A crackdown on “blood suckers” ripping off the National Disability Insurance Scheme will be bolstered with a $48.3m investment in new fraud detection staff as Labor also explores technology options to stamp out rampant rorting that costs taxpayers billions of dollars.

A police investigation is under way into the alleged rape of a mental health patient by a security guard at a North Queensland hospital.

There are only nine rooms available in share houses across Brisbane that were affordable for renters living on income support, it has been revealed in a new report.

Brisbane has suffered through the steepest cost-of-living increase in the nation this year, with the capital hit with rises across the board.