The record of mammal declines and extinctions in Australia raises concerns regarding geographically restricted and poorly known taxa. For many taxa, the existing data are insufficient to assess their conservation status and inform appropriate management. Concerns regarding the persistence of the subspecies of yellow-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale xanthopus celeris, which is endemic to Queensland, have been expressed since the 1970s because of red fox Vulpes vulpes predation, competition with feral goats Capra hircus and land clearing. This rock-wallaby is rarely observed, occupies rugged mountain ranges and, prior to our surveys, had not been surveyed for 25 years. We surveyed 138 sites across the range of this rock-wallaby during 2010–2023, including revisiting sites surveyed in the 1970s–1980s and locations of historical records. We examined occurrence in relation to habitat variables and threats. Occupancy and abundance remained similar over time at most sites. However, by 2023 the subspecies had recolonized areas in the north-east of its range where it had disappeared between surveys in the 1980s and 2010s, and three south-western subpopulations that were considered extinct in the 1980s were rediscovered. Recolonization and increases in abundance at numerous sites between the 2010s and 2020s are associated with declines in feral goat abundance, indicating dietary and habitat competition are major threats. Exclusion fences erected since 2010 could limit genetic exchange between rock-wallaby subpopulations whilst allowing domestic goats to be commercially grazed. Petrogale xanthopus celeris should remain categorized as Vulnerable based on these ongoing threats. Repeated monitoring approximately every decade should underpin management of this endemic taxon.

An in-depth understanding of the germination response of troublesome weed species, such as feather fingergrass (Chloris virgata Sw.), to environmental factors (temperature, soil moisture, etc.) could play an essential role in the development of sustainable site-specific weed control programs. A laboratory experiment was conducted to understand the germination response of 10 different biotypes of C. virgata to five temperature regimes (ranging from 15/5 to 35/25 C) under a 12/12-h (light/dark) photoperiod. No consistent germination behavior was observed between biotypes, as some biotypes demonstrated high final cumulative germination (FCG) at low alternating temperature regimes (15/5 and 20/10 C) and some biotypes exhibited high FCG at a high alternating temperature regime (30/20 C). All biotypes revealed late germination initiation (T10, time taken to reach 10% germination) at the lowest temperature range (15/5 C), ranging from 171 to 173 h. However, less time was required to reach 90% germination (T90), ranging from 202 to 756 h. At higher alternating temperature regimes (30/20 and 35/25 C), all biotypes initiated germination (T10) within 40 h, and a wide range of hours was required to reach 90% germination (T90), ranging from 284 to 1,445 h. Differences in FCG of all the biotypes at all the temperature ranges showcased the differential germination nature among biotypes of C. virgata. The cool temperatures delayed germination initiation compared with warmer temperatures, even though FCGs were similar across a wide range of thermal conditions, indicating that this species will be problematic throughout the calendar year in different agronomic environments. The data from this study have direct implications on scheduling herbicide protocols, tillage timing, and planting time. Therefore, data generated from this study can aid in the development of area- and species-specific weed control protocols to achieve satisfactory control of this weed species.

More than 4000 Indigenous Australian students enrol and take up a placement at boarding school each year. While reasons for attending boarding school vary, the impetus for many remote and very remote-dwelling students is restricted secondary educational opportunities in their home communities. A large multi-site study is being undertaken across Queensland to understand the conditions required for these students to be resilient while studying away from home. This paper reports on levels of student satisfaction with Queensland Department of Education's Transition Support Service (TSS) that provide assistance to remote-dwelling Indigenous students in the transition to boarding schools. A survey instrument administered to students included 22 close-ended questions to elicit levels of student satisfaction with TSS. Data were collected electronically using SurveyMonkey™ and analysed in SPSS v24. Descriptive statistics were calculated for variables assessing service support, student perceptions and experiences. A total of 294 primary, secondary and re-engaging students across 21 sites responded. Nearly all primary students (97%) anticipated that TSS would assist their move to boarding school. All secondary students identified that TSS had assisted their transition to boarding school. All re-engaging students agreed that TSS support had increased their capacity to cope when things go wrong. Lower scores related to students’ ability to access TSS when needed. Very high levels of satisfaction with TSS were countered by constraints of distance between TSS and students, and resources available to support the work of TSS. Findings point to the need for equitable provision of transition services in Queensland that emphasise the importance of relationship between service provider and student, and can inform the design of similar transition services across Australia.

