Monday 5 October 2026Queensland edition
QLD Reporter

Local stories, community first — Brisbane and beyond.

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Community
Queensland's Accessibility Challenge: Fewer than 2% of Hotel Rooms Meet Needs

A new report has found that fewer than 2 per cent of hotel rooms in three major Queensland cities are accessible, as the state prepares to host the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics. The report's findings have sparked concerns about the state's readiness to accommodate travellers with disabilities during the Games.

18 days ago
Community
Ninth charged with murder over fatal Bahrs Scrub house party attack

A ninth person has been charged with murder over the death of a 21-year-old man at a house party in Bahrs Scrub, Logan. The teenager, a 17-year-old Inala boy, was charged with murder alongside eight others aged between 17 and 19.

19 days ago
Community
Men Deny Involvement in 1998 Disappearance of Joanne Butterfield

Two men, Concetto Anthony Tati and Michael Francis O'Donoghue, have denied any involvement in the 1998 disappearance of Far North Queensland mother Joanne Butterfield at a coronial inquest in Cairns. The inquest heard detectives had twice spoken to Mr Tati about Ms Butterfield's disappearance.

19 days ago
Community
Glenden Fears: Proposed Laws Threaten to Turn Town into Ghost Town

Plans to save a small Queensland mining community from becoming a ghost town are being scrapped under proposed laws. The community of Glenden was blindsided by the decision, with the local council and residents expressing disappointment and concern.

19 days ago
Community
Mackay Beach Crime Scene: Woman's Body Found on North Wall Beach

Police are investigating the death of a 31-year-old woman found on a Mackay beach on Tuesday morning. The woman, identified as Payge Faye Leembruggen, was last seen alive four days prior to her body being discovered.

19 days ago
Community
British Backpacker Boom Takes New Route in Australia

British backpackers are visiting Australia in record numbers, but the traditional working holiday has changed. The old journey north is disappearing as a result of changes to the working holiday visa rules.

19 days ago
Community
Gillnet fishers in Great Barrier Reef say report shows they can be sustainable

Commercial fishers in North Queensland are hoping a new report will convince the state and federal governments to reverse a planned ban on gillnets within the Great Barrier Reef. The report, commissioned by the fishers, suggests their netting practices are likely to pass international sustainability standards.

19 days ago
Community
Families Sue Matt Wright Over 'War Zone' Airboat Crash

Two families are suing Matt Wright and his company over an airboat crash in Bynoe Harbour that left them "terrified" and one passenger with a horrific head injury. The lawsuit alleges the 2023 crash left the group suffering physical and psychological injuries as a result of the crash.

19 days ago
Community
Joanne Butterfield investigation had 'heavy' suicide focus, detective tells inquest

A former detective has told a coronial inquest that he believed it was most likely Joanne Butterfield took her own life after she disappeared in 1998. The inquest is investigating whether Ms Butterfield has died and the adequacy of the police investigation into her disappearance.

20 days ago
Community
Man sentenced for 'callous' New Year one-punch attack on Gold Coast

A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in prison for a 'callous' one-punch attack on a 44-year-old man on New Year's Day at a Gold Coast shopping centre. The victim experienced 'significant' ongoing impacts from the incident, including memory loss and persistent headaches.

20 days ago
Community
Bilby Art Trail Brings Art and Conservation Together in Charleville

Charleville's new bilby art trail features six large cement sculptures, each weighing 300kg, in prominent spots across the town. The trail aims to celebrate the bilby's national day and educate visitors about the endangered species.

20 days ago
Community
Worker Critically Injured in Pipe Blast at Central Queensland Mine

A 71-year-old worker was critically injured in a pipe blast at a central Queensland mine on Saturday. The incident has prompted a safety alert from the state's mining regulator, Resources Safety and Health Queensland.

20 days ago
Community
Flying Fox Influx Overwhelms Mount Isa Suburb

A massive influx of flying foxes has overrun the Mount Isa suburb of Sunset, leaving residents frustrated and seeking action. The influx has resulted in droppings, dead animals, leaves, and fallen branches covering homes and gardens.

