Cairns

It is alleged she lit a fire under a bed in the room she had been sharing with two children on Sunday morning.

More than 160 people were evacuated as fire took hold in the 11-storey Pacific Hotel. No-one was injured.

It came as Australia confirmed two cases of the new coronavirus variant which is prompting new restrictions.

Omicron was first reported by South Africa, and has been classified as "of concern" by the World Health Organization (WHO) with early evidence suggesting a higher re-infection risk.

Seven solders will undertake military skills courses with the Australian army once they have completed their mandatory quarantine period.

According to the Australian High Commission in Tonga, the remaining 21 who are crew members of the VOEA Ngahau Koula will travel to Cairns when they have completed quarantine requirements.

They will re-crew the Guardian Class Patrol boat for its passage back to Tonga.

The Ngahau Koula has undertaken a period of maintenance in Australia.

Once it returns to Tonga it will join its sister Ship Ngahau Siliva.

The incident happened on the 17th fairway at Paradise Palms Golf Course in Cairns at the weekend.

The scrub python, Australia's longest snake, often ambushes prey by hiding in trees or long grass.

A course manager said the display did not deter golfers from finishing their rounds.

Robert Willemse, a club member for almost 10 years, said the snake was spotted wrapped around the marsupial in the middle of the fairway.

"Everybody was pretty surprised. It's quite an unusual thing to see," he told the BBC.