Endoskarns formed where a swarm of diorite dykes have intruded calcite marble at Redcap Creek include an inner melilite-dominated, a wollastonite-dominated, and an outer massive tilleyite zone in contact with marble. The massive tilleyite is unusual in that it is coarse-grained (prisms 2–15 cm in length) and its deep grey colour contrasts with the lighter coloured varieties described elsewhere. A chemical analysis gives a formula close to ideal, with only minor substitution of Al, Ti, and Mg. Refined unit cell parameters are in close agreement with those quoted in the literature. The skarns have clearly formed by transport of Si, Mg, Fe, Al, and Ti from the igneous rocks, and Ca in the reverse direction from the marble. Activity diagrams derived from experimental data are most useful in interpreting the zonal sequence of endoskarns, and preliminary results suggest mass transfer at low Xco2 and temperature of the order of 800°C or higher for the formation of the massive tilleyite.

Arsenoflorencite-(Ce) has been found at three localities in Australia—two in South Australia, and one in Queensland. It occurs as colourless to light brown scalenohedral crystals and crystal fragments in stream sediments. Electron microprobe analysis gave Ce2O3 12.97, La2O3 8.62, Pr2O3 3.35, Nd2O3 2.40, Gd2O3 1.38, Sm2O3 0.38, SrO 1.99, Al2O3 28.75, As2O5 27.02, P2O5 4.68, SO3 1.21%; calc, H2O 9.36%; total 102.11%. The simplified formula is REAl3(AsO4)2(OH)6, with Ce as the dominant RE element. Arsenoflorencite-(Ce) is rhombohedral, has space group R3m with αhex. 7.029 and chex. 16.517 Å, and Z = 3. Strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines are: 3.513(6)(110), 2.963(10)(113), 2.201(4)(107), 1.905(5)(303) and 1.753 Å(4)(220). Density is 4.096 (meas.) and 4.091 (calc.) g/cm3. Hardness is VHN10 170. Arsenoflorencite-(Ce) is brittle, breaks with a conchoidal fracture, and has no perceptible cleavage. The mineral is colourless in transmitted light, uniaxial positive, and has ω 1.739 and ɛ 1.745 (λ = 589 nm). Arsenoflorencite-(Ce) is the arsenate analogue of florencite-(Ce), and the name was chosen to indicate this relationship.

Xenoliths in an olivine nephelinite from the McBride Province, North Queensland, include Cr-diopside lherzolites, spinel and garnet websterites, felsic, 2-pyroxene and garnet granulites, and hornblendites. The spinel and garnet websterites are interpreted as crystal segregations from olivine basalt or alkali olivine basalt magma at ∼ 12 kbar followed by isobaric cooling (to approximately 900–1000°C) and subsolidus reequilibration. Garnet and 2-pyroxene granulites are mineralogically and texturally distinct and are considered to represent relatively large degrees of crystallization of basaltic magmas at comparable or slightly lower pressures (8–12 kbar). Mafic and ultramafic xenoliths have been modified to varying degrees following the relatively recent influx of a H2O- and CO2-bearing fluid. Variable amounts of amphibole and mica developed in response to the introduced fluid and it is argued that some hornblendites are the end-products of this process acting on spinel websterites. Felsic and 2-pyroxene granulite xenoliths display only minor evidence of increased PH2O. Mineralogical and textural evidence indicates high-sulphur Ca-rich scapolite in several garnet granulites did not form in response to the increased fluid activities. It is proposed the scapolite was a primary cumulate phase precipitated from alkali basaltic magma under elevated fo2 and fso2 conditions.

