Latest news with #ABCSouthernQld
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Rain forecast for parts of Queensland on election day and across long weekend
Falls of up to 100 millimetres could hit parts of Queensland over the Labour Day long weekend, after days of picture-perfect autumn weather. The Bureau of Meteorology's (BOM) Daniel Hayes said the state's tropical north would experience the most shower activity, which could begin as early as Friday. "But particularly from around Saturday and into Sunday, we do expect to see some heavier showers developing initially in the Cassowary Coast area and then potentially pushing up through Cairns," he said. Stay updated: Catch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on A stunning sunrise captured over Cairns on Tuesday. ( Supplied: Anu Kanthanathan ) "We could start to see some falls … up to around 60mm … there could even be some isolated falls that go higher than that, up into the 100mm range." "Around the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast areas … you might push up to double figure falls, 10-15mm or so." The BOM predicts showers could extend into the central west around Saturday, and potentially through to the north-western or western parts of the state by Sunday. "[These areas are] probably more likely to have just cloudy conditions — there is a little bit of a cloud band through some of those inland areas at the moment," Mr Hayes said. Clear skies this week have allowed for spectacular sunsets over the Toowoomba region. ( ABC Southern Qld: Dan McCray ) It is the third consecutive long weekend for Queenslanders, who have experienced a mixed bag of weather conditions in that time. Heavy rain forced the cancellation of some The Flash flooding at the RSL in Nambour was captured in the early hours of Anzac Day morning. ( Facebook: Benji Lang ) Read more about the federal election: Want even more? Here's where you can find all our 2025 'Nuisance' rain for election day Queenslanders were faced with a similar weather scenario on the day of the federal election on May 21, 2022. There was even speculation it could sway the result, with some experts suggesting But Mr Hayes said the showers this weekend would be "more of a nuisance than anything". A couple enjoy a "democracy sausage" in the rain at Nundah on the day of the 2022 federal election. ( ABC News: Baz Ruddick ) "Showers themselves will move fairly quickly with the quite fresh winds that we'll have around the place, but they'll probably linger through the course of the day," he said. "There is some slight chance that there could be the odd heavier shower here or there … that might have a bit more of an impact, given that all the catchments through large parts of Queensland are pretty wet — but it's not considered a high chance." Marine warnings for strong winds remain in place for the Queensland coast, from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Gold Coast, and extending into New South Wales. Surfers enjoyed the waves at Fingal Beach, three hours north of Sydney, this week. ( Supplied: Paul Buchanan ) A high pressure system has been generating stable conditions for much of this week, as the state begins to shift towards its dry season. "Certainly the pattern is that things will be easing on Monday," Mr Hayes said. " By Tuesday it should be pretty good again — for the return to work. " Loading Having trouble seeing this form? Try
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
LNP stronghold seat of Groom will be 'in play' at federal election
Air Force veteran John Bushel is feeling optimistic about Saturday's federal election as he sits in his backyard in southern Queensland. Mr Bushel lives in in the rural town of Wyreema 15 kilometres south west of Toowoomba, which places him in the division of Groom, a seat long held by the Liberal National Party (LNP) — but that's not why he's smiling. Stay updated: Catch the latest interviews and in-depth coverage on "I'm enjoying the election because we have competition in the electorate of Groom, which is something of a new feeling," he says. " I think it's good to see that other candidates are showing a real interest. " The cost of living, health, climate change and veterans affairs are big issues for John Bushell. ( ABC Southern Qld: Dan McCray ) The seat of Groom, which encompasses the large inland city of Toowoomba, has been warmed by Liberal and National backsides for the last 89 years. The last incumbent to lose the seat of Groom – or Darling Downs as it was called back then – was Arthur Morgan in 1931. That's if you don't count the division's namesake, Sir Littleton Groom, who died in office in 1936. More recently, LNP MP John McVeigh comfortably held the seat. At the 2019 election, he won more than 70 per cent of the vote on a two-candidate-preferred basis. That number fell to 67 per cent in a 2020 by-election, when Garth Hamilton took over, and again to 57 per cent in 2022, in line with a "You wonder why you need to vote, because you know that one candidate's going to win," Mr Bushel said. " So what difference is my vote going to make? " Groom up for grabs? Mr Bushel plans to vote for independent candidate Suzie Holt on Saturday. Photo shows Purple sign reads "voting centre" Applications for postal votes have closed. These charts show how many Australians are voting early. In 2022 the former social worker shocked many by making it to the final count. Ms Holt recorded eight per cent of the primary vote but surged to 43 per cent after preferences, thus delivering the closest result in Groom in 64 years. "Everyone was very surprised when Suzie Holt got through to the final two last time," ABC election analyst Antony Green said. "It was such an improbable route … it took the Electoral Commission a week and a half before they started changing their preference count." This year Ms Holt is running with the backing of funding organisation Climate 200 and her campaign is highly visible across the electorate. "I think people know that for a very long time we've been a very safe seat," she said. "And I think this is