As it happened: Brisbane on Friday, April 11

A teenage boy held in a Queensland watch house for almost a month allegedly lacked sufficient fresh air, exercise, natural light and clean clothes or bedding, according to a new report from the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

“Watch houses are not a place for children,” Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall said in a statement on the release of the report, which calls for increased protections for children.

“The allegations in this report are concerning, and indicate a lack of protection, privacy and humane treatment for young people held in watch houses.”

It found watch houses in Queensland are not safe or humane for children, and made 10 recommendations including:

• Developing minimum standards relating to children in watch house custody;
• Ensuring minimum standards and complaints processes are explained to children on admission and displayed, for example, on an infographic poster that is visible to children at all times.
• Proactively monitoring minimum standards, and meeting shortfalls without requiring a child to make a complaint.
• Publishing youth justice policy in relation to the management of children in watch houses;
• Training for watch house officers and staff on the minimum standards, and additional specialised training on working with and meeting the needs of children for relevant officers and staff.

The full report can be read here.

Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of the news today. We’re taking a short break next week and will return after the Easter public holidays. We’ll see you then.

If you’re just joining us now, here are a few of the stories that made headlines today:

A woman impregnated through IVF has given birth to a stranger’s baby after an embryo mix-up at a Monash IVF fertility clinic in Brisbane.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed authorities have launched legal proceedings to protect him after a “serious incident”, as it emerged that a Brisbane teenager had allegedly plotted to harm Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in a terrorist attack.

The remains of 36 Aboriginal ancestors will be returned to Queensland following an emotional handover ceremony at London’s Natural History Museum, the latest step in a decades-long effort to repatriate the bodies of men and women taken during the colonial era.

The Coalition’s pledge to scrap fines for carmakers that exceed emissions caps imposed by Labor has raised concerns about new barriers to the influx of cheap EV models and entrenching petrol guzzlers that cost more to run.

A sightseeing helicopter broke apart in midair and crashed upside-down into the Hudson River between Manhattan and the New Jersey waterfront, killing six people, in the latest high-profile aviation disaster in the US.

And catch up on the week’s local, national and international news with our multiple-choice challenge, the Brisbane Times quiz.

A teenage boy held in a Queensland watch house for almost a month allegedly lacked sufficient fresh air, exercise, natural light and clean clothes or bedding, according to a new report from the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

“Watch houses are not a place for children,” Queensland Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall said in a statement on the release of the report, which calls for increased protections for children.

“The allegations in this report are concerning, and indicate a lack of protection, privacy and humane treatment for young people held in watch houses.”

It found watch houses in Queensland are not safe or humane for children, and made 10 recommendations including:

• Developing minimum standards relating to children in watch house custody;
• Ensuring minimum standards and complaints processes are explained to children on admission and displayed, for example, on an infographic poster that is visible to children at all times.
• Proactively monitoring minimum standards, and meeting shortfalls without requiring a child to make a complaint.
• Publishing youth justice policy in relation to the management of children in watch houses;
• Training for watch house officers and staff on the minimum standards, and additional specialised training on working with and meeting the needs of children for relevant officers and staff.

The full report can be read here.

A deadly drug in the shape of a teddy bear was detected hours before Brisbane’s only pill-testing service was shut down.

The discovery of nitazene was made by staff earlier this month at CheQpoint, Bowen Hills.

The deadly drug found at CheQpoint in Brisbane.

It was the fourth detection of the deadly synthetic opioid at the service between November and its closure by the state government this month.

“It is disturbing to learn,” Australian Medical Association Queensland President Dr Nick Yim said in a statement.

“This is why AMA Queensland has been a strong advocate for pill testing services as a harm minimisation strategy.

“We need to alert the public when dangerous substances like this are circulating in our community and we can only do that if we have systems to check for them.”

The government says it pulled the funding for pill testing because it believes the service does not protect people, and can be seen as a tacit endorsement of drug taking.

The remains of 36 Aboriginal ancestors will be returned to Australia following an emotional handover ceremony at London’s Natural History Museum, the latest step in a decades-long effort to repatriate the bodies of men and women taken during the colonial era.

The formal handover involved representatives from four regional Queensland communities – Woppaburra (Keppel Islands) and Warrgamay (Ingham), Wuthathi and Yadhaigana (Cape York) – and marks one of the largest culturally significant returns from a single British institution.

Filmmaker and actor Wayne Blair (centre) shares a moment with Smithy Wilson, a Wuthathi representative, during a repatriation ceremony at London’s Natural History Museum.Credit: Trustees of the Natural History Museum

Six of the ancestors have been positively identified and will be returned to their communities in the coming days. The remaining 30, believed to originate from Queensland, will be held under the federal government’s stewardship until their traditional custodians can be determined.

Read the full story.