At least six separate rare earth and uranium-bearing daughter crystals occur in fluid inclusions hosted by andraditic garnet from the Mary Kathleen REE-U ore skarn, Queensland, Australia. The daughter minerals are particularly high in La, Nd and Ce which reflects the relatively high concentration of these in the bulk ore (La2O3 = 33.5%, Nd2O3 = 9.1% and Ce2O2 = 51.5% of the 2.6 wt. % REE common in the ore). The host garnets themselves contain up to 7600 ppm REE and 5 to 2700 ppm U. The energy-dispersive spectra (EDS) are consistent with the following minerals: a (Y, Ce, U, Ca, Fe, Nb, Ta) mineral; a (Ca, Fe, Ce) carbonate(?) mineral; a (Fe, Ca, Y, Ce, Nb, Ta) mineral; a possible carbonate of La, Mn and Nd; a chlorite of Mn and La as well as a possible chloride or oxychloride of K, Mg, Mn and La. Their occurrence infers that relatively high concentrations of REE and U prevailed in the original, oxidized, concentrated (30–70 wt. % total dissolved salts), high-temperature (550–670°) ore solutions. Their presence as daughter crystals may be due to the fact that CaCl2 is a dominant salt in the solutions and that the latter's solubility was sufficiently high to ‘salt out’ the less soluble REE-U components.

Pyrosmalite [(Mn,Fe)8(OH,Cl)10Si6O15] has been identified by X-ray diffraction from the Pegmont lead-zinc deposit, north-west Queensland. Microprobe analyses indicate that it is the first reported occurrence of an extremely iron-rich member of the series. The characteristically high chlorine content of pyrosmalite in Pegmont and other similar base metal deposits may provide some evidence concerning the depositional environment of these stratiform Pb-Zn ores.

Silvialite, ideally Ca4Al6Si6O24SO4, is tetragonal, I4/m, Z = 2, with a = 12.160(3), c = 7.560(1) Å, V = 1117.9(8) Å3, c:a = 0.6217:1, ω = 1.583, ε = 1.558 (uniaxial negative), Dm = 2.75 g/cm3, Dcalc = 2.769 g/cm3 and H (Mohs) = 5.5. It is transparent and slightly yellow, has a good {100} cleavage, chonchoidal fracture, white streak and a vitreous lustre. It occurs in upper-mantle garnet-granulite xenoliths hosted by olivine nephelinite, from McBride Province, North Queensland, Australia. The empirical formula, derived from electron-microprobe analysis, is (Na1.06Ca2.86)(Al4.87Si7.13)O24 [(SO4)0.57(CO3)0.41]. Crystal-structure refinement shows disordered carbonate and sulfate groups along the fourfold axis. Silvialite is a primary cumulate phase precipitated from alkali basalt at 900–1000°C and 8–12 kbar under high fSO2 and fO2. The name silvialite, currently used in literature to describe the sulfate analogue of meionite, was suggested by Brauns (1914).

Parenting, Eating and Activity for Child Health (PEACH) is a multi-component lifestyle intervention for families with overweight and obese children. PEACH was translated from an efficacious randomised-controlled trial (RCT) and delivered at scale as PEACH Queensland (QLD) in Queensland, Australia. The aim of this study is to explore pre–post changes in parenting, and child-level eating, activity and anthropometry, in the PEACH QLD service delivery project. PEACH QLD enrolled 926 overweight/obese children (817 families). Pre-programme evaluation was completed for 752 children and paired pre–post-programme evaluation data were available for 388 children. At baseline, children with pre–post-programme data were (mean) 8·8 years old, and at follow-up were 9·3 years old, with mean time between pre–post-programme measures of 0·46 years. Outcomes reflected each domain of the PEACH programme: parenting, eating behaviour of the child and activity behaviours (means reported). Parents reported improvements in parenting self-efficacy (3·6 to 3·7, P=0·001). Children had improved eating behaviours: eating more daily serves of vegetables (2·0 to 2·6, P=0·001) and fewer non-milk sweetened beverages (0·9 to 0·6, P=0·001) and discretionary foods (2·2 to 1·5, P=0·001). Children spent more time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (86 to 105 min/d, P=0·001) and less time in sedentary screen-based behaviours (190 to 148 min/d, P=0·001). Consequently, there were significant improvements in mean BMIz (−0·112; P<0·001) and weight status (healthy weight/overweight/obese/morbidly obese prevalence from 0/22/33/45 % to 2/27/34/37 %, P<0·001). When delivered at scale, PEACH remains an effective family-based, multi-component, lifestyle weight management programme for overweight and obese children whose families engage in the programme.

