New figures show smoking rates in Australia have fallen to a record low, with just 5.6 per cent of Australians aged 14 and over now smoking daily.

Health experts say decades of tough tobacco laws, along with recent vaping restrictions, are helping drive the decline. But they also warn more smokers are turning to illicit tobacco, calling for stronger enforcement to tackle the illegal market.

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Pokémon cards are making a huge comeback, with collectors paying thousands of dollars for rare cards.

Some stores across Australia are reporting thefts of the rare cards as demand continues to grow.

Driven by nostalgia, the hobby has become a booming business once again.

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The Queensland government is pursuing a Designated Area Migration Agreement to address workforce shortages ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

But the Queensland Council of Unions say they need to give jobs to Queenslanders first to reduce employment and retaining labor in the long term.

While QCU welcomes migration, it needs to be sustainable and where shortages are critical in the long term.

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There are calls for more marine sanctuaries co-managed by First Nations communities to protect critically endangered species like the Western Pacific Leather Back Turtles.

Australian government’s fishing data shows A HUNDRED AND ONE turtles have been accidentally killed by long line fishermen off the East coast since 2018.

The World Wide Fund for Nature Australia wants 30 per cent of the country’s oceans declared marine sanctuaries.

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An organisation has opened an office in Darwin and expanded to Alice Springs to support Australians who need a job.

Workskil Australia is implementing the ‘Ready to Work’ program, supporting employers to find staff and people with a criminal history to access mentoring and training to land a job in the Territory.

So far, more than 70 participants have joined the program in Alice Springs.

Image supplied by Workskil Australia

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Wednesday the 8th of July saw the opening night of Divine Playhouse - a queer-inclusive performance pop-up housed in a former church in central Sydney.

The project aimed to create a space for community to gather and celebrate - but opposition from Christian groups, cultivated on social media, quickly turned it into a culture war flashpoint and a huge headache for organisers.

Image supplied by Thinking Loud

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