As it happened: Brisbane on Wednesday, May 14

Well, not today. Don’t forget your brolly on the commute home, as heavy falls are expected in Brisbane this afternoon and into the night.

“Later today and tonight will see showers develop and become widespread in Brisbane, with the potential to see 15 to 30 millimetres in many parts of the city over the coming 24 hours,” the Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement.

“Amounts will tail off further inland, with less expected in the western suburbs out to Ipswich.”

Don’t forget your umbrella.Credit: William Davis

Brisbane has experienced a rather soggy autumn thanks to a persistent “blocking” high-pressure system over southern Australian and warmer than average sea surface temperatures.

This kind of synoptic setup brings isolated showers, climatologist Felicity Gamble from the bureau said.

“It doesn’t mean consistent rain. It means clouds come over and it can get quite cool and rainy for a moment and then it moves on and it becomes sunny,” she says.

This “mixed bag of weather” is expected to continue until the end of the month.

“We’re expecting a dry change in June,” Gamble said.

Thanks for joining us for live coverage of today’s news. We will have more for you in our next live news coverage. In the meantime, these are some of the stories that made headlines today:

A Brisbane City Council bus driver charged over the death of 18-year-old Tia Cameron in the CBD will fight the case at trial in September.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price shocked the allies who brought her into the Liberal Party when she did not put her hand up to run as deputy once her running mate, Angus Taylor, lost the leadership ballot against Sussan Ley.

An Australian labourer who travelled to fight with Ukraine’s foreign legion after Russia’s invasion is feared to have died in battle in recent weeks.

The Brisbane Truck Show takes place at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, May 15-18, with adult single day tickets costing $25. Here’s a preview of what’s in store.

Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn says the banking giant expects the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates next week and further reductions are probably on the cards later this year, highlighting the decline in inflation.

Stephen Bartholomeusz writes that the latest US inflation data shows the US inflation rate was edging towards the Federal Reserve’s target range. Then Donald Trump launched his trade war on the rest of the world.

When Casandra Ventura sued Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2023, alleging years of rape and abuse, the suit was settled within hours. But it sparked dozens of similar legal claims in a criminal investigation. This is who she is.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s Super Rugby season is over and his preparations for the British and Irish Lions series are under a cloud after scans revealed he has fractured his jaw.

The NRL is targeting its biggest Las Vegas venture yet – with the potential to crack 50,000 fans on US soil for the first time – after locking in Canterbury, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland to play in 2026.

Suncorp Stadium would be willing to facilitate Brisbane Roar’s move to Perry Park, as the venue’s events calendar gets increasingly congested with the overlapping A-League and summer concert seasons.

Last week, Roar chief executive Kaz Patafta said the club was looking at moving games to a redeveloped Perry Park, with Sports Minister Tim Mander later confirming negotiations were well advanced and expected an announcement “in the near future”.

The club could continue to play some higher-drawing games at Suncorp Stadium, Patafta said, as the club searched for a “hybrid” solution to its home ground woes.

Brisbane Roar has struggled to draw crowds to Suncorp Stadium since the club returned to the venue.Credit: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham said the venue would be happy to work with the Roar on “any arrangements that suit them” but higher-drawing concerts would always be the venue’s priority.

“We’ve got to take a broader view of what the stadium’s here for,” he said.

“Yes, it hosts sporting events, but it’s such a big driver of economic prosperity and impact throughout the precinct, the city and the state.

“We’ve got a broader portfolio there that we also need to keep in mind.”

Graham said the fixture congestion over the summer months was a reality for the stadium.

“We will obviously keep working hand in hand with the Roar and we’ll try and work with them as best we can – they’re always welcome here,” he said.

“We’ve got a got a good relationship with them. Like any other tenant, we just have to work with them. It’s just one of the juggling acts that we need to do.”

Just this weekend, it was announced the Edinburgh Military Tattoo would be held at the stadium from February 12 to 15, in the middle of the 2025-26 A-League season.

Well, not today. Don’t forget your brolly on the commute home, as heavy falls are expected in Brisbane this afternoon and into the night.

“Later today and tonight will see showers develop and become widespread in Brisbane, with the potential to see 15 to 30 millimetres in many parts of the city over the coming 24 hours,” the Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement.

“Amounts will tail off further inland, with less expected in the western suburbs out to Ipswich.”

Don’t forget your umbrella.Credit: William Davis

Brisbane has experienced a rather soggy autumn thanks to a persistent “blocking” high-pressure system over southern Australian and warmer than average sea surface temperatures.

This kind of synoptic setup brings isolated showers, climatologist Felicity Gamble from the bureau said.

“It doesn’t mean consistent rain. It means clouds come over and it can get quite cool and rainy for a moment and then it moves on and it becomes sunny,” she says.

This “mixed bag of weather” is expected to continue until the end of the month.

“We’re expecting a dry change in June,” Gamble said.

The man at the centre of a stand-off with police in Brisbane’s north yesterday has been charged, after police found a gel blaster in his home.

Police cordoned off streets in Bridgeman Downs and told residents to stay indoors shortly after receiving reports about a man armed with a gun inside a house on Bangalow Street about 7.30am.

