As it happened: Brisbane on Friday, March 21

The Queensland government has begun community consultation – the first step of a review process – for the long-planned Gold Coast light rail expansion.

The stage four expansion would extend the tramline by 13km, running down to Coolangatta and connecting the Gold Coast Airport.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the state government was concerned about the required resumption of over 200 homes and 1000 car parks, adding the former Labor government had shown “disdain” for residents by hiding information.

“Through this consultation process, we will ensure locals are informed of the proposed impacts on their community so they can have an informed say about the future of this project,” Bleijie said.

“I urge southern Gold Coasters to have their say.”

The state government had previously thrown both the Gold Coast light rail expansion and Sunshine Coast heavy rail build into doubt, after the federal government declined to increase commonwealth funding of the mass transit projects.

Community consultation closes on May 2.

Thanks for joining us for live coverage of today’s news. We’ll be back on Monday. If you’re just catching up, here are some of the stories that made headlines today.

The construction of Brisbane Arena – a proposed inner-city venue earmarked to host Olympic swimming – has been cast into doubt, with concerns over its $2.5 billion price tag.

Australia’s Olympic bosses say Kirsty Coventry’s ascension is a watershed moment, but her election leaves a hole to be plugged for Brisbane 2032.

Before a new plan is released for Brisbane 2032, we revisit the captain’s calls, debate and indecision that has marked the search for a Games centrepiece.

An angry Usman Khawaja has hit back at Queensland’s cricket boss Joe Dawes over claims he had lied about an injury to miss a vital game.

Police have charged a man with helping an alleged drug smuggler – who is believed to be a key player in the Dural caravan fake terror conspiracy – to flee the country.

And Britain’s Heathrow Airport said it would be closed all day after experiencing a significant power outage due to a fire at a nearby electrical substation supplying the airport.

The Gold Coast is “fine” to be left off the bill for Olympic swimming events, with Mayor Tom Tate saying the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre is just one of several venues the region has offered up as cheaper, legacy options.

“If they’ve got another location, I don’t mind at all,” Tate said.

“We’re here to help and it’s not [that] we want swimming here, it’s just one of the solutions that I have in our city that we can do a lot cheaper than $2.5 billion.”

Tate was reacting to reports that Brisbane Arena, a proposed venue with a drop-in pool for Olympic swimming, has been cast into doubt, with concerns over its price tag.

He said spending $2.5 billion on a temporary pool would be a waste of money.

“You’ve got to learn from Paris that the athlete hates it,” he said.

“Value for money is the second part … the more you spend on stadiums or temporary facilities that have no legacy – scrub it off, we want legacy.”

Health Minister Tim Nicholls has declared a trial of pharmacy prescribing, which began under the former Labor government, an “overwhelming success” and announced it will be permanent.

Nicholls said nine in 10 patients were willing to refer family and friends to the service, which allows pharmacists to authorise lower level treatments that would otherwise have required a doctor’s appointment.

“We know pharmacists are trusted people in the community [and] in healthcare delivery … now people in the community will be able to go to their local pharmacist and receive treatment with minor ailments,” he said.

But the doctors’ lobby suggested the six-month trial had not been properly reviewed, which Dr Nick Yim from the Australian Medical Association Queensland said was “extremely disappointing”.

“Independent evaluation is the only way we can ensure patients aren’t harmed through programs that prioritise politics over safety,” Yim said.

“We are concerned that even if the results of the evaluation show it risks patient health, the government will ignore them.”

Yim also criticised the government’s decision to close pill-testing sites and remove workforce incentives.

Almost five months after the LNP took power, Premier David Crisafulli has finalised the appointment of four directors-general.

Acting directors-general Sharon Schimming (Department of Education) and Belinda Drew (Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety) will take on the roles in a permanent capacity for a minimum five-year term.

Former NSW bureaucrat Sarah Cruickshank has been appointed director-general of the Department of Justice, while long-serving Queensland bureaucrat Natalie Wilde will take charge of the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism.

“These four directors-general have been selected from an exceptionally high-quality field of candidates and bring vast public and private sector experience to these roles,” Crisafulli said.

The appointments come as the government works on its first state budget.

Queensland Health believes another person has contracted Japanese encephalitis in the state.