20 days ago
Community
Autistic Queensland man challenges 'ableist' driving standards

A Queensland man with autism has lodged a human rights complaint against the state's transport department, claiming the national fitness-to-drive standards are "demonstrably ableist". The complaint was sparked by changes to the guidelines in 2022, which included autism for the first time.

20 days ago
Community
Birthing care returns to Biloela, Cooktown after mum's three-year fight

Birthing services have returned to Biloela and Cooktown after more than four years on bypass, bringing relief to local expectant mothers. The services were shut down in 2022, forcing women to travel out of town for maternity care.

21 days ago
Community
Girl dies after suspected drug overdose in Queensland residential care

A girl has died after a suspected drug overdose while in the care of the Queensland government. The death has sparked calls for greater transparency and accountability in the state's child care system.

21 days ago
Community
Armed robbery: 11-year-old boy and 8-year-old companion arrested over Darwin hotel and restaurant hold-ups

An 11-year-old boy has been charged with armed robbery after allegedly holding up a Darwin fast-food restaurant and hotel at knifepoint with an eight-year-old companion. The pair were arrested a short time later by police who tracked their movements using CCTV.

21 days ago
Community
Queensland Farewells Beloved Former Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski

Queensland's former police commissioner, Steve Gollschewski, has been remembered for his extraordinary career and love for his family at a farewell ceremony in Brisbane. Mr. Gollschewski, who died this month aged 67, was a devoted family man and served in the Queensland Police Force for nearly five decades.

21 days ago
Community
Pioneering Judge Mary Gaudron Dies Aged 83

Tributes have been paid to pioneering Australian judge Mary Gaudron, who has died aged 83, for her groundbreaking contributions to the country's legal landscape. Ms Gaudron made history in 1987 when, at the age of 44, she became the first woman appointed to the High Court of Australia.

21 days ago
Community
Dugong Numbers Plummet in Gulf of Carpentaria, Prompting Calls for Action

Fishing industry and Indigenous community leaders are calling for further investigation into the steep decline of dugong numbers in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The number of dugongs has dropped by 50 per cent, from 10,000 in 2007 to 5,000 in 2025.

21 days ago
Community
Queensland Woman Dies in Tragic Fall at Popular Bali Beach

A 29-year-old Queensland woman, identified as Brianna Cronin, has died after falling from a cliff at a popular tourist beach on Nusa Penida island, east of Bali. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli expressing his condolences to the family.

22 days ago
Community
NDIS cuts therapy hours for Brisbane woman against expert advice

A Brisbane woman's physical therapy hours have been slashed by two-thirds by the National Disability Insurance Agency, against expert advice. April Coulson, who was left paralysed from the armpits down after a bleed on her spinal cord, says the cuts will put her at risk of injury and undermine her independence.

22 days ago
Community
Tropical Island Seeks Live-in Caretakers for Paradise Rent-Free

A tropical paradise with a population of just two is inviting live-in caretakers to join its community rent-free. Middle Percy Island, 125 kilometres south-east of Mackay in North Queensland, is seeking volunteers to help maintain its infrastructure and promote conservation.

22 days ago
Community
Massive Mullet Sculpture Makes a Splash at SWELL Festival

A supersized fish sculpture made from invasive weeds and plastic litter has taken pride of place at the 2026 SWELL Sculpture Festival on the southern Gold Coast. The massive mullet aims to inspire others to express themselves through art and promote environmental awareness.

23 days ago
Community
Man Charged with Murder After Fatal Stabbing in Townsville

A 47-year-old man has been charged with murder after a fatal stabbing in Townsville on Friday. The suspect, known to the 53-year-old victim, is expected to face court this morning.

23 days ago
Community
Cooler Days and Showers Loom for Queensland

A cool change is expected to bring scattered showers and cooler temperatures to Queensland's east coast this weekend. Up to 10mm of rainfall is expected in some areas, with isolated thunderstorms possible in the Channel Country.

23 days ago
Community
Couple's Island Elopement a Dream Come True

A Sunshine Coast couple has eloped to Lady Elliot Island for a simple beach wedding, swapping traditional vows for snorkelling in the island's beautiful coral beds. The intimate ceremony is part of a growing trend towards smaller, more intentional celebrations.

