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Michael McKennaQueensland Editor

Michael McKenna is Queensland Editor at The Australian.

@McKennaattheOz

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CycloneNation

HMAS Choules rescues a solo rowboat adventurer off the east Australian coast. *** Local Caption *** On 01 March 2025, Defence accepted a request from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to support a search and rescue operation approximately 740km east of Mackay, QLD, after concerns were raised for the safety of a solo occupied rowboat. The vessel is in close proximity to Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Defence has dispatched a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft from RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia, and the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules from Brisbane to assist in the AMSA âled operation.

Lithuanian rower rescued by navy from cyclone

A search-and-rescue mission has cost the Australian Defence Force hundreds of thousands of dollars to save a rower caught in Cyclone Alfred.

Michael McKenna and Elodie Jakes

exclusivePolitics

Gold Coast, 28 February 2025. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli during a press conference on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

Premier’s Olympic stadium scramble

A new stadium at Brisbane’s Victoria Park has been recommended by a draft secret report reviewing plans for the city’s 2032 Olympics, sparking fury in the top ranks of the new Queensland government.

Michael McKenna and Sarah Elks

FEEDING THE CHOOKSFeeding the Chooks

FUTURE BRISBANE - Olympic roadmap underway for Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge A team of national infrastructure experts has been assembled to ensure Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge can play a pivotal role during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The 84-year-old bridge is rapidly approaching end of life and is going to need significant investment to ensure it can continue serving Brisbane residents for another 100 years. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner assembled the Story Bridge Restoration Committee to develop a roadmap to restore the Australian icon. The Story Bridge Restoration Committee will be chaired by prominent Queenslander Nigel Chamier AM, who is known for his leadership in the restorations of Brisbane City Hall and ANZAC Square. Picture Supplied Brisbane City Council

David Crisafulli’s Olympic-sized problem

If the Queensland Premier obeys the main advice from his hand-picked Games panel, he’ll be breaking an election promise.

Sarah Elks and Michael McKenna

STATE POLITICSPolitics

The Victorian Government has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer to lead its Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) Frankie Carroll. Supplied

‘Unappointable’ bureaucrat now in charge of Rail Loop

The public servant now charged with delivering Australia’s largest housing project in Victoria was deemed not ‘well suited’ for being responsible for ‘complex policy matters’ when he applied for the job of Queensland under-treasurer.

Sarah Elks and Michael McKenna

commentaryPolitics

Jackie Trad and Shannon Fentiman, attend the Post Election Labor Lunch at Breakfast Creek Hotel - on Sunday 27th of October 2024 - Photo Steve Pohlner

Suppression of Trad report a cover-up funded by taxpayers

The former Palaszczuk government’s successful legal bid to keep secret a damning Crime and Corruption Commission report was a rolled-gold, taxpayer-funded political cover-up.

Michael McKenna

EXCLUSIVEPolitics

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos FEBRUARY 19, 2025: Jarrod BleijieDeputy Premier of QLDParliamentary sitting day, including Question Time, at Queensland Parliament House in Brisbane.Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

LNP opposed to labour hire plan

Queensland’s Crisafulli LNP government has slammed federal Labor’s ‘reckless’ decision to back Victoria as the host jurisdiction for national labour hire regulation.

Ewin Hannan and Michael McKenna

QueenslandPolitics

HOTA Board Announcement - Mayor Tom Tate has announced that Jackie Trad is the new Chair of the HOTA Board.31 May 2022 Southport Picture by Richard Gosling

Trad’s job pick secret finally revealed

Former Labor deputy premier Jackie Trad ‘inappropriately interfered’ with a government selection process to hand-pick her own under-treasurer, a secret report by Queensland’s corruption watchdog has found.

Michael McKenna and Sarah Elks

CFMEUNation

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA. NewsWire Photos, AUGUST 24 2022 - John Setka. CFMEU leader John Setka pictured in Adelaide in 2022. Picture: NewsWire/ Roy VanDerVegt

Setka sued over threats to AFL

John Setka faces penalties of up to $18,780 for each alleged contravention and the CFMEU penalties of up to $93,900, over threats to impose a ‘work to rule’ campaign against the league.

Ewin Hannan and Michael McKenna

exclusiveNation

The e-scooter startup’s two founders, CEO Alan Jiang and CTO Deb Gangopadhyay

E-scooter operator forced to cough up

Global e-vehicle firm Beam Mobility has been forced to negotiate compensation payouts to seven councils across Australia and New Zealand after being caught out exceeding safety limits.

Michael McKenna and Sarah Elks

FEEDING THE CHOOKSFeeding the Chooks

David Crisafulli, who spent years slamming the Palaszczuk-Miles government for handing out jobs to mates, has picked up where they left off.

‘Mates State’ lives on under Crisafulli’s Queensland LNP

After nearly a decade of attacking the Palaszczuk-Miles government for shoe-horning Labor mates into taxpayer-funded jobs, the LNP has picked up right where the ALP left off, with a slew of plum appointments.

Sarah Elks and Michael McKenna

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/michael-mckenna/page/3