For today’s news updates in Brisbane and beyond as they happen, follow us here.
For today’s news updates in Brisbane and beyond as they happen, follow us here.
Incidents of violence, threats and menacing conduct across Queensland’s construction industry will be investigated in a new inquiry.
Mark Irving, who was put in charge of the beleaguered Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union, has announced the new, Queensland-focused investigation.
“The inquiry will concern conduct by employees of the union, former officials and also employers in the industry who engage in violence and menacing conduct,” he told the ABC.
“Current and former employees of the union will be required to co-operate in exposing the culture of violence. Action will be taken against any employer which seeks to victimise or target delegates and members who cooperate with the investigation.”
The announcement comes after a CFMEU organiser’s car was firebombed in NSW the early hours of Monday morning.
The Queensland floods this month were mainly driven by human-caused climate change, which intensified the meteorological conditions that led to the event, a study has found.
The flooding rains that have isolated towns and cut off main supply routes were most likely linked to a marine heatwave in the Coral Sea.
A research team from ClimaMeter has found that the meteorological conditions that led to the heavy rain are up to 20 per cent wetter along the Queensland coast, up to 20 per cent windier offshore, and 1.5 degrees warmer than in the past.
The study, which analyses changes in weather patterns from 1979 to 2023, concludes that the extreme precipitation leading to the flooding is mostly attributable to human-induced climate change, with natural climate variability playing a minor role.
ClimaMeter is a project funded by the European Union and the French National Centre for Scientific Research. The methodology used is available here.
And now to breaking news from the White House, where US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are holding a joint press conference:
Trump has announced he wants the US to take ownership of the Gaza Strip and redevelop it after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere.
“We will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump said.
He added the US would level destroyed buildings and “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area”.
The comments came after Trump earlier suggested that displaced Palestinians in Gaza be “permanently” resettled outside the war-torn territory in “beautiful” new towns in nearby Arab nations where they won’t “be worried about dying every day”.
He pushed the case during a bilateral meeting with Netanyahu at the White House, arguing the 15-month war between Israel and Hamas that has destroyed much of the territory meant Gazans would no longer want to return or live there.
“Gaza is a demolition site … there’s hardly a building standing,” Trump said. “You can’t live in Gaza right now, and I think we need another location. Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They live like they’re living in hell.”
Turning to a tragedy in Sydney, where a toddler was found unresponsive in a car outside a childcare centre yesterday.
The 15-month-old girl was pulled from the back of a car outside the Jelly Beings Early Learning Centre in Earlwood about 5.30pm on Tuesday.
Neighbour Roy Gomes was mowing his lawn when he heard the screams of the little girl’s distraught father.
“It all happened so quick; he was screaming, the poor guy, he kept screaming ‘I killed my daughter’,” Gomes said.
“I didn’t sleep much last night; I can see the little baby’s face all night … she was just floppy, no life. It’s really shattering.”
Police have spoken to the child’s father, who has not been arrested or charged with a crime. They believe he was picking up his daughter from the daycare centre when he discovered he had accidentally left her in the car during the day.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak to the media at the White House following their first meeting since Trump’s return to office.
Hear what they have to say with our livestream:
Flood-hit communities starting to return to their homes are being warned to brace for more heavy downpours, which have already claimed the lives of two people, in the coming days.
Ingham has been one of the worst hit, with power and road access cut as the nearby Herbert River rose beyond a 15.2m flood record set almost 60 years ago.
Its community is reeling after an elderly woman’s body was found in a cane field yesterday.
The 82-year-old became the second flood-related fatality after days of downpours that have completely isolated the town, with fresh water, food and diesel supplies believed to be running low.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned major flooding is ongoing in multiple catchments despite isolated and less widespread showers.
Major flood warnings were still in place for the Herbert and Haughton river catchments late on Tuesday after the region was lashed by rain.
“Water is still moving through these catchment systems so that risk of riverine flooding will continue … likely over the next few days as we gradually start to see river levels falling,” the bureau’s Miriam Bradbury said.
Widespread 24-hour rainfall totals across the coast dropped to 50mm to 100mm, with Mackay copping 193mm with around 200mm along the coastline spanning Cairns and Innisfail.
However, the bureau warned cumulative rainfall totals from the past week were driving the ongoing flood risk for the region.
AAP
“Really heavy” traffic delays are being reported across the city after a major tunnel was closed with little warning this morning.
The Legacy Way Tunnel, which connects Toowong in the west to the Inner City Bypass at Kelvin Grove, was unexpectedly shut in both directions for emergency roadworks about 6am.
“It’s bumper to bumper,” 4BC traffic reporter Olympia Kwitowski tells us.
“There are really heavy delays on the Western Freeway heading inbound from the Jindalee Bridge and past Mount Coot-tha. It’s also causing delays on that side on Moggill Road and that’s really heavy inbound, so delays are through Kenmore from that.
“Travelling the other way … there are inbound delays from the Breakfast Creek tunnel in Albion.
“If this is a sign of what the roads would be like if we didn’t have a tunnel, it shows we absolutely need this tunnel.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a phone call last night with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while also raising the welfare of Australian prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins.
In a statement from the prime minister’s office, it was confirmed Albanese underlined Australia’s ongoing support for Ukraine through military equipment and other assistance, such as sanctions to hold Russia to account.
Zelensky expressed his gratitude for Australia’s support, both materially and otherwise.
Albanese took the opportunity to discuss the welfare of Jenkins as the government continues to put pressure on Russia to release the captured soldier.
For more on Jenkins and the fears for his welfare, read our full story here.
Closure of a major tunnel in Toowong is causing significant delays for commuters.
Legacy Way Tunnel is shut in both directions for emergency roadworks before 6am.
“Long delays [are] expected … use alternative routes,” a Queensland traffic warning says.
Heavy traffic is building up at both ends of the tunnel, on Milton Road and the Inner City Bypass.
The companies behind Spring Hill hotel Soho Brisbane are taking legal action over plans for a 15-storey hotel that would overlook their establishment, Roma Street Parkland and the CBD.
Soho Corporation and Starville have filed a notice of appeal in the Planning and Environment Court arguing Brisbane City Council was wrong to approve the Wickham Hill development application in December.
The companies argue the approved height, scale and form of the hotel, to be built at 309 Wickham Terrace, does not suit Spring Hill, would infringe on their land and business, and cause too much disruption during construction.
While the developer convinced the council the hotel design reflected “the heritage identity of Wickham, drawing inspiration from Athol Place, Craigston and Spring Hill Reservoir”, the companies argue it “does not reinforce the diverse architecture and urban form that characterises Spring Hill”.
It is one of several new hotels planned for Brisbane ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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