23 days ago
Community
Balcony solar systems set to become a reality in Australia

Australia may soon follow Germany and the UK in legalising plug-in solar and batteries, giving millions of apartment dwellers and renters access to renewable energy. The technology allows users to generate electricity and offset their energy bills without needing to install rooftop solar.

24 days ago
Community
Queensland Health Updates Fertility Clinic Guidance for Same-Sex Couples

Queensland's health department has updated guidance for fertility clinics, reclassifying same-sex couples who both carry a pregnancy as one family. The change follows concerns from several lesbian couples, including one woman who had to seek government permission to use her own embryos.

24 days ago
Community
ATO Employee Charged with Alleged Corruption and Child Abuse Material Offences

A Gold Coast man has been charged with allegedly disclosing information to organised crime syndicates while working at the Australian Taxation Office. The 32-year-old man has been suspended without pay and is due to face court later this month.

24 days ago
Community
Coal Mine Safety Alert: Vapes and Contraband Banned as Ignition Risks

A surge in reports of prohibited items, including vapes, being brought into coalmines has prompted a safety alert from the state's mining health regulator. The alert aims to remind workers to be vigilant when checking their personal belongings before entering mines.

24 days ago
Community
Triple murderer Darryl Young appeals against conviction and sentence

Darryl Valroy Young, a Queensland grazier and coal miner, has lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence for the triple murder of his neighbours at Bogie. Young was handed three life sentences with a 40-year non-parole period last week.

24 days ago
Community
Heritage-Listed Great Northern Hotel Destroyed in Townsville Fire

A heritage-listed hotel in Townsville's central business district has been destroyed in a fire that prompted a Public Safety Preservation Act to be declared. The Great Northern Hotel, built in 1900, was a popular gathering place for locals and had been a part of the town's history for over a century.

24 days ago
Community
Rural nurses 'left to sink or swim' in understaffed facilities

A recent study has found that graduate nurses in rural health facilities are feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of their workload, with many reporting that they are underprepared for the medical challenges they face. The study's findings have sparked calls for more training opportunities and support for rural nurses.

24 days ago
Community
Unpaid Rates Saga Ends: 33 Outback Homes Sold at Auction

The sale of 33 outback homes has brought an end to a months-long unpaid rates saga, but uncertainty remains for tenants. The properties, owned by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Welfare Services, were sold at auction for a total of $4.95 million.

24 days ago
Community
Young buyer wins out with heartfelt letter in historic Malanda cottage sale

A 25-year-old woman has bought her first home in Malanda, Far North Queensland, despite offering $60,000 less than a rival bidder. The historic 116-year-old cottage was sold to the young buyer after she penned a heartfelt letter to the seller.

24 days ago
Community
Queensland trials new whale-deterrent technology in shark nets

A trial is underway off the coast of Noosa Heads to test the effectiveness of high-frequency acoustic alarms in preventing whales from getting entangled in shark nets. The five-week trial is a collaboration between the University of Queensland, the state government, and the alarm supplier, Future Oceans.

24 days ago
Community
University of Queensland and Student Union in Funding Dispute

A dispute between the University of Queensland and its student union has reached a boiling point, with the university applying for a transition plan due to governance concerns. The student union has accused the university of attempting to interfere with funding allocated to the union due to its positions on social and political issues.

24 days ago
Community
AI traffic lights to be trialled on major Brisbane roads

Brisbane City Council is set to trial artificial intelligence-powered traffic lights on two major roads, with the aim of reducing travel times and improving road safety. The technology will be installed at 37 intersections across Logan Road and Kelvin Grove Road.

25 days ago
Community
Tiny Homes, Big Impact: Local Charity Helps At-Risk Youth Build Brighter Futures

A local charity is helping young people at risk of entering the juvenile justice system rebuild their future by teaching them construction skills and building tiny homes for those in need. The initiative has already seen 14 tiny homes built, with 90% of participants ending up in employment.

25 days ago