As it happened: Brisbane on Thursday, February 6

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced $8 million in funding for flood-impacted regions.

Speaking from Townsville after touring through the flood-impacted regions in Queensland, Albanese said the federal government would continue to provide support.

“Today, we’re announcing an $8 million co-funded community relief fund, providing up to $1 million from the local government associations, eight of them that are impacted by this flooding event,” Albanese said.

North Queensland is on flood alert.Credit: Cairns Regional Council

“This will provide councils with financial assurance that they need to get on with the business of cleaning up and making their communities safe.

“From 2pm today, we’ll be activating the Australian government disaster recovery payment. This provides $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for children.

“This funding is to help people who have suffered serious damage or injury as a result of ... the floods to help with the recovery.”

Thanks for joining us for live coverage of the news today. We’ll be back tomorrow morning.

In case you missed them, here are some of the stories that made headlines today:

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has refused to answer questions over whether he briefed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about an apparent antisemitic plot involving a caravan packed with explosives.

The White House has suggested no American money would be spent on rebuilding Gaza and Palestinians would only be “temporarily” relocated as part of Donald Trump’s shock Middle East plan.

The seven satellite hospitals established by Labor will be renamed to satellite health centres by the Crisafulli government, and the expense will be borne by Queensland Health without any additional funding.

Popular Newstead restaurant Allonda has announced it will close permanently. The 90-seater will run its final service on February 14.

Hundreds of ABC staff have demanded the broadcaster disavow its legal position that Antoinette Lattouf had failed to prove that the Lebanese, Arab or Middle Eastern races exist and launch an inquiry into the independence of the public broadcaster.

Sione Hopoate – whose family boast 460 NRL caps between them – is among the train-and-trial Broncos out to convince coach Michael Maguire they warrant an NRL call-up.

And Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt is set to step down at the end of this year’s Rugby Championship, ending months of speculation over his future.

The Brisbane Heat could be on the hunt for a new spinner to complement Matthew Kuhnemann, with the Test tweaker’s partner-in-crime Mitchell Swepson signing a three-year deal with the Melbourne Stars.

The four-Test leg spinner’s partnership with Kuhnemann played a key role in the club’s breakthrough BBL triumph last season.

Mitch Swepson celebrates taking a wicket in the BBL Final in January 2024.Credit: Getty

However, he failed to live up to the same heights in the 2024-25 campaign – taking just four wickets in nine games as Brisbane went from back-to-back finalists to a second-last finish.

Still, his 72 wickets are the second-most by any Heat player, and the side’s general manager of elite cricket Joe Dawes labelled him “instrumental” in claiming their second piece of silverware.

“Mitch was open and honest in our conversations today,” Dawes said.

“He was very much in our retention plans, but we understand his decision is based on looking after his family long-term, which we respect. He will always be welcome at the Heat.”

The first kangaroo embryos produced through in-vitro fertilisation could pave the way for other marsupial species, such as koalas and wombats, to be saved from extinction.

The groundbreaking achievement has provided valuable insights into the potential for assisted marsupial breeding for conservation, University of Queensland researchers say.

“Australia is home to the greatest diversity of marsupial fauna on the planet but it also has the highest mammal extinction rate,” veterinarian scientist Andres Gambini said today.

“Our ultimate goal is to support the preservation of endangered marsupial species like koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats and Leadbeater’s possums.”

The study assessed the development of kangaroo eggs and sperm in a laboratory before embryos were produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

It’s a technique that involves injecting a single sperm directly into a mature egg.

“Because eastern grey kangaroos are overabundant, we collected their eggs and sperm for use as a model to adapt the embryo technologies already applied to domestic animals and humans,” Dr Gambini said.

A man has been shot at a property on the Gold Coast.

Gunshots were reported at a property on Tallebudgera Creek Road in Tallebudgera before midday.

“We've established a crime scene at the incident,” a Queensland Police spokesperson said.

“Initial indications are he suffered an injury to his shoulder and head.”

The man has been taken to hospital. His injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.

Two police officers have been charged with unspecified crimes.

A 54-year-old male sergeant and a 54-year-old female senior constable are accused of acting improperly outside work on May 23 last year.

