As it happened: Brisbane on Monday, July 7

Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of news in Brisbane and beyond. We’ll be back tomorrow morning, so please join us. If you’re just catching up, here are some of the stories making headlines today:

Casino giant Star Entertainment’s bid to save a deal to sell its stake in Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf precinct has hit a standstill, with the embattled publicly listed company revealing on Monday it will be forced to cough up nearly $37 million if the sale falls through.

The woman mauled by a lion at a south-east Queensland zoo has been described by the organisation as a “much loved member of our family” with 20 years’ experience observing keepers at the property.

The man accused of a “cash for demerit points” scheme that police say started through social media in 2021 has been identified as Nicholas John Anforth, 28. He is now facing multiple charges, including fraud and attempting to pervert justice.

The investigation into the murder of a Sydney man, whose final moments were captured on CCTV, has led police to a “contract crew” they allege buried a man alive south-west of Brisbane.

A luxury Stretton home with its own cricket pitch and cinema has sold for nearly double its 2021 price after three families went into bat for the keys.

And the LNP has doubled – and tripled – down on its decision to host Olympic rowing on Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River, but there could be choppy waters ahead, as Cameron Atfield writes.

It was not always going to be called the Story Bridge – its 1935 working title was the more utilitarian Brisbane River Bridge.

Brisbane’s Story Bridge.Credit: Courtney Kruk

“When the first sod was turned, the premier at the time, William Forgan Smith, referred to it as the ‘King George V Silver Jubilee Bridge’ and when (the King) died, it became the King George V Memorial Bridge,” former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk said.

“Then, in 1937, the cabinet decided to name the bridge after a veteran public servant, John Douglas Story.”

John Douglas Story.Credit: State Library of Queensland

The rest, as they say, is history.

However, the bridge is now in need of complete restoration, amid criticism Brisbane City Council neglected the structure for years and “left it to rot”. The federal government has pledged $2.25 million towards work to scope the bridge’s restoration.

Story Bridge Restoration Committee chair Nigel Chamier said restoration of the entire structure could be completed in time for the bridge’s centenary in 2040, with a total price tag easily reaching into the hundreds of millions.

“Lots of numbers have been tossed around, [but] we know that replacing the bridge is not an option,” Chamier said.

“Giving the Story Bridge a funeral for its 100th birthday is not acceptable.”

It is 22 storeys high, over one kilometre long and, yesterday, the Story Bridge officially turned 85.

The Story Bridge, pictured under construction in the 1930s.

Designed by John Bradfield in 1934 – the same man who designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge – the Story Bridge was officially opened on July 6, 1940.

Joining Kangaroo Point and Fortitude Valley, it took five years to construct and is unique in being the largest bridge designed, fabricated and constructed completely by Australians.

The Story Bridge in 1958.Credit: Brisbane City Council Archives

All 12,000 tonnes of steelwork were fabricated in Rocklea at the workshop of Evans, Deakin & Co. Ltd, who were contracted to construct the bridge.

The bridge cost the State Government £1,492,000 and was later sold to the Brisbane City Council for the bargain price of £750,000.

Trump and Albanese.Credit: Megan Herbert

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is waiting to hear back from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after writing to him to offer support for fast-tracking childcare reforms.

It comes after horrific abuse allegations against Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown, accused of abusing children aged between five months and two years at the Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023.

Speaking to Sunrise, Ley said she hoped that a collaborative approach would lead to faster law reform.

“I felt physically sick when I heard this,” she said.

“I have written to the prime minister in good faith to offer our constructive engagement in the lead-up to parliament returning so we can have legislation ready to go to actually act once and for all to do what I think every parent would expect, and every community member would expect, to make sure our children are safe in childcare settings.”

For the first time since 2022, Biosecurity Queensland has confirmed a case of Hendra virus in south-east Queensland, with an unvaccinated horse dying on the weekend.

The case was confirmed on Friday after the animal “rapidly deteriorated” and died on the Queensland property.

Biosecurity Queensland acting chief veterinary officer Dr Fiona Thompson said Queensland Health was assisting with contact tracing any people connected to the property, and other animals on the property had already been tested.

Hendra virus can be transmitted from flying foxes to horses, and from infected horses to humans.

It is potentially deadly to both horses and humans.

Thompson has urged all horse owners to vaccinate their animals.

“Hendra virus infection can occur throughout the year, so it’s important that horse owners and people in contact with horses take steps to protect themselves and their animals at all times,” she said.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Heidi Carroll said human transmission was rare, but noted that people who had been significantly exposed to the infected horse were being prioritised for testing.

Australian Formula One star Oscar Piastri has missed out on a first place victory at the British Grand Prix after a controversial penalty.

The McLaren driver came from second place on the grid to lead, then incurred a 10-second penalty before seeing teammate and chief rival Lando Norris go clear to take the chequered flag.

Find out how it played out here.

A Queensland zoo where a woman was mauled by a lion on Sunday morning will remain closed today, with management expecting to reopen to the public tomorrow.

The zoo was closed after a woman in her 50s was bitten on the arm by a lion about 8.30am yesterday.

She was airlifted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital, but her arm could not be saved.

In statements released yesterday afternoon, the zoo said it would not euthanise the animal involved in the mauling, and would keep the zoo closed today.

The woman, who the zoo said had more than two decades’ experience in animal handling, remains in a stable condition at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has warned that Australia’s relationship with the United States is “not going well”, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese preparing to travel to China this week while yet to obtain a meeting with the United States president.

“This is very dangerous,” Joyce said, speaking to Sunrise this morning. “You need to understand the United States is the cornerstone of our defence relationship. It is not going well.

“This is the fourth meeting he has had with the leader of China, but that is a totalitarian regime. Mr Trump has not had a meeting with the prime minister yet. I’m truly concerned about that.

“If we can’t extract the meeting between the prime minister and the president of the United States, we are on bad ground.”

Also speaking to Sunrise, Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek rejected Joyce’s suggestion.

“The prime minister has spoken to the president on the phone, the defence minister met his counterpart recently, the foreign affairs minister has just been in the United States recently,” she said.

“The United States is absolutely our foundational defence and security partner. The relationship is terrific.”

In State of Origin news, Queensland captain Cameron Munster has left Origin camp after the death of his father Steven, but plans to return and lead the Maroons in Wednesday’s decider.

Munster learned of his father’s death overnight in Queensland camp on the Sunshine Coast, with coach Billy Slater confirming the news in a statement on The Sunday Footy Show.

Munster was given the option to stand down from Origin III at Accor Stadium by Queensland officials, but has told officials he wants to play in honour of his late father.

The Storm five-eighth produced a man-of-the-match performance and led a stirring Queensland upset in Perth after being handed the state captaincy. Longtime teammate and Cameron Smith backed Munster to return for the decider, while Broncos star Reece Walsh remains in camp as 18th man.

Read more here.