As it happened: Brisbane on Wednesday, May 7

Queensland Rail’s Doomben line will run on Sundays and public holidays from June 1, as part of more than 100 new weekly train services to be added to the commuter railway network in the coming weeks.

The new weekday services are “contra-peak”, which means they run outbound from the CBD in the morning, and inbound in the afternoon.

More than 100 new weekly services will be added to south-east Queensland’s commuter railway network.Credit: Tammy Law

More than 45 contra-peak services will be added to the Cleveland line that runs through Brisbane’s south-eastern suburbs, and more than 40 will be added to the Ferny Grove line servicing suburbs in Brisbane’s north-west.

The Cleveland and Ferny Grove changes will take effect from Monday, May 19.

“We’re always looking to make it easier and more accessible to catch public transport and we’re pleased to be delivering these improvements for customers,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said in a statement.

Thanks for joining us for live coverage of today’s news. We will have more for you in our next coverage.

If you’re just catching up, here are some of the stories that made headlines today:

A child has died in a house fire in Toowoomba, with six other people in hospital, some fighting for their lives, with police saying the homicide squad had been notified.

In the trial of accused triple murderer Erin Patterson, the jury has heard evidence from Matthew Patterson about his relationship with his brother, Simon, and sister-in-law Erin.

Peter Dutton has spoken for the first time about the Coalition’s election loss, Tim Wilson has claimed victory in Goldstein and Nationals senator Matt Canavan has suggested re-evaluating the partnership with the Liberals. Follow the latest developments.

President Donald Trump has backtracked significantly from his pledge to sign trade deals with other countries to reduce or eliminate tariffs, saying he will instead set a price to “shop” in the US, which he compared to a luxury department store.

And two giant eagles from The Hobbit films that have delighted tourists and scared children for more than a decade will be removed from their terminal, Wellington Airport announced on Monday.

Earlier today, we asked Brisbane City Council about homeless people being given notices to remove their belongings from Musgrave Park by today.

We’ve now been told this is a continuation of the council’s new approach to camps in parks to ask people who refuse accommodation to move on within 24 hours, which was announced in March, and unrelated to the Paniyiri festival.

A council spokeswoman said Brisbane residents had grown “increasingly concerned about the violence, drug use and anti-social behaviour occurring in tent encampments in parks”.

A joint operation involving the Housing Department, police, Queensland Health and council has focused on Davies and Musgrave parks in West End, Curlew and Einbunpin Lagoon parks in Sandgate, and Brighton and Decker parks in Brighton.

Paniyiri will be held in Musgrave Park in South Brisbane on May 17 and 18, and the relocation of homeless people from the park ahead of the Greek festival tends to spark news stories annually.

Protesters descended on Musgrave Park this morning after hearing about the council notices being handed out.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has paid tribute to the outgoing federal member for Dickson, Peter Dutton.

“He’s an amazing human being,” Bleijie told reporters today.

“He’s going through what all people do, with grief, of losing not only your local seat but an election. There’s a lot of soul-searching to do for my colleagues in the federal Liberal Party and National Party and no doubt they’ll be doing that over the coming weeks.”

Asked whether the Queensland government would offer Dutton a public service job or board role, Bleijie said he was not being considered for any state positions.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie will make the North Harbour project at Burpengary East a Priority Development Area.

In an effort to fast-track development, future stages of the Moreton Bay project will be given the same state support as other PDAs, including nearby Caloundra South and Waraba.

“By declaring it a PDA for 3700 homes, creates amazing opportunities and growth, over $450 million investment into this local region,” Bleijie said today.

“It also creates opportunities for local businesses.”

The latest Queensland youth justice census reveals an increase in the proportion of young people in custody who have a disability, mental health or behavioural disorder.

According to the 2024 data, 53 per cent have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (up from 31 per cent in 2023), 38 per cent have a cognitive or intellectual disability (up from 29 per cent), 25 per cent have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (up from 15 per cent), and 15 per cent have autism spectrum disorder (up from 8 per cent).