The 33-year-old man was arrested around 9am yesterday.

“It will be alleged that during a search of the property, a gel blaster was located and seized,” police said in a statement.

The man has since been issued a notice to appear for two counts of seriously assaulting a public officer, and one count of failing to store a restricted item.

Gel blasters, which can appear like real guns, shoot water-filled gel pellets and are often used in outdoor games like paintball.

They are legal in Queensland, but it is an offence to carry an unconcealed gel blaster in public, or to point it at someone.

Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn says Australia is in a good position to navigate a risky world economy, as the banking giant’s profits rose to $2.6 billion in the March quarter.

Comyn said it had been a “challenging period” for many households and businesses under pressure from the high cost of living, and the bank was providing support to customers who needed it most.

“Australia is in a relatively strong position to navigate the challenges”: Matt Comyn.Credit: Oscar Colman

Despite the risks, Comyn said inflation in Australia was declining, and noted government investment was helping to support employment and economic growth.

“There is heightened risk to the global economy from geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty which could slow the domestic economy. Australia is in a relatively strong position to navigate the challenges,” Comyn said in a statement.

Read the full report.

A Brisbane City Council bus driver charged over the CBD death of 18-year-old Tia Cameron will fight the case at trial.

Lindsay Francis Selby, 70, was charged with driving without due care and attention causing death, after the bus he was driving mounted the footpath, pinning Cameron against the wall of the Anzac Square Arcade building.

Bus driver Lindsay Selby after a previous court appearance.Credit: Cloe Read, Brisbane Times

Cameron, an administration worker, had left a lash appointment moments before she was hit.

At a hearing for the case in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning, Selby’s lawyer, Claire McGee, told the court the case would proceed to trial.

Read the full story.

Having experienced symptoms from a concussion suffered in the preseason, Queensland Reds utility Mason Gordon has announced his immediate retirement from rugby union.

Mason Gordon in his Reds kit.

The Sunshine Coast product, and brother of former Wallabies star-turned-NRL convert Carter Gordon, made the move back north of the Tweed after the collapse of the Melbourne Rebels, however has been unable to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the club.

Penning an open letter, the 22-year-old thanked the clubs, coaches and medical staff who had supported him throughout his career, and requested privacy as he came to terms with his new reality.

“Having the opportunity to make my Reds debut against the Welsh national team with my lifelong best mate Louis Werchon is a special memory, as was having the opportunity to tour Tonga, Japan and the UK as a Queensland Red,” Gordon wrote.

“My short time at the Reds was enjoyable, and the strong culture of the Reds means I am excited to watch their future success as a supporter.”

Federal vice-president of the Liberal Party Fiona Scott has quipped this morning that the appointment of Sussan Ley as opposition leader could only last a day.

Scott, who was an MP from 2013 until 2016, agreed her comments were cheeky as she gave a lacklustre endorsement of Ley’s future leadership.

Asked on Nine’s Today program how long Scott gives Ley in the role, she said: “I don’t know. I mean, a day’s a long time in politics.”

“That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement,” said host Karl Stefanovic.

Scott responded: “Well, you know, it could be a day. It won’t be a day ... but I mean, look, you don’t know what the political tides will bring.”

Ley did, in fact, receive full-throated support from many colleagues when she was elected leader yesterday.

It’s a far cry from the prime ministership of Liz Truss in the UK three years ago, when a tabloid newspaper cruelly livestreamed a video of a decomposing lettuce next to a photo of Truss, claiming the vegetable would outlast her prime ministership.

The lettuce won.

In March, after a steep decline in Tesla’s share price, Elon Musk told employees: “Hang on to your stock.”

The chair of Tesla’s board, Robyn Denholm, has not heeded his advice. Denholm has made $US198 million ($306 million) in the past six months selling Tesla stock that she earned for serving on the board, according to a New York Times analysis of securities filings.

Robyn Denholm earned the right to buy the stock options for serving on the board, a part-time position.Credit: Oscar Colman

That brings her total profit on the sale of Tesla stock to more than $US530 million since becoming the board’s leader in late 2018, far more than her peers have made at the most valuable US companies during that time, the analysis shows.

The share sales raise questions about Denholm’s confidence in Tesla’s prospects. Her most recent sales, executed under a prearranged trading plan filed last summer, came as CEO Musk took a time-consuming role in the Trump administration.

Tesla’s car sales have plunged partly because Musk’s political activities have turned off some car buyers. The company’s quarterly profit fell in the first three months of 2025 to its lowest level in four years.

Read more here.

As we’re reporting this morning, Brisbane City Council has formally adopted a new neighbourhood plan for Moorooka as it looks to turn the famous “Magic Mile of Motors” into a thriving, mixed-use ‘lifestyle’ precinct.

Here’s a look at Ipswich Road in Moorooka in decades past ...

Ipswich Road, Moorooka, around 1966.Credit: Brisbane City Council archives

Resurfacing Ipswich Road, Moorooka, in 1945.Credit: Brisbane City Council archives