The only information provided was that the charges are for “misconduct in relation to public office”.

Queensland Police did not provide further information when contacted by this masthead.

Both officers have been suspended and will appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 13.

A man has been arrested in Brisbane over back-to-back arson attacks on a regional cigarette shop.

The business at Maryland Street in the town of Stanthorpe was set partially alight about 4am on Australia Day.

Two men allegedly returned 48 hours later and set it on fire again, destroying what remained.

No one was injured, but the business was significantly damaged.

A 25-year-old was arrested at a property at Chermside yesterday, about the same time another was arrested at Deception Bay.

Both have been charged with arson, endangering property and entering a premises without permission.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have paid tribute to former Fraser and Howard government member John Moore, who passed away.

Before question time, Moore's death on January 22 was announced by Marles, who said he would place on the record the parliament's appreciation for his meritorious public service.

“It was not a career without setbacks but he never lost the support of his electorate. John was re-elected nine times, serving the people of Ryan for more than 25 years,” Marles said.

“He retired from politics in 2001 and was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia in 2004. John was farewelled in a state funeral in Brisbane on Tuesday.”

Then prime minister John Howard with his defence minister John Moore in 1999.Credit: Mike Bowers

Dutton also paid tribute to Moore and his service to the parliament.

“In 1998, John became the minister for defence. He presided over the Australian peacekeeping mission in East Timor that ensured the country’s independence and commenced the upgrade of the Coles Collins-class submarine fleet,” Dutton said.

“He created the Defence Force’s first chief financial officer position and put in place new accountability around acquisition.

“John called time on politics in 2001 and over the next two decades he imparted his business wisdom to a new generation.

“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Moore family who farewelled John at a state funeral on Tuesday. May he rest in peace.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced $8 million in funding for flood-impacted regions.

Speaking from Townsville after touring through the flood-impacted regions in Queensland, Albanese said the federal government would continue to provide support.

“Today, we’re announcing an $8 million co-funded community relief fund, providing up to $1 million from the local government associations, eight of them that are impacted by this flooding event,” Albanese said.

North Queensland is on flood alert.Credit: Cairns Regional Council

“This will provide councils with financial assurance that they need to get on with the business of cleaning up and making their communities safe.

“From 2pm today, we’ll be activating the Australian government disaster recovery payment. This provides $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for children.

“This funding is to help people who have suffered serious damage or injury as a result of ... the floods to help with the recovery.”

Police say they have complete confidence the man who allegedly scalded a Brisbane baby with hot coffee and fled the country will be arrested.

Nine-month-old Luka was at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner with his mother in August, last year, when a man snuck up behind them and dumped the scalding contents of a thermos on him.

The nine-month-old boy needed skin grafts to treat his injuries.

He reportedly fled the scene and escaped to China via New Zealand before police could identify him.

“We’re engaged with the family, we’re keeping them updated,” Detective Superintendent Craig McGrath told 4BC this morning.

“We are working with both national and international partners to bring this person to justice.

“It does take time, but we will get the result.”

The mother of baby Luka – who has asked not to be identified – told Brisbane Times today the police are keeping her updated, but believe it could be a long wait for justice.

“Luka is doing really good. He’s back at daycare, and I just started back at work,” she said.

The Crisafulli government will change the name of the satellite hospitals established by Labor to call them satellite health centres instead.

After criticism that the satellite hospitals did not contain all the services of actual hospitals, and people might be misled in an emergency, the LNP went to the election promising to rename them.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls told 4BC today it was prudent to rename the “so-called satellite hospitals” and there was unanimous support among stakeholders for the alternative.

“It’s a common-sense landing, it calls them what they are,” Nicholls said.

Nicholls suggested it would cost up to $30,000 per site to rename the facilities, which would amount to more than $200,000 he said would be absorbed by the health budget.

But Nicholls said if it prevented even one person making a life-threatening mix-up it would be “time and effort and money well-spent”.

It is the biggest renaming exercise in Queensland Health since the former Labor government changed the name of the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, established by the LNP, to call it the Queensland Children’s Hospital instead.