As it happened: Brisbane on Monday, May 19

Queensland’s Labor opposition will introduce legislative amendments to limit the use of good character references in court.

The Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council examined the controversial practice and in February gave the LNP government its recommendations, which Labor will move to put on the parliament agenda this week.

“An offender should not get a lighter sentence for something as horrific as sexual violence just because he claims he is a good bloke,” Shadow Attorney-General Meaghan Scanlon said.

“Time and time again we see good character references used to minimise the actions of the perpetrator.

“These laws will ensure perpetrators are held accountable for their crimes and will empower victim-survivors.

“[Premier] David Crisafulli says his government will always put victims first, and if that’s the case, the LNP must not stand in the way of these amendments because they are simply too important.”

Australia’s biggest telecommunications company is facing allegations it misled customers by inflating claims of how far its network reached.

In claims levelled by rival telco Vodafone, Telstra is accused of “dramatically” overstating its reach by as much as 40 per cent for more than a decade.

Vodafone, along with parent company TPG Telecom, said Telstra advertised its coverage based on a signal strength customers could only get if they used a special external antenna and a powered repeater that is usually installed on a vehicle or building.

Its rival said network coverage claims should be based on signal strength a mobile phone would usually get without any extra devices.

TPG group executive Kieran Cooney said the allegations were “alarming” and would have cost his company customers.

“It appears Telstra has tricked Australians into paying top dollar for coverage they simply can’t get on a regular mobile phone,” he said. “We are calling on them to make it right ... Telstra’s conduct could have misled consumers into believing they can get coverage in places that require special equipment.”

TPG has reported Telstra to the consumer watchdog, called for a regulatory investigation and threatened legal action to stop the practice and potentially force a compensation payment.

The telco has been contacted for comment.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it is considering the claims but would not confirm an investigation into Telstra.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of looking at children in a campground bathroom in Landsborough, north of Brisbane, and taking underwear from their tents.

The 21-year-old Caboolture South man was arrested earlier this month after police received reports from a three-year period, from 2022 until December last year.

Officers seized electronic devices and several pairs of underwear from the man’s home following a search, and said it was believed he had stolen the items in 2023 and 2024.

The man was a volunteer group leader, and police suspected he exploited his access to children – who were now aged between 13 and 16 – to commit offences against them.

Police charged him with 17 counts of unlawful entry, and 11 offences linked to stalking, the indecent treatment of children under 16, and observations in breach of privacy.

He was expected to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 16.

Investigators are asking anyone with fresh information to come forward, saying “there may be further victims that are yet to report incidents to police”.

A Gold Coast trophy home with its own golf simulator, inbuilt trampoline and swim-up cocktail bar has smashed the Mermaid Waters house price record, after a local buyer – who first saw the house 24 hours earlier – dropped $14,005,000 under the hammer.

The unnamed buyer outmuscled eight registered bidders, five of whom were active, and paid about $1 million over the reserve. The previous house price record for Mermaid Waters was $7.7 million.

Set on a 1113-square-metre block at 24 Winch Court, the five-bedroom, four-bathroom residence was crowned National Contract Home and Gold Coast House of the Year in 2024.

PALA was built by Rob and Tui McKinnon of Havendeen Projects over 18 months and completed in 2023.Credit: Domain

Spanning four levels and boasting 46 metres of lake frontage, it features a resort-style pool with built-in day beds, a five-car basement garage and a hydraulic lift.

Read the full story.

Queensland’s Labor opposition will introduce legislative amendments to limit the use of good character references in court.

The Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council examined the controversial practice and in February gave the LNP government its recommendations, which Labor will move to put on the parliament agenda this week.

“An offender should not get a lighter sentence for something as horrific as sexual violence just because he claims he is a good bloke,” Shadow Attorney-General Meaghan Scanlon said.

“Time and time again we see good character references used to minimise the actions of the perpetrator.

“These laws will ensure perpetrators are held accountable for their crimes and will empower victim-survivors.

“[Premier] David Crisafulli says his government will always put victims first, and if that’s the case, the LNP must not stand in the way of these amendments because they are simply too important.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has compared the Coalition’s election loss to losing a football grand final, vowing to “come back stronger”.

In a comment piece for The Australian, Ley said the Liberal Party had “helped shape Australia into the prosperous, strong and fair society it is today”.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“But we have to face up to the fact that, despite our best efforts, we have failed to connect with a changing electorate,” she wrote.

“We have lost the trust of women and we have not convinced younger Australians that we have a plan to provide a fair go for their generation … we have work to do.

“The reality is, in recent elections, we have failed to meet the expectations of the Australian community.”

Ley said she was optimistic the party could rebuild and regain the trust of Australians.

Ley, who was last week elected the Liberal Party’s first female leader, is mourning the loss of her mother, Angela, who died in Albury on Saturday morning.

The Queensland government has defended its new directive requiring all departments, including police, to forward media requests for information to the premier’s department.

A spokesperson for Premier David Crisafulli said he and his staff would not interfere in formulating responses, but want to ensure departments are “consistent” in their messaging and meeting deadlines.

A summary of the inquiry, the reporter’s name and deadline must be provided for the centralised spreadsheet.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Queensland Police Service confirmed it has received the request.

“In an ever-changing media landscape, it is critical processes for information flows across government are improved and modernised,” a spokesperson for the government said in a statement.

“The delivery of transparent and timely information to Queenslanders in a fast-paced media environment is critical to good government and the Queensland Government is taking active steps to ensure that occurs.”

Another person has been bitten by a dingo on K’gari.

The man was fishing in knee-deep water about 11.30am on Sunday when attacked from behind near Eurong.

Two puncture wounds to his leg and a small laceration requiring first aid were reported.

He was fishing alone at the time and wearing a bag containing fish that may have attracted the dog.

“Dingoes are opportunistic predators and will strike when they see a chance to do so,” ranger Dan Novak said in a statement.

The dingo was reportedly almost completely submerged when it bit him, with the man hitting it away with his fishing rod.

Wild dogs are increasingly loitering around fishers to scavenge, according to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

In case you missed it, you can test your knowledge with the latest Brisbane Times quiz from our resident quiz master Nick Dent:

Here is today’s cartoon from Joe Benke about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s “magic touch” ...

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and new Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.Credit: Joe Benke

A man who allegedly touched a woman inappropriately and stuck his hands in her food on a flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast is set to face court today.

The 41-year-old was arrested after landing on the Gold Coast on the evening of February 4 this year.

During the flight, federal police allege, the man placed his hand on the woman’s inner thigh multiple times and also put his hands in her food.

“This incident should serve as a reminder to the community that authorities will not tolerate indecent behaviour at our airports or on aircraft,” AFP detective superintendent Scott Moller said.

The man has been charged with one count of acting indecently and is due to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast today.