The Scoop: Inside the world of Queensland’s movers and shakers

As host of FBoy Island Australia, Queensland’s own Abbie Chatfield is something of an authority on the subject. Here’s how she sees the local version. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP

FBoy Island Australia host Abbie Chatfield has pinpointed where she believes the country’s worst “FBoys” are hiding, and it’s closer than you might think. For the uninitiated, FBoys are men who date casually, have multiple sexual partners, and generally treat women poorly.

“Queensland has a really unique kind of FBoy in that they’re super laid back and super ocker,” Chatfield said.

Fboy Island host, Abbie Chatfield. Photo: Binge/Remco Jansen.

“So you almost get tricked because they’re very ‘larrikinesque’, and they’re all hot and outdoorsy. They seem carefree, but actually, they care deeply in a very annoying way. So I feel like we get bamboozled up there.

“There’s all these beautiful men who are from the country, their family owns a farm or something, and you go, ‘Wow, he must be enough country boy’ – wrong!”

JET’S LINK TO KATTERS

It’s a matt black masterpiece with leather upholstery, gold trim and bullet-speed takeoff.

So, it was fairly unsurprising to find the private jet this Scoop writer had the rare opportunity to fly on is owned by none other than weapons manufacturer, NIOA Group.

The Brisbane-housed company, and therefore its associated Embraer Phenom 300 jet, is owned by NIOA Group boss Robert Nioa, who happens to be the son-in-law of Katter’s Australian Party Leader, Bob Katter.

It’s hard to imagine the Katters, defenders of the bush, jetsetting around with city slickers dining on finger sandwiches and cocktails at 30,000 feet but, hey, you take what you can get.

That said, zipping around in this ultra sleek sky bus was as luxurious as it comes.

From the easy-on-the-eyes pilot, who adjusted cabin temperature on demand, to the personalised mini water bottles (the finest spring) and polished interior, it’s no wonder this pie in the sky costs a hefty $7.6m – minimum.

And let’s not forget skipping the airport queues. Bob, Rob, I’m happy to fill an empty seat anytime, especially if Mr Nioa’s other $20m Legacy 500 jet needs to be taken for a spin.

“RANGA”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has been seeing red after his lighthearted description of red-headed councillor Joe Wilkinson as a “ranga” drew the ire of the council watchdog. The Office of the Independent Assessor referred a complaint – not made by Wilkinson, a “proud ranga” – to the council to investigate. But Scoop can reveal the term “ranga” has been used many times in state parliament over the years. Former tourism minister Kate Jones used it as a term of endearment for fellow Labor MP Brittany Lauga in parliamentary debate in 2016. Referencing a “Ginger Pride” photo shoot on Great Keppel Island, Jones described Lauga as “this very proud ranga from Keppel”.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

BONDI RESCUE RETURN

Former Gold Coast pro surfer and Bondi Rescue star Clint Kimmins is back on the beach with the Bondi lifeguards after being axed during the Covid-19 pandemic. He was sacked by Sydney’s Waverley Council in 2022 for refusing to get the jab or reveal his vaccination status.

But after returning to Queensland, he was recently rehired by the council and is back down in Sydney keeping Bondi beachgoers safe.

“It feels bloody good to be back,” Kimmins posted on Instagram. Fellow stars also welcomed the news. Harrison Reid posted: “About bloody time too.”

Ryan “Whippet” Clark wrote: “Good to have you back Clinton. The beaches are safer for it.”

Surfer Clint Kimmins. Source: Instagram.

FRANKLIN’S BASKETBALL DEBUT

Retired AFL superstar Lance “Buddy” Franklin has swapped the Sherrin for a basketball and the MCG for a Gold Coast Indoor Sports Stadium court.

Franklin and his fashion influencer wife Jesinta moved to the Goldy last year after he retired following a stellar footy career with the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn, including kicking 1066 goals.

The couple recently listed their Mediterranean-style Reedy Creek mansion, which they bought for $8.75m in 2022. It went under the auctioneer’s hammer last weekend but was passed in.

Video recently emerged of Buddy – wearing the No. 23 he made famous in AFL – shooting hoops in a local basketball league game at the Carrara stadium.

The footage, posted to the @madmonday365 Instagram account, shows him going for a lay-up shot and missing badly.

“1066 AFL goals and 0 D-grade social basketball goals,” the post read.

Ouch.

“BEAST OF WAR”

The production team behind Queensland-produced film ‘Beast of War’ has shattered records by constructing the largest water tank ever used on an Australian film set.

The period shark thriller, directed by genre maestro Kiah Roache-Turner, required a tank so immense that existing facilities couldn’t meet its demands, prompting the team to custom-build a 40m-long, 1.8m-deep indoor tank at Screen Queensland’s Hemmant studios. The largest available tank in Australia was only 26m wide.

Beast of War director Kiah Roache-Turner standing in front of the film's record breaking water tank. Photo: Tom Paul Byrnes

“There literally wasn’t any tank in Australia that could let us do what we wanted to do. So we built it,” he said.

Beast of War follows a group of WWII Australian soldiers whose warship is attacked by Japanese fighters, leaving them stranded and pursued by a great white shark.

GREASE FEVER

Australian actor Bobby Fox has been confirmed to join the all-star cast of Grease for its Brisbane season in January. Fox, who will step into the role of Vince Fontaine, joins the production as it gears up for a highly anticipated four-week run at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).

Irish-born Australian actor Bobby Fox. Photo: Supplied.

Fox, celebrated for his portrayal of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, adds significant star power to the line-up. He joins singing legend Marcia Hines as Teen Angel and beloved Australian entertainer Patti Newton as Miss Lynch.

This Brisbane season of Grease marks the final stop of the musical’s Australian tour, following successful runs in Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth. With no extension possible for the Brisbane shows, producers expect a rush for tickets.

Set to iconic tracks like “Summer Nights” and “Greased Lightnin’,” the production has been lauded by critics, with some calling it “close to perfection.” The show opens in January 2025, with tickets going on sale this Friday, August 23, at 10am.