similar to the early stages of human embryos. 

Lead researched Jose Polo said the breakthrough will allow research into infertility, miscarriages and congenital diseases without having to use human embryos.

Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute head John Carroll said while the breakthrough has raised some ethical concerns, the embryos are not viable.

Only 34 children were adopted in Queensland last year - an 80 per cent decrease in figures from two decades ago. 

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows 11 of these adoptions were from overseas and another 11 were adoptions between known contacts. 

Queensland politicians are set to debate legislation that would see adoption as a third option when finding homes for children, except for an Indigenous child.

Protesters have blockaded a weapons manufacturer at their factory in Tennyson, Brisbane.

The protests were sparked by an investigation that revealed Electro-Optic Systems was illegally shipping weapons systems to the United Arab of Emirates at the height of the war on Yemen.

"We are here to remind EOS staff that their employer is a weapons dealer that sells to UAE, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia." said protester Margaret Pestorius. 

Tensions between Central Queensland cattle farms in Clermont and the company formerly-known as Adani are growing due to loud road trains. 

Grazier David Luke says a land-swap deal struck five years ago saw the company build a road bypassing his house. 

The deal is yet to be met with the grazier as the company claims it has failed the Isaac regional council’s approval. 

The Indigenous-led campaign is urging governments to adopt the Uluru Statement from the Heart and achieve health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

The Close the Gap report released today has 15 recommendations for systemic reform to protect Indigenous health, wellbeing and culture. 

Campaign co-chairs June Oscar and Karl Briscoe say the pandemic proved community-led approaches are the most effective way to achieve better health outcomes.

Experts are calling on Queensland to implement police stations staffed only with women to lower domestic abuse. 

QUT Centre for Justice Professor Kerry Carrington said women-only police stations in Argentina have been shown to encourage victims to come forward.

The Argentinian initiative provides access to social workers, lawyers and psychologists as well as police officers. 

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said more evidence is required before a trial would be considered in Queensland.

Iran's civil aviation body said an error by air defence operators led to a Ukrainian passenger plane being shot down in January last year.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards shot down Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 on January 8, killing all 176 people on board.

The aviation body report claimed air defence mistakenly identified the plane as a hostile target. 

Ukraine's foreign minister said the report is a cynical attempt by Iranian authorities to cover up the true reasons for the incident.

Tasmanian general practitioners will legally prescribe medicinal cannabis to specialised patients from the 1st of July. 

The push for legal access comes after only 16 Tasmanians were legally prescribed medicinal cannabis from late September 2017 to August 2020. 

Medicinal cannabis advocate Lyn Cleaver said the current scheme is pushing people into the illegal market.

The Queensland State Government will add 15 and 30 minute observation periods to AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations. 

Leading health experts announced the measures following four severe allergic reactions in Queensland and Western Australian.  

Head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration John Skerritt said people with a history of anaphylaxis are still able to receive the vaccine.