Our Journalists

Brendan O’Malley has been a journalist with The Courier-Mail and Quest Newspapers for 30 years, covering Council, state politics, the environment, science and the far north Qld bureau. He currently covers courts and local issues in Brisbane’s inner-west, southwest, inner south and inner north suburbs.

Brendan O'Malley

Latest

South West

Queensland Greens Michaela Sargent outside Brisbane City Hall in King George Square, Sunday, March 17, 2024 - Picture: Richard Walker

Tense wait: Result in key westside ward could take 10 days

The winner in a key westside Brisbane City Council ward might not be known for another 10 days with postal and absentee votes crucial to the outcome.

South West

Queensland Greens Seal Chong Wah outside Brisbane City Hall in King George Square, Sunday, March 17, 2024 - Picture: Richard Walker

BCC poll: Not quite a Greenslide but a slippery slide for Labor

The Greens claim they are on track to supersede Labor in council, but analysis of the 2020 election shows they picked up big swings in only seven wards this time.

LIVE

LIVEQLD Council Elections

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner pictured at the official LNP post election function, Gambaros, Brisbane 16th March 2024. (Image/Josh Woning)

Live results: Three wards undecided as count continues

The LNP have secured a majority council in Brisbane but three wards remain undecided. It comes after the Greens claimed they’re “on the brink of breaking the two-party system” but may have celebrated prematurely in one ward. FOLLOW LIVE RESULTS

Southeast

A staffer at Sunnybank Hills Outside School Hours Care was held up at knifepoint.

Southside after-hours school staffer robbed at knifepoint

A southside after-hours school care facility has stepped up security after a staff member was robbed at knifepoint in a terrifying incident as she walked into the building to start work.

South West

CFMEU protesting Foreign steel in the construction upgrade of the Centenary Bridge, Jindalee. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Traffic jam as union protest on ‘Chinese’ steel hits Brisbane bridge works

Traffic ground to a halt on a busy Brisbane freeway this morning during a union protest about alleged use of Chinese steel in a vital bridge duplication, with police called in to move a truck.

Southeast

Police are appealing for help ot find Sonya and Wolfgang Wildgrace.

Vanishing Brisbane couple’s bizarre links to notorious AFL camp, Scientology

It can be revealed that a Brisbane couple who vanished without a trace has links to Scientology and a infamous AFL training camp involving the Adelaide Crows.

Southeast

Southsiders are furious after the government cleared 1ha of protected bush next to Toohey forest with almost no warning.

Flattened: Southside koala paradise paved for parking lot

Southsiders are furious after waking up to discover 1ha of protected bush, home to koalas and other fauna, had been bulldozed for a carpark they say won’t help street parking woes.

Ipswich

FAST GUIDE TO IPSWICH ELECTION: Mayoral, division candidates, policies, voting info | Full list

Ipswich City Council Mayor Teresa Harding will be slugging it out again for the top job, facing off against five other hopefuls, while 20 others have put up their hands in the city’s four divisions. We list their policies and experience. FULL LIST

Ipswich

The owners of Historic Scott's Farm in Ripley are demanding an assurance from the government that it will not buy part of their proeprty for a future school.

Thousands back plea to stop school at historic Ipswich farm

Thousands of Ipswich-area locals have signed the latest petition to stop plans to carve off part of a 130-year-old farm for a future school. The farm has been an idyllic retreat for community groups for decades and is a vital wildlife corridor, supporters say.

Redlands Coast

Major Bayside street partly reopened after car, pedestrian crash

UPDATE: A major bayside street is partly blocked after a serious crash involving a car and a pedestrian earlier this morning.

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