As it happened: Brisbane on October 30

That’s where we’ll leave today’s live updates.

Brisbane News Live will return tomorrow morning, but meanwhile, here are the biggest headlines in the city today.

• Channel Seven identity faces new charges in Brisbane court
• Brisbane domestic airport’s $5b makeover begins this week
• More than $500K for another 2032 Games governance report
• Queensland rebates, iPhones, cheap medicines and early summer could seal interest rate rise

And elsewhere in the country and around the world:

• Ex prime ministers condemn ‘hatred’ spread by Hamas, call for humanitarian access to Gaza
• Why we can’t stop spending on health
• Stephen Bartholomeusz on how a year of Elon Musk created a $US30 billion hole for his Twitter backers
• Centre-right heavyweights to debate future of conservatism in the age of Trump
• Judge reimposes order, silencing Donald Trump in 2020 election interference case

And in entertainment and sport:

Matthew Perry in West Hollywood last year.Credit: AP

• Matthew Perry knew Friends would be his legacy. But it wasn’t what he wanted
• Myf Warhurst on the TV experiment in one of our ‘whitest’ towns
• Police investigate ice hockey player’s death after throat cut by opponent’s blade
• What the NRL can learn from rugby union
• What a monumental waste of a year. The maddening reality of the Eddie Jones debacle

One of the bushfires that troubled the Sunshine Coast recently may have been deliberately lit.

Queensland police have appealed for public assistance to determine the cause of a fire that started near Stokes Road at Beerwah around 10.30am on October 29.

Sunshine Coast detectives and arson experts from the Crime and Intelligence Command believe the fire was deliberately lit and have launched a formal investigation.

The cause of two other fires in the area has yet to be determined.

A Channel Seven identity accused of serious offences against children has been charged with further allegations.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces serious charges, including assaults occasioning bodily harm.

A Channel Seven identity accused of serious offences against children has been charged with further allegations.

But on Monday, the man’s case was back before the court with fresh charges, including torture, observations or recordings in breach of privacy, common assault, and further counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.

The man was charged alongside a woman, also linked to Channel Seven, and media outlets have sought to identify the pair after new laws came into effect on October 3.

This masthead has previously fought the suppression of both identities.

Read the full story.

Townsville-based Labor MP Aaron Harper has defended comments made at a weekend crime victim rally, saying they were taken out of context because the event was “hijacked” by the LNP.

Harper reportedly used the words “rent-a-crowd” and “bloody LNP” to describe the event in the north Queensland city on Sunday.

Speaking to media on Monday, Harper said the comments were made in the “heat of the moment” but were aimed at LNP MPs, candidates and staff who were also present and heckling him as he attempted to speak.

“Yesterday was disappointing that it was hijacked by local members of the LNP … because what I wanted to do was to hear from victims of crime and tell them about the select committee,” Harper said, referring to the new bipartisan group set to consider victim support and justice system reform.

Harper and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, also present at the Monday press conference while hosting community cabinet in the city, said they met privately with rally organisers and others where “very good ideas” were raised.

Police are appealing for three witnesses to come forward after a man allegedly threatened another man with a firearm during an argument in the Gold Coast’s Currumbin Valley earlier this month.

Just after 5pm on October 17, a 48-year-old man allegedly engaged in a verbal argument with a man, known to him, in a car park at the Rock Pools along Currumbin Creek Road.

He allegedly departed before returning a short time later armed with a firearm that he has allegedly used to threaten the man.

Police say he then left the scene in a white Nissan Juke. No one was physically injured.

The 48-year-old Currumbin Valley man has been charged with being armed to cause fear, as well as four counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of unlawful possession of weapons, setting mantraps, secure storage of weapons and buying or unlawfully possessing medicines or hazardous poisons.

He is due to appear at Coolangatta Magistrates Court on November 13.

Gold Coast detectives have released vision of three people, believed to be travelling in a white Toyota RAV4, who may have witnessed the alleged incident.

Police stress they are only witnesses, and are not involved in the alleged incident.

Police are appealing to the trio, or anyone with relevant information that could assist with investigations, to come forward.

The Queensland government is seeking public feedback on a plan to double the amount of hard rock extracted from the Bromelton quarry near Beaudesert.

A court order currently allows for a maximum 400,000 tonnes per annum to be extracted from the Bromelton North Quarry, however a proposal before the government would allow that to be doubled.

According to documents released by the government, there would be no change to the number of buildings on site, the location of heavy machinery or the existing hours of operation. However, the site footprint would be larger and trucks would use Sandy Creek Road more often.

Ross Gittins’ opinion piece on why the case for an interest rate rise is weak and based on speculation is sparking much debate with subscribers.

@mark says: “External forces are the driver of the inflationary pressures we’re seeing. None of which the majority of normal Australians can control. And whilst I appreciate the RBA has only one tool, continuing to punish only a third of Australians - those with a mortgage - won’t work.”

@M writes: “If interest rates go up on Tuesday, a responsible Treasurer would revisit the mission of the Reserve Bank. At the moment the government and the RBA are like a car with a different driver on the accelerator and the brake. A broader, largely independent body should give Treasury advice on where the economic levers should be adjusted in a holistic fashion for the benefit of the greater economy, not the see-saw between debt and decay that we are currently experiencing.”

@D says: “I might add that rents will increase if interest rates are lifted as landlords try to reduce their interest losses. This will actually feed inflation.”

@Carmine writes: “Those who own their home or homes have plenty of money to spend. What is being done to address their impact?”

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts here.

A week after it first threatened homes, a ferocious blaze continues to burn west of Brisbane as firefighters across the state prepare for conditions to worsen.

Conditions have eased on Monday, giving firefighters some reprieve as they battle a blaze near Tara that has claimed one life and destroyed 40 homes in the past week.

However, people in the Western Downs region are still being told they should prepare to evacuate, with strong winds and higher temperatures set to ramp up from Tuesday.

Interstate crews are being brought in to help in Queensland’s southwest, with 12 fire trucks from Victoria expected by Monday night.

There have been 900 fires across Queensland in the last 10 days, with total fire bans now in place for 64 of the 77 local government areas.

Two men have escaped from a north Queensland correctional facility.

Vaughn Michael James Hunter and Fabien Brian Galigan fled the Townsville Correctional Centre on Sunday.

Hunter is serving 10 months for serious assault and Galigan two years and six months for wounding.

“If you have seen these men, you should not approach them and contact police immediately by calling triple-zero,” Queensland Correctional Services said in a statement.

Hunter is described as 179 centimetres tall with a dark complexion, black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos across his arms, legs and noticeable scars.

Galigan is 165 centimetres tall with a dark complexion and black hair and eyes. He has tattoos on his arms, legs and face.

Hundreds of Queensland residents have been told to prepare to leave as fires burn across state.