Sandbags available as Brisbane braces for more rain
By Felicity Caldwell
Brisbane City Council has urged people living in low-lying areas prone to flooding to get ready, as the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts heavy rain over the next week.
The bureau is forecasting up to 25mm of rain on Friday, up to 45mm on Saturday, and up to 30mm on Sunday.
Residents filling up sandbags in Brisbane before the cyclone.Credit: Dan Peled
It comes less than three weeks after Brisbane and the Gold Coast experienced a deluge, brought by Cyclone Alfred.
Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of Brisbane news today. We’ll be back tomorrow morning.
If you’re just catching up, here are a few of the big stories we’ve been covering today:
The RNA Showgrounds was the unexpected winner from yesterday’s Olympic announcement, not only securing the athletes’ village and a train station upgrade but also a new main arena not recommended by the 100-day review. But it appears unlikely to host Olympic events.
Sandbags available as Brisbane braces for more rain
By Felicity Caldwell
Brisbane City Council has urged people living in low-lying areas prone to flooding to get ready, as the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts heavy rain over the next week.
The bureau is forecasting up to 25mm of rain on Friday, up to 45mm on Saturday, and up to 30mm on Sunday.
Residents filling up sandbags in Brisbane before the cyclone.Credit: Dan Peled
It comes less than three weeks after Brisbane and the Gold Coast experienced a deluge, brought by Cyclone Alfred.
The sandbag locations are:
Darra – 38 Shamrock Road
Morningside – 9 Redfern Street
Newmarket – 66 Wilston Road
Zillmere – 33 Jennings Street
Lota – Herbert Street
Woolworths issues recall for products sold in Queensland stores
Woolworths has asked customers not to eat certain fresh produce sold in its Queensland stores due to “potential microbiological contamination”.
The following products with a use by date of 26 March 2025, and sold only at Queensland supermarkets, have been recalled:
Woolworths Mixed Leaf 120g - batch number 827628
Woolworths Spinach & Rocket 60g - batch number 379518
Woolworths Spinach &Rocket 120g - batch number 705439
Woolworths Spinach 60g - batch number 379515
Woolworths Cook Stir Fry Kit with Teriyaki Sauce 400g - batch number 409878
Woolworths Cook Stir Fry Mix with Rainbow Vegetables 400g - batch number 185251
Woolworths Kale & Spinach 300g - batch number 54901
In a statement, Woolworths advised customers to return the product for a full refund.
“Woolworths is recalling the products listed above as a precaution due to potential microbiological contamination. Woolworths has not received any complaints from customers across Australia regarding these products.”
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Brisbane to regain first Test of summer after Olympics
By AAP
A day after locking in plans for the Olympics Stadium, the Queensland government is trumpeting a deal that will return the Test summer opener to Brisbane.
Queensland premier David Crisafulli says the first Ashes Test of 2032-33, months after the Olympics, will be played at the new 63,000-seat Victoria Park venue.
Due to uncertainty about the stadium situation, Brisbane will not host a Test during the 2026-27 summer for the first time in 50 years.
The Gabba has also lost its semi-permanent status of the first Test of the summer to Optus Stadium in Perth, but will still host a day-night match during the 2025-26 Ashes against England.
The Gabba at sunset.Credit: Getty Images
“Cricket is embedded in Queensland’s DNA, and the decision to build a world-class stadium at Victoria Park ensures it has a future in this state,” the premier said.
“Test cricket belongs in Queensland, and this decision means fans won’t miss out on seeing some of the best cricket teams play Test matches in Brisbane right through to the summer before Brisbane 2032 where we regain our title as host of the first Test of the summer.”
CA chairman Mike Baird was thrilled Brisbane had secured a long-term home for cricket.
“Cricket now has the certainty needed to ensure Brisbane hosts the very best possible international and domestic matches and retains a prominent place on the Test match schedule,” he said.
Taxpayer-funded review finds Queensland has ‘deprioritised’ human rights
By Sean Parnell
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has tabled an independent review of the state’s Human Rights Act commissioned by the former Labor government.
Having halted Labor’s planned reforms, to allow the LNP to consult further, Frecklington has now also declined to implement the recommendations from the review by Professor Susan Harris Rimmer, dated September 2024.
In her report, Rimmer said Queensland had made significant steps with human rights, but there was concern “that the initial momentum has slowed or stalled, particularly in light of the use of overrides of the Act in the youth justice area”.
