As it happened: Brisbane on Tuesday, April 30

The CFMEU has again taken industrial action at Cross River Rail sites across Brisbane, this time over a long-running dispute with contractor CPB.

The union wants CPB to cut its members a better deal and improve safeguards, as it competes with a rival union, the AWU, for dominance in Queensland.

“Cross River Rail workers have joined the CFMEU in droves because CPB will not listen, the AWU
will not speak up for them and the Queensland government only cares about staged photo ops
and spin,” said CFMEU assistant state secretary Jade Ingham.

Ingham is expected to rally members at the Albert Street site at lunchtime.

Cross River Rail is due to start operating in 2026. A spokesman said the industrial action was a matter for the unions and CPB.

“We encourage all parties involved to continue to bargain in good faith and to reach a resolution, so we can continue to deliver this transformational project,” the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority spokesman said.

Thanks for joining us. That’s where we will leave our live updates this Tuesday, but we’ll be back tomorrow morning. Until then, here are some of today’s top stories:

The CFMEU has again taken industrial action at Cross River Rail sites across Brisbane, this time over a long-running dispute with contractor CPB.

Queensland-based Bonza airline was a ‘new era’ for tourism. Now it’s a disappointment.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke in Brisbane this afternoon, promoting his plan to spend $1 billion on an Australian project to build the first useful quantum computer.

A dingo has attacked a 10-year-old boy in the 10th incident of this kind in as many months on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island.

And the RACQ has urged motorists to be extra careful on the road after a 25 per cent increase in claims from animal collisions in the past year.

Little more than a year ago, the launch of Sunshine Coast-based budget airline Bonza was welcomed by the Queensland government as a “new era” for tourism and aviation in the state.

“As this Bonza flight takes off this morning, the sound from those engines is Queensland tourism roaring back from the pandemic,” Treasurer Cameron Dick said at the time of the first new carrier to launch in the country in 16 years.

But there was only silence from those engines this morning as passengers arrived at Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Avalon airports to find their flights had been cancelled before the airline was placed into voluntary administration.

Tourism and Events Queensland, the state’s statutory marketing, tourism and events agency, had partnered with the airline on a digital campaign and supported regional tourism campaigns since its launch as a “welcomed announcement” to the industry.

“The uncertainty surrounding Bonza is disappointing and it is important they work through the required processes as quickly as possible to provide certainty to impacted passengers and the broader travel industry,” chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said in a statement today.

Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the government’s immediate concerns were with staff, stranded passengers and ticket holders, and awaited further details from the business.

Chef Ashley-Maree Kent’s skill with hand-shaped pasta will be front and centre at her new restaurant, Sbagliata.

Chef Ashley-Maree Kent outside Sbagliata.Credit: Markus Ravik

Kent has turned heads with her carefully crafted tonnarelli, ravioli doppio, tortellini and hand-cut tagliatelle – along with many other types of pasta – at Ramona Trattoria, the pocket-sized Italian restaurant she opened in 2022. Sbagliata, though, will be different.

If this sounds like a step-up for Kent, it is. Sbagliata will be a 250-square-metre, 120-seat restaurant, making it larger than her two existing venues, Ramona and next door neighbour Bar Rocco, combined. It will slot into Portside Wharf as part of the precinct’s $20 million refresh, which has already seen the arrival of Fosh, Rise Bakery and Bird’s Nest.

Here’s the full story, by culture editor Matt Shea.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke in Brisbane this afternoon, promoting his plan to spend $1 billion on an Australian project to build the first useful quantum computer.

Speaking alongside Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Industry Minister Ed Husic, Albanese said the investment was a quantum leap into the next generation of technology.

“[This is] a jump in technology that puts Australia and Queensland in particular at the forefront of economic growth, at the forefront of innovation, at the forefront of ensuring that we’re creating good high-wage jobs right here in Queensland.”

On domestic violence, Albanese said he was eager to discuss the best way to approach the problem at tomorrow morning’s national cabinet meeting.

“We need to acknowledge that this is an issue which is long term, does require attitudinal change, does require a whole range of measures, but we also need practical … measures and I look forward to a constructive discussion tomorrow morning,” he said.

Asked if he had apologised to rally organiser Sarah Williams, who claimed Albanese was a liar when he got up to speak at an event on the weekend, the prime minister did not weigh in.

