The Australian Council of Trade Unions national congress will begin today in Brisbane.
ACTU president Sharan Burrow says jobs and income security for working people and their families is the main priority and measures to protect people jobs and incomes will head the agenda.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his deputy Julia Gillard will address the congress tomorrow.
The Valley Fiesta will take a new direction this year, by broadening the event to interest everyone.
Organisers say the event will showcase work from a host of cultural pursuits, adding theatre and more visual art aspects.
Newly appointed festival director Ciel Lindley Fuller says the event needed to more accurately reflect the cultural diversity of Brisbane, rather than relying heavily on big-name bands to cram people into the Brunswick Street Mall.
Toowong heart surgeon Sylvio Provenzano will travel to Papua New Guinea on a mission to save the lives of more than 50 children.
The Mater Children’s Hospital’s Dr Provenzano is volunteering as part of an Australian medical mission to PNG.
The mission is part of Operation Open Heart, an initiative co-ordinated by the Sydney Adventist Hospital and backed by donations from AusAID and other organisations.
A traditional burial is to be held by Aboriginal elders for the baby humpback whale, which was washed up dead on a Gold Coast Beach.
Wildlife authorities had planned to dump the dead animal at the council tip after it was found at Runaway Bay about 7am, until the traditional owners of the area, the Kombumerri people, were consulted about its disposal.
Daughter of council elder, Hilary Blundell says the eight-metre mammal has been towed to South Stradbroke Island, where it has been buried ahead of a traditional ceremony later this week.
Queenslanders are being told by authorities not to relax about the danger of swine flu.
In Queensland, 22 cases of swine flu have been identified and no one in Australia has died from the infection yet.
Premier Anna Bligh says the public should not assume swine flu is not dangerous.
Currently there are 306 cases confirmed in Victoria and 64 in New South Wales.
Scientists have developed a new contraceptive that could potentially block HIV transmission.
When tested the contraceptive protected against pregnancy and HIV.
The contraceptive contains many antiviral drugs that are periodically released for up to 28 days.
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