Cirque Alice, a spectacular reimagining of Alice in Wonderland starring top international acrobats and contortionists, is now on at QPAC, which incidentally celebrates its 40th birthday on Saturday at the centre’s Melbourne Street Green from 9am.

Is it cake? Yes it is, at the International Cake Show Australia, which brings elaborate creations, celebrity chefs and bake-offs to Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Friday to Sunday.

The Tour de Brisbane takes off from Queen’s Wharf from 5.50am on Sunday with 50km, 80km and 120km bike rides. Courses span from the city to Jamboree Heights, Eight Mile Plains, Nundah, Mount Coot-tha and West End, with several road closures in place.

Famous historical portraits of Shakespeare, Dickens and others, plus relics like Jane Austen’s writing desk, are at HOTA on the Gold Coast from Saturday for Writers Revealed: Treasures from the British Library and National Portrait Gallery, London.

Laura Bunting (Katie) and Naomi Price (Calamity) in Queensland Theatre’s Calamity Jane.Credit: Morgan Roberts

Saddle up for Queensland Theatre’s Calamity Jane – Naomi Price stars as the Wild West legend in a deliriously funny update of the Doris Day musical, running until April 17.

Illusionist and Australia’s Got Talent finalist Michael Boyd presents a magic and illusion show, Mystique, at the Powerhouse this weekend, promising levitation, disappearances and escapes galore.1

Anthony Albanese says he spoke to Peter Dutton this morning after news broke that a Queensland schoolboy is facing court charged with planning a terrorist attack that targeted the opposition leader.

“Can I say that I’ve reached out to Peter Dutton this morning, and it is a fact that the number of threats that have been made to parliamentarians has increased in recent times, and that has been reported on by the appropriate authorities,” Albanese said.

“I myself have been the subject of a range of issues, at least one of which is before legal processes at the moment, there was a pretty serious incident.”

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton faced off in the first leaders’ debate of the 2025 federal election.Credit: Sky News

Albanese said he had confidence that the Australian Federal Police and the authorities would do what was necessary to keep politicians safe.

“That is one of the reasons why you’ve seen an increased number of security measures put in place, because we do live in times that unfortunately we’ve seen around the world as well, but here as well, these threats be made.”

He concluded that any member of parliament who had requested additional support or security had received it.

Follow all the day’s political news in our dedicated election campaign live blog.

A man has died after being electrocuted west of Brisbane.

Emergency services were called to the property on Tallegalla Two Tree Hill Road, Tallegalla, west of Ipswich, just before 8pm last night.

The 43-year-old man was treated at the scene but died shortly after.

Police said they would prepare a report for the coroner.

After Alfred, tariffs and election overload, Brisbane needs a good laugh, and that’s exactly what Brisbane Comedy Festival 2025 is offering when it begins on April 23.

The festival’s full program has been unveiled and features more than 135 acts appearing over five weeks at Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli, Fortitude Music Hall and The Princess Theatre.

“We have a few viral sensations making the leap from your phone screen to the stage, international icons, people you see on the telly and hear on the radio, as well as a pack of up-and-comers,” festival director Phoebe Meredith said.

Big names on the bill include Rhys Darby, Danny Bhoy, Nazeem Hussain, Adam Kay. Becky Lucas, Geraldine Hickey, Luke McGregor, Zoe Coombs Marr, Sammy J, Matt Okine, Dave Hughes and Ross Noble.

Book lover Garry Starr performs every Penguin Classic novel ever written in an hour.

Winner of Best Show at the Adelaide Fringe last year, Elf Lyons, presents an equestrian-themed show, while First Nations comedian Janty Blair will perform her first-ever solo show at the age of 60.

The festival’s official opening gala at the Fortitude Music Hall has already sold out.

Tickets to all shows are on sale now.

Police want to speak to a man who allegedly injured a woman after an argument in Peregian Beach.

Investigations suggested the woman, in her 60s, was walking along the water near Beach Access 53 on April 8 when she approached a man walking a dog for what police described as “a brief verbal interaction”.

“The man then allegedly tackled the woman,” police said.

Queensland police want to speak to a man over an incident in Peregian Beach on April 8.Credit: Queensland Police Service

The man ran away, while the woman was taken to hospital, reportedly with broken ribs and spinal damage.

Police said the man was described as Caucasian, with a solid build and in his early 20s.

“The man had a dog with him which is described as a male, solid build, and grey and black in colour,” police said.

A 70-year-old motorcycle rider has died in a two-vehicle crash in Kidaman Creek on the Sunshine Coast.

“Initial investigations indicate at approximately 2.58pm [on Thursday], a motorbike collided with a Holden Colorado at the intersection of Hunsley Road and Obi Obi Road,” police said.

“The rider, a 70-year-old Palmwoods man, was declared deceased at the scene.

“The driver, a 54-year-old New South Wales man, was not injured.”

Police said investigations into the crash were continuing.

Anyone in the area who might have information or dashcam footage was urged to contact police.