Most major Australian cities will be far hotter than forecast in coming years, as a lack of vegetation creates "heat islands".

The report, Temperature Check: Greening Australia's Warming Cities, commissioned by the Australian Conservation Foundation, found green spaces in almost all major cities had declined in the last decade.

A recent report has revealed state government ministers wages have increased by 10.6 per cent. 

The Public Report of Ministerial Expenses revealed a $1.47 million wage increase from the same period in 2019 -- an increase at about 10 times the rate of inflation.

A government spokesman said the increase was related to “flow-on pay rises” that came into effect before the coronavirus-induced public servant wage freeze.

State government passed laws in June to freeze the wages of public servants for 12 months. 

A university chancellor warns China could take action against Australian universities.

University of Queensland Chancellor Peter Varghese says reports stating Chinese authorities are advising recruitment agents not to promote Australia as a study option are likely true.

This follows three warnings published by Chinese education outlets and state media in February, urging students to “think twice when considering studying in Australia”, citing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, “frequent racial discrimination” and “questionable education quality”.

Libya’s parliament has voted in support of an interim unitary government to lead the country until it’s December elections. 

The country’s two rival political groups agreed to select Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh as interim Prime Minister, at last month’s UN-sponsored talks in Geneva. 

Libya has been divided between the east and west after a NATO-backed uprising overthrew and killed ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The federal government has announced they will halve eight-hundred-thousand airline tickets in an effort to encourage domestic holidays. 

The $1.2 billion packages will see a 50 per cent discount on tickets between April and July. 

The package aims to target locations with the highest dependence on JobKeeper and tourism, such as the Gold Coast, the Whitsundays region, and the Lasseter region. 

"This package will take more tourists to our hotels and cafes, taking tours and exploring our backyard," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Telstra has established its first Indigenous call centre in Darwin.

The Telstra First Nations Connect contact centre is manned by eight First Nations staff members who can speak 14 languages and will help remote customers. 

The move comes after Telstra admitted to exploitative conduct with more than 100 Indigenous customers, who signed contracts they did not understand and could not afford.

A Cairns hospital has declared a code yellow after an influx in COVID-19 patients. 

The declaration came after six fly-in-fly-out mine workers returning from Papua New Guinea tested positive for the virus. 

Cairns health service executive director Dr Don Mackie says hospital staff are under extraordinary pressure. 

South-east Queensland's largest dam has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade. 

Wivenhoe Dam, west of Brisbane, is the region’s largest drinking water storage and is at a low 36 per cent capacity.

Water authority Seqwater spokesperson Mike Foster says low rainfall over large central dams, and excessive water consumption is to blame.

Based on the current rate of usage, the region's dams could hit 50 per cent capacity by September, which may prompt water restrictions. 

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a review of the experiences of women across the criminal justice system. 

Former President of the Queensland Court of Appeal, Justice Margaret McMurdo will lead the investigation as part of her new, independent Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce. 

In a tweet announcing the review this morning, Palaszcuzuk says she wants to make sure violent crime against women is being reported and justice is being done.