an opportunity – a golden opportunity, to quote Tony Windsor – to actually make the seat competitive." Demographic shift Toowoomba has seen strong population growth in recent years amid an influx of domestic and overseas migrants. Jackson Musgrove has been following the election on social media. ( ABC Southern Qld: Peter Sanders ) But household incomes have remained below the national average and housing availability is tight. Jackson Musgrove, 19, says the political offering on the table doesn't appeal to young people worried about issue such as housing and student debt. "I want to give the smaller parties a go — I don't feel like the bigger parties have it anymore," he said. " They're not pushing what I want as a young person. " LNP MP Garth Hamilton says the claim that Groom is a safe seat is a "teal talking point". "There's a fundamental flaw in this idea that there's some negative connotation with that," he said. "If I pointed to any other place in regional Australia where numbers have been much tighter — where would you rather live than Toowoomba?" Mr Hamilton pointed to major infrastructure projects such as the $1.6-billion Second Range Crossing as evidence that Groom was not being neglected. The 41-kilometre road has transformed the city by allowing road freight to bypass it. Garth Hamilton claimed Groom in a 2020 by-election. ( ABC News ) One Nation wildcard Eight candidates are contesting Groom this election, but Griffith University political analyst Paul Williams says Ms Holt is the only one in a position to challenge the LNP. Her path, he says, may involve One Nation voters. Photo shows An illustration of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton, surrounded by icons such as a smoke stack, money and a shop. Labor and the Coalition have now laid out nearly all their major commitments for what they would do if they win the May 3 poll. Find out what Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are promising. "If she beats Labor in the primary vote – and depending on where those populist right candidates' preferences go – it's not impossible that Suzie could win that seat," Dr Williams said. " It's not likely — you'd still want to be the LNP candidate – but what should be a lock for the LNP is certainly a seat in play. " He said One Nation voters often ignored party preference directions, which made them unpredictable. "There'll be a lot of One Nation voters who say, 'We're not even going to listen to our own party leader — I'm going to put my preferences where I want to,'" Dr Williams said. "If that happens and Labor is knocked into third place, their preferences could flow to Holt and then the seat is in play."
ABC News
21-04-2025
- ABC News
Summah Richards, 12, mourned after fatal e-scooter in Laidley, Queensland
A Queensland high school student killed in a e-scooter crash in a rural town is being remembered as a caring young girl whose smile would light up a room. Twelve-year-old Summah Richards was riding an e-scooter in Laidley, west of Brisbane, when she died in a collision with a car at about 3pm on Saturday. Queensland Police said initial investigations suggested Summah was riding southbound on Vaux Street when she fell into the path of a grey Holden Barina travelling in the same direction. Authorities said Summah died at the scene. The driver and passenger of the other vehicle were not injured. Summah is being remembered as a mature girl with a caring nature and big dreams. ( Supplied ) Family friend Stacey Ardrey said the 12-year-old, who had just started high school this year, had such a "bubbly" personality and cared deeply about her community. "She just had this really cheeky grin that anytime you looked at her, she was always smiling," Ms Ardley said. "It was always that same grin. "It's going to be very much missed — she's leaving behind a very big gap in her family and community and in anyone's life she touched." The community is pouring out support for Summah's family ( Supplied ) Community support Ms Ardley said Summah always looked out for others, including her young children, and hoped to become a nurse practitioner not only to help people but also because she believed it would "bring her in the big dollars". "Words can't really describe the warmth this child radiated," she said. "I'm a helicopter mum myself and just having Summah interacting with my children, you just knew they were safe with her. "She was very mature and bubbly. " She was amazing. " Summah died on Vaux Street on Easter Saturday. ( ABC Southern Qld: Peter Sanders ) Ms Ardley said a GoFundMe campaign she created to help cover the family's ongoing costs had already surpassed its goal for funeral expenses. "It's just been phenomenal seeing how quickly everyone jumped on board," she said. "I'm just hoping to relieve that financial and that mental load of worrying about how everything is going to be paid for. "We've reached the goal and it'll provide Summah a beautiful send-off for her eternal place of rest." One of Summah's friends left a heartfelt note at the memorial near the scene. ( ABC Southern Qld: Peter Sanders ) 'Extremely tragic' Flowers and soft toys have been placed near the crash site in honour of Summah's memory. Road Policing and Regional Support Command Acting Chief Superintendent Garrath Channells said the incident was being investigated. "That's an extremely tragic incident that occurred in Laidley," he said. "To lose a young person like that to a fatal traffic crash is really tragic and my heart goes out to the family and the friends of that young person who has been taken away from the family much too early. "It would appear that the child has lost control of the e-scooter … [resulting] in the individual falling off the scooter and coming to the ground in front of a moving vehicle, which has collided with the child. "That's still under investigation — our specialist investigative unit from the forensic crash unit will work through the full investigation, but at this early date that is what appears to have occurred." Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact police.
