As it happened: Brisbane on Thursday, September 12

Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has described the death of a Gold Coast police officer, identified as Senior Sergeant Brendan Wiblen, as absolutely devastating.

Wiblen, 58, died on Wednesday near Glen Innes in New South Wales while riding in the annual Wall to Wall memorial ride for fallen officers.

Wiblen was riding in the annual Wall to Wall Ride charity event, which honours fallen police officers.Credit: Nine News

The Queensland Police Service said Wiblen had a distinguished career spanning 28 years, working as both a district duty officer and an officer in charge.

“This is a heartbreaking loss for our entire service, particularly for Brendan’s colleagues on the Gold Coast, who worked closely with him day in and day out,” Gollschewski said.

“His passing will have a significant impact on officers who not only valued his leadership but also considered him as a dear friend.”

South Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner Brian Swan said Wiblen was a dedicated officer, who was highly thought of by his colleagues and known for his attention to detail.

Thanks for joining us for Brisbane Times’ live news blog today. We’ll be back tomorrow morning.

In case you missed them, here are some of today’s top stories:

Drivers in Brisbane’s western suburbs have been warned to prepare for disruption as a major river crossing closes to traffic for more than two weeks for maintenance.

Older Australians will be given more support to postpone any move into residential aged care under a major federal policy change.

A study of childcare in developed countries has highlighted the need for reform in Australia, with data showing families from wealthy suburbs have far better access to services.

A US town has become a focal point for racist memes after Donald Trump and his vice-presidential nominee, J.D. Vance, claimed Haitian immigrants had been eating residents’ pets.

And Australia recruits a handful of tradies to help man its three Antarctic stations each winter. This year, in an unexpected bonus, two of them turned out to be excellent photographers.

Hot on the heels of the US presidential debate, Queensland is set to televise its own election debate between Premier Steven Miles and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli.

The one-hour October 3 event will be televised live from 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now.

News anchor Melissa Downes will host the debate alongside Brisbane Times editor Sean Parnell, Nine News’ state political reporter, Tim Arvier, and 4BC Afternoons presenter Sofie Formica.

Queenslanders head to the polls for the state election on October 26.

Former British prime minister Liz Truss is heading to Brisbane.

Truss was the shortest-serving leader in the country’s history, holding the top job for just 49 days from September 2022.

On Thursday, she was confirmed as a speaker at this year’s CPAC Australia conservative conference at The Sofitel on October 5 and 6.

Former prime minister Liz Truss was Britain’s shortest-serving leader.Credit: AP

“Truss has been a steadfast advocate for free markets, individual liberty, and strong national defence,” a statement on the event website says.

“Known for her commitment to conservative values and economic reform, [she] continues to be a leading voice in British and global politics.”

Other speakers will include Queensland senator Matt Canavan, former premier Campbell Newman, and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.

Former Wallabies golden boy James O’Connor will depart Australian rugby, ending his time at the Queensland Reds to pursue overseas opportunities.

The 64-Test star, who came off contract this year, endured a frustrating 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign after suffering a hamstring injury in the pre-season.

James O’Connor is leaving the Reds to pursue overseas opportunities.Credit: Stuart Walmsley

While the 34-year-old’s next destination is not yet known, his legacy at Ballymore will endure, having spent much of the year operating as a mentor to developing five-eighths Tom Lynagh and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.

“These last five years have been the highlight of my rugby career,” O’Connor said.

“I’m so proud of where we have gotten to as a group. Although there have been highs and lows, the consistency – and just the love – at this club has been so incredible to be a part of.

“I’m departing Queensland a better player, leader and man, and I’m so grateful to have been able to play for this team, my home.”

People can take green waste to the tip free of charge on three spring weekends in preparation for severe summer storms.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned a La Nina weather system could form later this year, which could bring wet and wild weather this summer.

Brisbane City Council will waive the cost of depositing green waste at the tip on the second weekend of each month during spring – September 14 and 15, October 12 and 13, and November 9 and 10.

The city’s four resource recovery centres – at Nudgee Beach, Willawong, Ferny Grove and Chandler – will be open from 6.30am to 5.45pm.

More than 16,800 residents used free green waste drop-off weekends last year, disposing of more than 2700 tonnes and saving $312,000 in fees.