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“The perception is that, after a rocky start, the Queensland Legislative Assembly, the Government and the Leadership Board have deprioritised the Human Rights Act in recent years and that a renewed surge of support is required to embed a human rights culture in Queensland,” she wrote.
The review highlighted “significant demoralisation of all actors due to the real or perceived de-prioritisation of the Human Rights Act since 2022, but particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders”.
In a letter attached to the review, Frecklington told parliament that “as the report was finalised prior to the election of the Crisafulli government, its recommendations relating to victims’ rights do not have regard to the government’s positive agenda on victims’ rights”.
Coates won’t comment on new plan for Brisbane 2032
By Sean Parnell
Australian Olympic powerbroker John Coates was instrumental in Brisbane’s bid to host the 2032 Games, and had significant influence over the former Labor government’s planning.
Coates has long argued that Brisbane does not need a new stadium for the Games – the city’s bid originally aligned with the IOC’s “New Norm” principles, meant to prevent cost blowouts – and supported Labor’s unpopular decision to use QSAC.
Coates, left, with Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, delivered the 2032 Olympics to Brisbane.
“You can go ahead and build Victoria Park, if that’s what the city needs, and you can afford that, but that’s not to be ticked off as an Olympic cost,” he told a parliamentary inquiry last year.
But Coates has been conspicuous in his absence from public life this week. When Brisbane Times called him today, we didn’t get any further than asking how he was.
“I’m good but I don’t talk to the media – goodbye,” Coates said.
Coates had sent incoming LNP premier David Crisafulli a note with his thoughts on the Games, but it has remained secret under confidentiality clauses in the Right to Information Act.
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Ocean search for detective believed missing in surf
By AAP
A large-scale search has resumed for a veteran Queensland police officer whose belongings were found at a beach on the northern NSW coast.
Detective Inspector Jay Notaro’s car and surfboard were found yesterday at Broken Head Bay, seven kilometres south of Byron Bay, after the 45-year-old failed to show up for work.
A water search began in the early afternoon and continued into the evening without success.
Queensland policeman Jay Notaro.Credit: Nine News
NSW Police on land and water, a Queensland Police helicopter and surf lifesavers restarted the search this morning.
Queenslanders support Olympics, but don’t want to watch in person
By Felicity Caldwell
A University of Queensland survey of 1000 people has found 70 per cent agreed or strongly agreed with hosting the games, with many people pointing to a boost in tourism and jobs.
But only 28 per cent said they were likely to attend the opening ceremony and 22 per cent the closing ceremony.
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The survey, conducted in November, revealed 74 per cent of people surveyed indicated they would prefer to watch Olympic events on TV instead of attending in person.
Professor Brent Ritchie said the reasons were unclear.
“Further research is necessary to determine whether this is related to safety concerns, accessibility, cost or convenience,” he said.
About 27 per cent said they would leave for a holiday during the Games, while 18 per cent said they would rent out their property.
Tens of thousands of bin lids to be swapped
By Felicity Caldwell
About one in five of Brisbane’s rubbish bins will have their lids swapped out for new red lids over the next few months.
There are currently three different-coloured lids – dark green, grey and red – on general waste wheelie bins in the city.
Kerbside wheelie bins were introduced in Brisbane in 1984, with the red top lids introduced in 2011. About 77,000 still have a dark green or dark grey lid.
Wheelie bins being rolled out in Brisbane in June 1984.Credit: Brisbane City Council
From April 1, the lids will be replaced with a red lid while the bin is on the kerb as part of regular collection day, with the project running until the end of June 2025.
The project is funded by the Queensland government, and consistency in colours will increase visibility for garbage truck drivers.
Councillor Sarah Hutton, the council’s city standards chair, said the program would make bin collection “easier and more efficient for everyone”.
Old lids will be melted down to produce new bins.
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Brakes on private car park enforcement
By Felicity Caldwell
Rules banning private parking car parking operators from accessing driver details from the state government to demand payment from those who overstay time limits will be made permanent.
In 2023, stories emerged of Brisbane residents being sent threatening letters and unpaid fees being sent to debt collectors, leading to a temporary ban.
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Private parking operators were previously able to request rego details from Transport and Main Roads, including names and addresses, with each request costing operators about $12.
The department has done a policy review and held consultation, and the Queensland government will legislate to permanently revoke access to vehicle registration information for private car park enforcement.
