As it happened: Brisbane on Monday, January 20

Nine News Queensland has announced the retirement of its long-standing evening news presenter Andrew Lofthouse.

Lofthouse said it was time for him to “pull back and slow down a little” while dealing with a health issue.

Lofthouse has been an anchor of the Nine Queensland bulletin for 17 years – 16 of which were alongside co-anchor Melissa Downes.

“I’ve been in the business a long time,” he said.

“I’ve done a heck of a lot with Nine.

“It’s been an amazing privilege and a wonderful experience with the best in the business. And of course, our incredible viewers who make it all worthwhile.”

Andrew Lofthouse, pictured with co-presenter Melissa Downes.

Downes said Lofthouse was “one of the true gentlemen of the TV news business”.

“Lofty is so much more than just a colleague, he’s one of my closest friends and I’m so incredibly grateful for the 16 years we shared on the Nine News desk,” she said.

Nine expected to run a special tribute of Lofthouse’s career with the broadcaster.

“I’m currently dealing with a bit of a health issue so now is a good time for me to pull back and slow down a little after a dream career,” Lofthouse said.

We’re glad you could join us for our first daily blog for 2025.

If you’re just catching up on today’s headlines, here’s what was making news:

Brisbane residents are set to sweat through the end of January as hot, humid conditions intensify this week.

Nine News Queensland announced the retirement of its long-standing evening news presenter Andrew Lofthouse, who said it was time for him to “pull back and slow down a little” while dealing with a health issue.

Family and friends of a woman allegedly set on fire have packed a small suburban courtroom for the first scheduled appearance of a man charged with attempted murder.

The Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre (QTAC) confirmed a further 13,778 offers had been made for study in 2025, adding to more than 16,000 offers sent in December.

Labor and the Coalition are within sight of a deal to pass new laws against violent hate speech when federal parliament resumes in February, as both major parties vow to act on antisemitism while arguing over which side is tougher on the problem.

And veteran Nine sports reporter Tony Jones has apologised on air to Novak Djokovic for “any disrespect” implied by his comments mocking fans of the Australian Open champion.

The Queensland government has opened recruitment for an expert panel to advise on further measures to deal with youth crime.

The LNP promised the second tranche of its youth crime reforms would include an expert panel tasked with considering how certain offences, such as attempted murder, should be dealt with where young people are concerned.

The government requested expressions of interest from experts with “extensive experience in legal practice, law enforcement or victim support”.

The selected panellists will report to Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber.

“The work of the panel will occur while the Crisafulli government progresses commitments to make Jack’s Law permanent and introduce Daniel’s Law,” Gerber said in a statement.

“When we announced Adult Crime, Adult Time we were clear further reform and further offences would be added in the second tranche.”

Expressions of interest close on January 30.

The number of long-stay patients in Queensland hospitals is increasing, limiting doctors’ ability to admit other patients.

In response to a question on notice from the opposition, Health Minister Tim Nicholls revealed the last quarterly census identified 1076 long-stay patients, compared to only 630 two years earlier.

The long-stay patients were costing Queensland Health more than $2 million per day.

“Long-stay patients are patients who no longer require in-hospital care but are awaiting appropriate supports to transition to the community,” Nicholls said.

“These patients are clinically fit for discharge, however, typically require access to appropriate aged care or disability supports that are primarily a Commonwealth Government responsibility.”

While almost a third of the long-stay patients were younger, and in need of disability care, the Commonwealth also failed to meet its January 1 target of having no young people in aged care.

Police are appealing for information following a spate of armed robberies in Brisbane and Logan this morning, which they believed were done by a group of at least four men.

Police said they received reports of suspicious behaviour between 4am and 4.30am in Bardon and Paddington, and believed the men were responsible for four armed robberies.

Shortly afterwards, a residence in Wilston on Laughland Street was broken into about 4.45am, and items including a handbag, jewellery and keys were stolen.

Police suspected the group then stole a white Volkswagen Golf, with Queensland registration 254WFV, about 4.55am from a residence in Langley Avenue, Wilston.

The group, who police said consisted of at least four men armed with a knife and wrench, then reportedly broke into a business on Beenleigh Redland Bay Road in Cornubia, about 5.50am.

Investigators said a second business – a Clarks Road service station in Loganholme – was broken into at 6.07am.

Cigarettes and cash were stolen from both businesses.

Investigations were continuing this afternoon, as police urged anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.

Nine News Queensland has announced the retirement of its long-standing evening news presenter Andrew Lofthouse.

Lofthouse said it was time for him to “pull back and slow down a little” while dealing with a health issue.

Lofthouse has been an anchor of the Nine Queensland bulletin for 17 years – 16 of which were alongside co-anchor Melissa Downes.

