In local news, Maiwar Greens MP Michael Berkman says the Education Department is considering alternative proposals to a new primary school at Indooroopilly State High School.

Locals and surrounding schools have criticised the proposal to build the new inner-west primary school in Indooroopilly, citing increasing traffic and safety concerns in the area.

Mr Berkman has criticised the Education Departments consultation process, describing it as, 

Construction has started on Queensland’s new mega-prison in the Lockyer Valley, which Corrections Minister Mark Ryan has called “Queensland’s second biggest infrastructure project after Cross River Rail”, and which is set to economically revitalise the region.

The project was commissioned as a response to overcrowding issues in state prisons, which have precipitated a rise in assaults. The new prison will be purpose-built to deal with drug offences, with rehabilitative and mental health specialist services onsite.

The City of Gold Coast and the State Government have formed a climate adaptation partnership that aims to review how current infrastructure and environmental management practises on the coast need to be adjusted to better address the impacts of climate change.

The Gold Coast has been criticised by environmental groups for not updating its climate change strategy after it expired in 2014. 

Australian Indigenous health services Danila Dilba is launching a legal challenge against the decision to approve the Northern Territory’s first Dan Murphy’s store.

The case was filed in the Northern Territory supreme court on Thursday against both the NT Liquor licensing director Philip Timney and the Woolworths group.  

Danila Dilba is arguing Mr Timney’s decision was filled with legal errors and that the potential community impacts were not properly considered.    

A tsunami warning was issued for Norfolk Island after a magnitude 7.9 undersea earthquake occurred near the Kermadec Islands in New Zealand at 5:28 AM AEST this morning. 

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) advised people in areas with a threat of flooding to seek higher ground, and those in Marine Threat areas to stay away from the water's edge.

JATWC advised strong rips, dangerous currents and localised flooding were expected to persist for several hours.

The Northern Territory Law Reform Committee released a report last month which calls for an overhaul of Commonwealth legislation. 

Certain sections of the federal Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) prohibit Northern Territory courts from considering local Aboriginal customary laws when deciding bail and sentencing for indigenous offenders of federal offences. 
 

Noosa Shire Council’s planning and environment committee meets next week to draft laws regulating the use of short-term accommodation websites such as Airbnb and Stayz.

The local laws aim to reduce surges in waste and public safety issues following a lack of movement on the issue from the state.

They will introduce a code of conduct for guests, a registration fee for properties in residential zones, and a minimum 30 minute response time for complaints.

Italy has blocked a shipment of 250,000 AstraZenaca COVID vaccines to Australia citing an ongoing shortage across the European Union, along with Australia’s status as a non-vulnerable country. 

This is the first export ban implemented by the newly founded EU vaccine monitoring scheme.

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is falling short of its target to supply 100million vaccine doses across Europe by the end of March; currently they have only reached 40% of that target.

The State Government announced a taskforce to examine population growth across South East Queensland earlier this week.  

The Gold Coast is of particular interest, with the city's 640,000 population predicted to hit one million in the next two decades.

Over 6500 new homes will be needed to meet demand, with developers warning there Is less than five years worth of new land for building in the city.