The government has struck a deal with the Coalition to address increasing financial pressures in the aged care sector, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying 1.4 million Australians will benefit from a new ‘support at home’ program by 2035.

Speaking in Canberra today, Albanese said $4.3 billion would be invested in the program to come into effect on the first of July next year.

Anthony Albanese said $4.3 billion would be invested in the program to come into effect on the first of July next year.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

A federal government aged care taskforce warned last month that the sector would need a $37 billion investment boost by 2050 to build enough places and services, but Labor and the Coalition could not reach a deal on the reforms in parliament last week despite intense negotiations.

Albanese also said there would be changes including providing certainty that nobody already in aged care would be asked to contribute more to the cost of their care.

Other changes included new laws to protect older Australians in aged care with stronger powers to investigate bad behaviour and civil penalties for breaching standards.

New parents are set to receive a superannuation boost on top of government-funded paid parental leave, with laws locking in 12 per cent super payments for up to six months passing the House of Representatives today.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was a critical reform that “will help narrow the gender gap in retirement savings”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that new super payments for parental leave will “narrow the gender gap”.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“The first months of your child’s life are so special, exhausting at times, but uplifting every day ... you can’t put a price on spending that precious time with your new bub, and you shouldn’t pay a price for it either,” he said.

With the Coalition backing the government changes, the super payments are all but assured to become law for an estimated 180,000 families each year. The changes will apply to eligible parents with babies born or adopted from July 2025.

While government-paid parental leave is currently at 22 weeks, it will be expanded to six months from 2026.

The maximum amount parents will receive in superannuation will be $113 a week from 2025-26.

Families will get up to $3000 in total in super during the entire six months of parental leave.

The final question time of this Queensland parliament has wrapped up, with three questions and their responses probably summing up the focus of the week best: crime and personal attacks.

LNP leader David Crisafulli used his first to Premier Steven Miles to ask if he would apologise to victims of youth crime, and his second to ask if Miles’ vote to “weaken” laws in 2016 “created the youth crime crisis”.

“For us, it’s about keeping Queenslanders safe,” Miles said, pointing to Labor’s community safety bill passed last month.

“The member for Broadwater is following through on the LNP strategy that the police spokesperson put in the Queensland Police Union journal: using crime to win votes.”

Miles, later responding to a question from a Labor backbencher, hit out at Crisafulli’s “secret plans” to cut services and “plans to legislate control of women’s bodies” – a reference to abortion opposition withdrawn under parliamentary rules after Crisafulli rose to take offence.

“The leader of the opposition hopes to stay invisible, hopes Queenslanders never work out who he is, but the fact of the matter is, Queenslanders are smarter than that … you’re just the warmed-up leftovers of a government they rejected 10 years ago,” Miles said.

Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has described the death of a Gold Coast police officer, identified as Senior Sergeant Brendan Wiblen, as absolutely devastating.

Wiblen, 58, died on Wednesday near Glen Innes in New South Wales while riding in the annual Wall to Wall memorial ride for fallen officers.

Wiblen was riding in the annual Wall to Wall Ride charity event, which honours fallen police officers.Credit: Nine News

The Queensland Police Service said Wiblen had a distinguished career spanning 28 years, working as both a district duty officer and an officer in charge.

“This is a heartbreaking loss for our entire service, particularly for Brendan’s colleagues on the Gold Coast, who worked closely with him day in and day out,” Gollschewski said.

“His passing will have a significant impact on officers who not only valued his leadership but also considered him as a dear friend.”

South Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner Brian Swan said Wiblen was a dedicated officer, who was highly thought of by his colleagues and known for his attention to detail.

A Queensland police officer has died in a motorcycle crash while participating in a memorial ride for his fallen colleagues.

The serving police officer was participating in the Wall to Wall Ride of Remembrance on the Gwydir Highway, around 20 kilometres east of Glen Innes, when the 58-year-old lost control while trying to overtake another rider.

The ride left Brisbane on Wednesday with the Queensland police officers making their way to Armidale when the officer lost control.

The motorcycle went down an embankment and crashed. He died at the scene.

Queensland premier Steven Miles shared his condolences on social media.

“Devastated to hear an off-duty Queensland police officer has died during the Wall to Wall memorial ride near Glen Innes,” he said.

“My deepest condolences to family, friends and all members of the Qld Police Service.”

The circumstances of the crash are under investigation.