“The recent probable Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) case reported was locally acquired in Queensland,” a departmental spokeswoman said.

“The possible exposure location is currently under investigation.”

The first person to be diagnosed with JEV, in January this year, was likely infected in the Darling Downs region.

Amid recent wet weather, Queensland Health warned that mosquitos carrying JEV had also been detected in Brisbane’s eastern suburbs.

“We continue to review and enhance mosquito-based surveillance activities for JEV, particularly in locations where JEV has not been previously recorded,” the spokeswoman said.

“This includes areas of south-east Queensland.”

The virus had previously been detected in mosquitos further west, as well as in several piggeries.

Australia’s biggest supermarkets insist the grocery sector is highly competitive and that customers benefit from a more diverse landscape.

In a statement, Coles said it continued to “fiercely compete” with thousands of specialty and independent retailers including Amazon, Bunnings, Chemist Warehouse, and Priceline.

After a report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission noted the big supermarket chains were among the most profitable in the world, Coles argued its net profit after tax had remained at 2.6 per cent as a percentage of sales over the last five years.

“Coles welcomes any recommendations that improve transparency for suppliers and customers but cautions against measures that will increase red tape and drive up costs.”

Woolworths chief executive Amanda Bardwell also claimed the sector was “very competitive,” and, like Coles, warned against any unnecessary market intervention.

“Having fully co-operated with this inquiry, we will review the report and its recommendations to identify any insights to make us a better business for our customers, suppliers and communities in which we operate,” she said.

A fundraising appeal towards research and care for ill babies in Queensland has been launched, with the state government committing $1.5 million towards the cause.

This year the Nine Telethon is raising funds for Mater Little Miracle, and will be broadcast on April 26 on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Nine’s Melissa Downes and Health Minister Tim Nicholls with Ipswich parents Georgia and Elliott Gillespie and their newborn Miles.Credit: Annette Dew

The program will tell the stories of struggling newborns supported by the foundation, and feature performances by Australian musicians Tones & I and Mark Seymour.

Nine says it’s aiming to raise $9 million this year.

“Queensland babies need and deserve the best possible care,” health minister Tim Nicholls said in a statement.

“I’m encouraging Queenslanders everywhere to support this cause and the dedicated frontline teams who care for our little miracles.”

After nearly four years of captain’s calls, debate and indecision, Queenslanders are about to finally discover what shape Brisbane 2032 will take.

An artist’s impression for urban planners Urbis, showing a bridge from Teneriffe to Bulimba/Hawthorne (at left).Credit: Urbis

By the time Premier David Crisafulli takes the stage at a Brisbane business lunch on Tuesday, 1343 days will have passed since Brisbane was officially awarded the Games.

Finally, instead of constant debate and talk, ground will be broken, and our Games will start to physically take shape.

Read Cameron Atfield’s article to catch up on everything you need to know about the most controversial issue: where to put Brisbane’s main Olympic stadium.

The Queensland government has begun community consultation – the first step of a review process – for the long-planned Gold Coast light rail expansion.

The stage four expansion would extend the tramline by 13km, running down to Coolangatta and connecting the Gold Coast Airport.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the state government was concerned about the required resumption of over 200 homes and 1000 car parks, adding the former Labor government had shown “disdain” for residents by hiding information.

“Through this consultation process, we will ensure locals are informed of the proposed impacts on their community so they can have an informed say about the future of this project,” Bleijie said.

“I urge southern Gold Coasters to have their say.”

The state government had previously thrown both the Gold Coast light rail expansion and Sunshine Coast heavy rail build into doubt, after the federal government declined to increase commonwealth funding of the mass transit projects.

Community consultation closes on May 2.

One of Brisbane’s long-standing botanical parks has turned 100.

The Sherwood Arboretum – a type of botanical garden specifically for trees – was founded on March 21, 1925, with the planting of 72 Queensland Kauri Pines.

The pines remain on the 15-hectare site today, among another 1350 trees from about 250 native species.

The Brisbane City Council said Sherwood Arboretum was also home to gliders, bats and about 124 species of birds.

“I want to thank those who had the incredible vision for this destination and everyone who’s had a vital hand in preserving and enhancing it for the past 100 years,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

The arboretum is still about 100 years younger than the County Botanic Gardens, which were established in the early 19th century.