Brisbane news live: Federal fund for council's cyclone clean-up dries up

Sydney Morning Herald

20-05-2025

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Federal fund for council's cyclone clean-up dries up
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Residents who have been faced with broken trees and playground shade sails since Cyclone Alfred lashed Brisbane in March might be left waiting, as the council doubles down on a funding bid.
The Brisbane City Council said federal funding had 'barely scratched the surface' of damage in the region, and it would not continue clean-up efforts until it was given more aid.
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Deputy Lord Mayor Fiona Cunningham said each council had received $1 million before the storm hit, but 'as the largest local government in the country' Brisbane's share was not enough.
'Right now we're facing a funding gap of $2.2 million just for tree-related damage, with broader citywide cyclone impacts estimated close to $45 million,' she said.
The Commonwealth approved a further $32 million on clean-up efforts in Brisbane on April 9, but Cunningham said the council CEO had appealed for a boost to finish up repairs.
'Seventy-eight days in, the reality is that we're still waiting for approval of category D funding despite our repeated requests,' she said.
Cunningham added the council had already begun 'essential recovery works' across the city.
7.28am
State pares back 'good character' evidence in sexual violence cases
By Catherine Strohfeldt
A person's social position, reputation, or contributions to the community will have a drastically reduced effect on sentencing for sexual offences in Queensland.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the changes to 'good character' evidence were a major win for victims, and came alongside harsher penalties for sexual offences against children.
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'No one wants to hear that a rapist is an all-round great person, a trustworthy mate, or that they're respected in the community – especially not their victim, bravely sitting in court,' Frecklington said.
Evidence of 'good character' will still be admissible in sexual violence cases, but only if it helps establish a defendant's likelihood of reoffending, or their ability to be rehabilitated.
Queensland Victims' Commissioner Beck O'Connor said the law should have been amended so 'a court must not consider any 'good behaviour' evidence for offenders in any circumstance'.
'Victim-survivors have said this evidence is an attempt to minimise, or counteract, the hurt caused by an offender,' O'Connor said.
'These limited amendments proposed by [the] Queensland Sentencing and Advisory Council will not resolve these issues.'
The changes follow a QSAC report released in February, and follow a spate of changes to youth crime sentencing rolled out in the government's first seven months.
7.27am
Australia 'in danger of permanent structural decline', former deputy PM says
By Sarah McPhee
Former deputy prime minister John Anderson says the country is in danger of permanent structural decline after the Coalition breakdown.
'Now, there's no doubt in my mind that experience shows over the 80 years that the Coalition agreement has been in place that working together produces better government for the country and Australia needs better government now more than ever,' Anderson told Sky News.
'We are in danger of permanently entering structural decline and this is happening in the context of a very dangerous world. So I hope they can sort their differences out very, very quickly.'
Anderson said he was 'dismayed' at what was happening.
'The parties do not exist to serve themselves. They exist to serve the national interest,' he said.
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'We've just been through an election which could've been won, in my view, and I profoundly believe that to be true, if we'd had the policies to address the issues … that have to be addressed if we are to halt our structural decline.'
Anderson was the leader of The Nationals and deputy prime minister to John Howard from 1999 to 2005.
7.21am
Federal fund for council's cyclone clean-up dries up
By Catherine Strohfeldt
Residents who have been faced with broken trees and playground shade sails since Cyclone Alfred lashed Brisbane in March might be left waiting, as the council doubles down on a funding bid.
The Brisbane City Council said federal funding had 'barely scratched the surface' of damage in the region, and it would not continue clean-up efforts until it was given more aid.
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Deputy Lord Mayor Fiona Cunningham said each council had received $1 million before the storm hit, but 'as the largest local government in the country' Brisbane's share was not enough.
'Right now we're facing a funding gap of $2.2 million just for tree-related damage, with broader citywide cyclone impacts estimated close to $45 million,' she said.
The Commonwealth approved a further $32 million on clean-up efforts in Brisbane on April 9, but Cunningham said the council CEO had appealed for a boost to finish up repairs.
'Seventy-eight days in, the reality is that we're still waiting for approval of category D funding despite our repeated requests,' she said.
Cunningham added the council had already begun 'essential recovery works' across the city.
7.07am
The weather this Wednesday
The mild weather continues in the River City today, with what is predicted to be a partly sunny Wednesday.
While the weather bureau has forecast a small chance of a shower, only a millimetre would be in it. We think you can leave the umbrella at home.
Otherwise, after some early fog, we're expecting a pleasant top of 26 degrees in Brisbane today.
Here's the outlook for the rest of the week and into the weekend.
7.00am
While you were sleeping
Here's what's making news further afield this morning:
The Nationals have split from the Liberals for the first time since 1987.
Former prime minister John Howard has damned the split as a 'stupid move' that threatens to deepen the parties' differences.
The radioactive debate over nuclear energy is at the core of the Coalition meltdown.
And, writes Tony Wright, the Nationals were once feared. 'Now they merely stamp their feet.'
Anthony Albanese is on track to f all 262,000 short of his target of 1.2 million new homes by the end of the decade, a government adviser warns.
Weight-loss drugs come with unpleasant side-effects. But these readily available foods can help you lose weight without the need for medication.
Bitcoin is back. After a pretty miserable start to the year, the world's most well-known digital asset has staged a sharp rebound. So, is now a good time to invest?
And the world's richest man, Elon Musk, says he will cut back or completely stop his record-breaking political spending following a bruising start to 2025 in which shares in his car company Tesla sank.
6.47am
The top stories this morning
Good morning, and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Wednesday, May 21. Today we can expect a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 26 degrees.
In this morning's local headlines:
The father of the merged Liberal National Party in Queensland, Lawrence Springborg, insists the Coalition's federal split will have no bearing on the party in Queensland.
Under pressure to come clean over its sudden decision to close the Story Bridge's footpaths, Brisbane's council is releasing all its reports on their maintenance and restoration.
A teenager who used a paint-filled fire extinguisher to vandalise former federal opposition leader Peter Dutton's office has been sentenced in Brisbane.
Brisbane is likely to fine Reece Walsh over a social media post in which the star fullback punches a friend in the head while wearing a boxing glove.
In sport, Robert Toia turned down Wayne Bennett and battled injuries for three years. Now Queensland's latest rookie has been .