Many parts of the world rely on nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to improve farming production and increase yields. There are significant food security as well as socio-economic issues at stake. However, it is also clear that fertilizer loads are particularly damaging to aquatic environments, including lakes, rivers, coral reefs, and wetlands. This article explores governance approaches to fertilizer practices that impact on aquatic environments (eutrophication) by examining a case study of the Great Barrier Reef. Governance involves any and all forms of state and non-state control over a given set of issues. It can include, but is not limited to, rule-based approaches like regulation, although it can also involve market-driven measures like nutrient trading schemes, government grants and other financial incentives. So, which approach to governance works best to combat this particular policy question? What other insights into the design of effective regulation and governance can be gathered? In this article, the authors make three broad arguments for change: firstly, it is crucial that regulation features within government strategies; secondly, there must be a rigorous systematic evaluation of the strategies to ensure that the desired behavioural change is achieved along with the desired outcomes; thirdly, and most importantly, the strategies and the evaluation methods must be appropriate for the culture of the industry they are designed to regulate.

Preliminary phytolith analysis of ephemeral lake fill sediment at Long Pocket, near Toomba, northeast Queensland, Australia, indicates that a C4-dominated grassland with a minor woody component has been present in the region since ca. 8000 cal yr B.P. Based on the modern distribution of C4 and C3 native grasses in Australia, this suggests that mean summer temperatures of at least 14°C (ca. 10°C cooler than present) were maintained since the early Holocene. This interpretation is comparable with previous studies, which together imply that the establishment of C4-dominated grasses in central and northeast Australia occurred between the last glacial maximum (most likely after ca. 16,000 14C yr B.P.) and ca. 7200 14C yr B.P. (ca. 8000 cal yr B.P.). Taxonomic composition of the grassland appears relatively consistent since the early Holocene at Long Pocket and includes phytoliths comparable with those from modern Arundinoideae, Panicoideae, and Chloridoideae. Rare non-grass phytoliths are also present. A gradual decrease in abundance of saddle phytolith forms (attributed to Chloridoideae grasses) from the base of the record at ca. 6500–7000 cal yr B.P. suggests decreasing aridity throughout the Holocene. This trend could reflect a locally drawn out effect of the end of the postglacial arid period due to the well-drained basalt flow catchment maintaining a local arid habitat for the Chloridoideae grasses.

In Queensland, Australia, community legal centres utilise a range of different types of information technology to provide legal advice and assistance to their clients, which include marginalised and disadvantaged groups. In this article Emma Phillips and James Farrell considers the use and efficacy of different types of information technology within the community legal sector, discussing the findings of recent empirical research on this issue in the context of the relevant research literature. The article then explores issues associated with the use of information technology in the provision of legal information and advice, including the limitations associated with this technology in the context of the delivery of legal assistance to vulnerable clients.

A new species in the Old World genus Debregeasia (Urticaceae), D. australis Friis, Wilmot-Dear & C.J.Chen, based on material from forest habitats in eastern Queensland, Australia, is described, illustrated and mapped. A new synopsis of the genus and a new key to species recognised is provided as a supplement to the revision of Debregeasia by C. M. Wilmot-Dear in 1988. Debregeasia orientalis, described from China since 1988, is accepted, species from China and Bangladesh (D. elliptica and D. dentata) are reinstated, and other taxonomic changes made since the revision of 1988 are summarised.