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.

The leaders of the United States, Japan, India and Australia will meet in first-ever joint talks tomorrow. 

The virtual meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known familiarly as the “Quad”, comes as all four countries see heightened tensions with China over a variety of issues. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the upcoming meeting is “an historic moment,” and that it “sends a strong message to the region about our support for a sovereign, independent Indo-Pacific”.

US President Joe Biden's $2.5 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package has passed the House of Representatives.

The American Rescue Plan aims to turbocharge the economy and help Americans impacted by the pandemic.

The package includes $1800 stimulus payments to most adults.

Republicans opposed the package due to concerns over its size and scope.

The ambulance union in South Australia has launched industrial action against the state government over a resourcing brawl.

As of this afternoon, union members will stop charging patients for ambulances if they arrive later than medical timeframes.

Secretary of the Ambulance Employees association Phil Palmer says lives are significantly at risk due to a shortage of ambulances.

"We'll be escalating [the action] over time if we don't get the outcome we want.

"We don't bargain — we're fighting for the community's safety."