The data also shows an increase in the proportion of detainees with anxiety (33 per cent, up from 20 per cent), post-traumatic stress disorder (25 per cent, up from 12 per cent), and depression (24 per cent, up from 14 per cent).

In 2024, 88 per cent of detainees were male, 75 per cent were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 70 per cent had experienced or been affected by domestic and family violence, 55 per cent were totally disengaged from education, training or employment, 38 per cent had a parent who had been held in adult custody, and 33 per cent were living in unstable or unsuitable accommodation.

The data, published by the Queensland government, was based on information collected by case workers.

We reported earlier that council officers have given people sleeping rough in Musgrave Park in South Brisbane notice to remove their belongings and leave ahead of the Paniyiri Greek Festival, sparking a snap protest this morning.

The snap protest came after council workers told homeless people to leave Musgrave Park ahead of Paniyiri.Credit: Community Union Defence League - Queensland

Paniyiri volunteer organising committee co-chair Chris Kazonis said the festival hired Musgrave Park, and was being led by Brisbane City Council and the state’s housing department in managing rough sleepers.

As in 2024, Paniyiri will be compliant with all recommendations they require the festival to operate under, which could include the changing of perimeter fencing and placing of infrastructure.

The festival is still awaiting final instructions from Brisbane City Council.

We understand that the authorities have been consulting with the people sleeping in the park daily, and we will be organising the layout of the festival as directed by the authorities once their plans have been finalised.

Last year we changed the map and layout of the event six times in the two weeks leading up to the event to accommodate this.

Musgrave Park is located opposite the Greek Orthodox Church of St George and The Greek Club. In past decades, Paniyiri has grown from a simple picnic in the park to a two-day festival and charity fundraiser.

Brisbane City Council has also been contacted for comment.

Queensland Rail’s Doomben line will run on Sundays and public holidays from June 1, as part of more than 100 new weekly train services to be added to the commuter railway network in the coming weeks.

The new weekday services are “contra-peak”, which means they run outbound from the CBD in the morning, and inbound in the afternoon.

More than 100 new weekly services will be added to south-east Queensland’s commuter railway network.Credit: Tammy Law

More than 45 contra-peak services will be added to the Cleveland line that runs through Brisbane’s south-eastern suburbs, and more than 40 will be added to the Ferny Grove line servicing suburbs in Brisbane’s north-west.

The Cleveland and Ferny Grove changes will take effect from Monday, May 19.

“We’re always looking to make it easier and more accessible to catch public transport and we’re pleased to be delivering these improvements for customers,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said in a statement.

Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has denied there is any rift between marquee forward David Fifita and coach Des Hasler, following the former State of Origin star’s shift to the Queensland Cup.

While the Gold Coast suffered a Magic Round defeat to the Bulldogs, Fifita was lining up for the Ipswich Jets, finishing with just 58 running metres from nine carries.

The Titans’ David Fifita needs to work on some areas of his game, according to mate and captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.Credit: Getty Images

Fa’asuamaleaui, who is close friends with Fifita and reportedly played a strong role in convincing him to stay rather than take up an offer with the Sydney Roosters, believes he and Hasler are “sweet”.

“With Dave, it’s just trying to keep him up, making sure he’s OK and how his personal life is, how his head is, and being there as a mate,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.

“The coach is the coach for a reason: he makes decisions for what is best for the team and the club, and whatever the coach says, I back.

“I just think there are some areas he needs to work on in his game and make sure he sorts some stuff out away from here. They definitely get along, Des has backed him since the beginning. They’re sweet.”

The homicide squad has been notified about the house fire in Toowoomba that claimed the life of a child, and left six other people injured, but police would not be drawn on what they believe caused the blaze.

Detective Inspector Renee Garske addressed the media in Toowoomba moments ago, but she declined to answer questions about the circumstances of the fatal fire, saying the investigation was in its infancy.

She said neither the man nor the woman who escaped the burning home were under police guard in hospital, despite the homicide squad being notified.

Read more here.

Detective Inspector Renee Garske speaks to the media about the house fire in Toowoomba that has claimed the life of a child and left a woman, toddler, and primary-school-aged girl fighting for their lives.