“With regard to Sarah, I wish her well. People can see the video for themselves, they can see what people said and what people didn’t say,” he said.

Queensland entomologists have detected Ross River virus from a record-breaking number of mosquito samples during the summer season, coinciding with a high number of cases in patients.

From November to April, samples from more than 1225 traps were tested, with a record 116 traps testing positive for the virus – the highest number of positive tests in a single season since the surveillance program began in 2016.

Symptoms of Ross River virus include fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pains, rash and tiredness.

So far this year, 2065 cases have been detected in humans in Queensland – the highest number recorded since the 2019-20 season.

The last time there was a significant Ross River virus outbreak in Queensland was in 2020, when 3381 annual cases were recorded.

Brisbane City Council senior entomologist Darren Alsemgeest said people should protect themselves from mosquito bites, even in the cooler months, including by applying repellent and wearing loose, light-coloured clothing to cover arms, legs and feet.

There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Ross River virus, and it can be found in more than 40 different species of mosquitoes.

The opposition have sought to portray a government shift in public sector workplace data reporting as a “dodgy decision” aimed at “hiding the truth” about frontline workers ahead of October’s election, which they would reverse if voted in.

Previously, the state has released twice-yearly updates on workforce numbers and other insights, separate to the annual Working for Queensland survey results.

From this year, the two will be combined into a single annual document.

A spokesperson from the Public Sector Commission has previously told Brisbane Times this would give more accurate analysis of changes.

“This approach [also] responds to the Coaldrake review recommendation to consider the way other jurisdictions publish workforce data,” they said.

“The public sector workforce data will now be published annually to coincide with the Queensland budget [in June].”

A dingo has attacked a 10-year-old boy in the 10th incident of this kind in as many months on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island.

Wildlife officers said two boys were washing off in Awinya Creek on the western side of the island when a dingo ran at them.

The boys screamed and ran towards their parents.

“The dingo bit the 10-year-old on the back of his leg, leaving minor injuries including a scratch and bruising to his lower right calf muscle,” the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation said in a statement.

The parents treated the injury and the boy did not require further medical assistance.

“Rangers believe they have identified the dingo, and patrols have been increased in the area,” the statement said.

The attack came after another child was bitted by a dingo on April 17.

“Parents and carers should expect dingoes anywhere on the island, and must be aware that they are fast, dangerous and children and young teenagers are more vulnerable,” the department said.

After a week of police and crime talk from Premier Steven Miles and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli as they travelled across the state, the topic has been a major focus in parliament on its return this morning.

Miles used the morning to release the 21-page “community safety plan” he foreshadowed a week ago, largely wrapping up the announcements made across recent days and before new draft laws to be introduced tomorrow.

The LNP has labelled the “11-point plan” as more of the same, with Crisafulli directing the first two question time queries to Miles about why Labor’s plan didn’t include removing the longstanding sentencing principle that detention is the last resort for children.

A recently disbanded bipartisan youth justice reform committee found this was effectively overridden where a child was declared a serious repeat offender and it was unclear how removing or amending it would change bail or sentencing decisions.

“I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question, because it underlines the problem for the Leader of the Opposition, and that is that all he has is slick slogans,” Miles responded, noting he would meet representatives of the Voice for Victims group rallying at parliament today calling for tougher action on offenders and more support for victims.

Bonza customers are expressing their frustration at the sudden flight cancellations, with questions swirling around the likelihood of refunds.

Sunshine Coast resident Jenny Roberts said six family members and friends, including her son who is in the defence force, had booked with the airline to visit in June.

“I am cranky. We can’t wait around for [Bonza] to make up their minds.

“They were coming to the Sunshine Coast for a 21st birthday event and now we will have to arrange for them to go to Brisbane and be collected,” Roberts said.

“What about those poor people today? I really feel for them. Having a flight cancelled because it broke down, compared to having it cancelled because they weren’t making any money, are two very different things.”

The Sunshine Coast resident said getting a refund was “wishful thinking”, but hoped the airline would offer compensation.

“It is quite annoying. Bonza knew that breaking into the market would be hard work. It doesn’t happen overnight – you have to build trust and respect. They have destroyed that.

“The right thing would have been to honour the flights for the next month. Now they have no respect, no honour and no chance of coming back,” she said.