The ballot draws are complete and early voting for the 2019 federal election begins next Monday, ahead of polling day on May 18.

When it comes to the Senate in Queensland there are 83 individual candidates vying for six available seats in the upper house.

There has been some confusion over how to vote either above or below the line so Mark spoke to Phil Diak from the Australian Electoral Commission to make sure that every vote counts.

On International Guide Dog Day it’s been revealed that one in two vision impaired people with a dog have been refused entry to cafes and restaurants and refused the use of taxis and ride share services.

It’s actually an offence in Queensland to refuse a guide dog entry to any publicly accessible place or transport service.

Jayson Hanrahan from Guide Dogs Queensland tells Mark that the problem seems to be that few businesses understand their responsibilities under the law.

Wheels magazine has released it’s annual list of the best value cars for sale in Australia.

The list covers 10 different categories and judges them on things such as fuel economy, the cost of insurance, depreciation, servicing costs and warranties.

Wheels editor Alex Inwood tells Mark that price and value for money are rarely the same thing.

To celebrate World Record Day this year the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) resurrected the vinyl album chart.

There have only been two so far but each has been a mix of classics like Queen’s Greatest Hits and new artists.

Dr Daryl Sparkes from the University of Southern Queensland is a vinyl tragic and tells Mark while records only accounted for $20 million in sales last year, sales have been growing consistently for the last eight years.

Queensland Treasurer Jackie Trad will be beginning to frame her budget to be handed down in June and already one group is staking a claim for a bigger slice of the funding pie.

The Queensland Families and Communities Association is warning that unless it’s allocation is doubled many of the states more than 120 neighbourhood and community centres will struggle to serve their communities.

QFCA President Tomas Passeggi tells Mark that by the time a centres one full time worker and all the bills are paid it doesn’t leave much to serve the community.

Speed skater Steven Bradbury’s gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City is burned into the national consciousness.

His victory came after all the other competitors in the 1,000m race crashed at the final turn giving birth to the expression ‘doing a Bradbury.’

His story though is now to be turned into a feature film with Screen Australia providing development funding for Last Man Standing.

The movie could begin shooting in Queensland as early as the end of this year and Screenwriter Stuart Beattie tells Mark that Steven is actively involved in the production.

Surf lifesavers across southeast Queensland have been run off their feet over the Easter long weekend pulling more than 160 from the surf.

What is especially frustrating for lifesavers is that all but a handful of those needing help were swimming outside the flags.

Jacob Thomson from Surf Life Saving Queensland tells Mark it’s always expected that there will be some rescues, but the number was very disappointing.

What's On this Easter weekend with Olympia Kwitowski.

If you’ve ever thought about a holiday in Africa but have been reluctant because it’s so exotic Namibia may be the perfect entre to the continent.

It’s easy to get to, it’s very safe, it boasts incredible natural wonders and wildlife and it has the added benefit of not being overrun by tourists.

Sean Lues from Journeys Worldwide tells Mark it’s basically Africa for beginners.

Fare evasion across the Brisbane public transport network has reached epidemic proportions with school bus drivers reporting more than one and a half million instances last financial year.

Translink data shows on some routes the fare evasion rate is 99% and all up the problem is costing taxpayers about $25 million a year.

Tom Brown from the Bus Union tells Mark the drivers are the meat in the sandwich because many children play the “no child left behind” card to get a free ride.