“I’ve been in the business a long time,” he said.

“I’ve done a heck of a lot with Nine.

“It’s been an amazing privilege and a wonderful experience with the best in the business. And of course, our incredible viewers who make it all worthwhile.”

Andrew Lofthouse, pictured with co-presenter Melissa Downes.

Downes said Lofthouse was “one of the true gentlemen of the TV news business”.

“Lofty is so much more than just a colleague, he’s one of my closest friends and I’m so incredibly grateful for the 16 years we shared on the Nine News desk,” she said.

Nine expected to run a special tribute of Lofthouse’s career with the broadcaster.

“I’m currently dealing with a bit of a health issue so now is a good time for me to pull back and slow down a little after a dream career,” Lofthouse said.

Police investigating the shooting of a 33-year-old woman at the Gold Coast two weeks ago have said their key person of interest could remain detained interstate for “a couple of years”, after he was arrested in Victoria over unrelated charges.

Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said Gold Coast detectives had visited the 49-year-old in Victoria, where he was detained last week.

“He was arrested by their equivalent to our SERT operatives … for a number of weapon-related offences unrelated to our incident at all – some incidents that occurred over a two-hour period in Victoria,” Mooney said.

He said Gold Coast police expected to extradite the person of interest “at some point in time”.

He added investigators were relieved they had been able to “put all the pieces together” after recovering the suspected weapon in the Gold Coast shooting last week – a “modified” double-barrelled shotgun.

“Investigators located the weapon in bushland not far from the crime scene. The weapon had been discarded by – we believe – our person of interest,” he said.

The 33-year-old woman remained in “a critical but stable condition” at the Gold Coast University Hospital today, having had multiple organs “or parts thereof” removed because of her injuries.

Mooney said police had sent the weapon in for ballistics testing, and expected to speak to the injured woman today.

A report from the Queensland Auditor-General has echoed concerns over the state’s massive infrastructure program.

Labor’s last budget, endorsed by the LNP, foreshadowed a $22.9 billion capital works budget in 2024-25 – up 82 per cent in just two years.

The report, released today, found the capital works budget was not only large but continued to blow out (by 13.8 per cent last year and 16.4 per cent the year before).

While acknowledging the program was intended to service a growing population, the report highlighted ongoing challenges that “may result in delays or budget overruns”.

“Queensland’s increased capital investment and projects, along with major projects planned across Australia, presents significant challenges for the construction sector,” the report states.

“These include a tight labour market, ongoing industrial disputes, and rising supply chain costs. The Queensland government should consider assessing and addressing these risks to effectively deliver its infrastructure agenda over the next decade.”

The most expensive project on the list was Cross River Rail, which the report said had been budgeted $7.8 billion to date but with “further delays or cost increases likely”.

Treasurer David Janetzki will hand down the budget update on Thursday. The LNP has vowed to deliver projects on time and on budget, through efficiency and productivity reforms.

Embattled casino operator Star Entertainment has warned that if it was unable to find a solution to its business woes, there would be “material uncertainty” over its ability to continue operating and meeting its financial obligations.

In a quarterly update to investors on Monday, ASX-listed Star said its revenue had fallen 15 per cent in the December quarter, citing ongoing weakness in its operating performance. It pointed to a “challenging” consumer environment, expenses caused by a series of regulatory and compliance problems, and the impact of carded play in NSW.

Star Entertainment may have to sell a stake in the precinct to stave off collapse.Credit: Glenn Campbell

The Star reiterated that it had $78 million left in cash – after previously indicating earlier in the month that it was burning through about $35 million a month – which prompted Morningstar’s analyst to warn the company might not survive until its results in late February.

As it fights for survival, Star said it was continuing discussions to attempt to deal with the crunch on its finances, but there was no guarantee it would be able to reach a deal to resolve its situation.

Star has also been asking the NSW and Queensland governments for help and it could also look at selling assets – it owns casinos in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Deputy Business Editor Clancy Yeates’ full story continues here.

TikTok said on Monday (AEDT) it was restoring its service after President-elect Donald Trump said he would revive the social media app’s access in the US when he returns to power on Monday.

The statement came after US users reported being able to access the Chinese-owned service’s website while the far more widely used TikTok app itself began coming back online for some users with just a few basic services.

The message displayed to US TikTok users on Sunday.

Trump had earlier announced his intention to use an executive order as soon as he is president to give the social media company more time to find an approved buyer so that the online platform is not permanently banned in the US.

Earlier, millions of Americans had awoken to the news that they could not access the video-sharing app, while Trump announced that he would use the first day of his presidency to thwart a US law banning the Chinese-based company unless it divested “so that we can make a deal to protect our national security”.

Our full story continues here.