Strong waves and sediment-laden freshwater pushed out from river catchments may have damaged parts of reef system, experts say
Back-to-back cyclones crossing the Great Barrier Reef have experts concerned vast flood plumes and heavy waves may have damaged parts of the world’s biggest coral reef system.
Reef scientists and conservationists went into the summer worried that an El Niño weather pattern would elevate the risk of mass coral bleaching.
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Paterson calls for ‘swift and decisive action’ against neo-Nazi groups
Over the weekend, NSW premier Chris Minns doubled down on his push to tighten anti-vilification laws after a group of neo-Nazis attempted to hold another rally in a public park.
I’d like to see swift and decisive action taken against these neo-Nazi groups who have no place in Australia.
I never thought we would see [something like this] in such a demonstrable way in a pluralistic country like Australia.
It’s the reason why the federal parliament, before Christmas, went to the extraordinary step of passing laws to ban Nazi symbols being publicly displayed, to ban the Nazi salute. And it’s critically important that those laws are rigorously enforced so that people understand there are consequences for this action.
Continue reading...More than 23,000 residents without electricity days after category-three storm lashed coast on Thursday
Cyclone-affected residents have been offered disaster assistance in northern Queensland, where tens of thousands of customers remain without power.
Personal hardship assistance grants have been offered to residents of the Townsville and Burdekin shires after Tropical Cyclone Kirrily crossed the coast on Thursday evening.
Continue reading...The two names also held the top spots together in 2021, highlighting the ongoing popularity of both names with Queensland parents
Oliver and Isla have topped the list of Queensland’s most popular baby names for 2023.
Isla was the most frequent name for 285 newborn girls in 2023, while Oliver retained first place for names for boys (451) – for the 11th year in a row.
Continue reading...Man declared dead at the scene in Mount Louisa on Sunday, with ethical standards command to investigate the death
Queensland police have launched an internal investigation after a man was shot and killed by officers during a “mental health incident” in suburban Townsville.
In a statement, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) claimed the man was armed with a knife and had “threatened” officers who had been called to attend a home at Mount Louisa just after midnight on Sunday. Police officers arrived at the scene an hour later.
Continue reading...Outages also affecting phone networks and water supplies for about 10,000 Queensland households, premier says, as restoration efforts continue
Thousands of Townsville residents are still without power as northern Queensland begins to clean up after ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.
Damaging winds and rainfall totals from 100-150mm hit regions on Thursday evening but minimal property damage was recorded.
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Australian and Aboriginal flags raised during Canberra ceremony
Following the welcome to country, the flag-raising ceremony has begun, with six flags raised including two Australian flags, two Aboriginal flags and two Torres Strait Islander flags.
Australia is home to the oldest continuous culture on Earth, 65,000 years of uninterrupted heritage, demonstrated by the unique archeological evidence found in the very ground that you may are sitting on, found in the rocks and stones of this very place. That makes this continent unique in the whole world.
Ngunnawal’s view of heritage transcends time, it is our way of being with nature, best expressed in the Ngunnawal language through the concepts of respect and deep honour, coming together in the wellbeing for all.
Continue reading...Premier Steven Miles says ‘we’re not out of the woods’ with BoM weather warnings issued as former category three cyclone downgraded
The cleanup from ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily has begun in north Queensland after the weather system was downgraded to a tropical low.
Damaging winds and rainfall totals from 100-150mm hit the region on Thursday evening but minimal property damage was recorded and no lives were lost.
Continue reading...The latest advice from the Bureau of Meteorology is that Tropical Cyclone Kirrily will begin crossing the coast from 10pm tonight. Follow the day’s news live
As we flagged just earlier, wind gusts associated with Tropical Cyclone Kirrily have already begun around the Whitsundays, with gusts over 100km/h.
In a Facebook group for Whitsundays locals, a new resident has asked an innocent question:
Hey there I’m kind of new to town from Melbourne. Does anyone know how to tie my tree down so that it doesn’t blow away?
“I would use fairy lights.”
“If you hop around clockwise on your left leg 3 times and then do a Kangaroo hop to the right, the drop bears will take care of it by having the tree extend it’s roots deeper.”
“If you’re really from Melbourne you would know how to tie down a tree with the windy crap weather down there. Ride a kangaroo to bunnings [and] get some ratchets.”
“From the state of the supermarket shelves I’m guessing everyone is using toilet paper to tie their trees down.”
“Take the leaves off and store inside. The rest will be fine.”
Continue reading...Kirrily downgraded to category-one storm by BoM after heading inland on Thursday night
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily has crossed the coast of Queensland bringing heavy rain and very strong wind gusts.
The cyclone had been updated to a category-three storm on Thursday afternoon and crossed the Queensland coast at Townsville at 10pm. But it was then downgraded first to a category-two storm and then category one as it made its way inland, the Queensland Bureau of Meteorology said.
Continue reading...BoM warns of damaging winds, intense rainfall and flash flooding for some areas as residents urged to prepare and monitor forecasts
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily has officially been declared, developing into a category one storm in the Coral Sea, the Bureau of Meteorology has announced.
The storm is “expected to continue strengthening as it tracks west south-west towards the Queensland coast”, the BoM said on Wednesday evening.
Continue reading...Exclusive: anonymised notes reveal concerns about injuries, self-harm, security incidents and sickness in overcrowded cells
A child locked in the Cairns police watch house is self-harming by banging his head against the cell walls.
Anonymised notes about more than a dozen children in the far north Queensland watch house last week, seen by Guardian Australia, detail concerns about sickness spreading in the overcrowded cells, injuries and serious security incidents.
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Homelessness increasing across Australia, report finds
In January every year, the Productivity Commission releases its Report on Government Services, which “monitor[s] the performance of Australian governments in the delivery of important services to the community”.
The first thing is to stay connected with the emergency messaging and understand the alerts that may and will come out as the cyclone approaches the coast.
But more importantly, use the next 48 hours to 72 hours to prepare yourself and your family for a potential cyclone crossing and flooding event after. You can do simple things like keep the fuel in your car topped up now, make sure you have enough food in your house for 72 hours, [and] make sure you have battery charging packs for your phone. Very simple things you can do.
Continue reading...Cyclone expected to make landfall as severe category-three system as cyclonic winds, flooding rain and tides among weather forecast in Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is considered “most likely” to make landfall as a severe category-three system, causing flooding in large north Queensland cities such as Townsville and Rockhampton.
Queensland emergency services are planning to respond to two disasters: cyclonic winds, followed by flooding rain and tides, according to authorities.
Continue reading...Bureau of Meteorology forecasts category three storm to make landfall near Townsville, warns of damaging winds and heavy rainfall
Queenslanders are being urged to stock up on 72 hours of supplies as a “severe” cyclone begins to swing towards the state’s coast.
A cyclone watch has been issued for communities across north Queensland, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting that tropical Cyclone Kirrily will make landfall near Townsville as a category three storm on Thursday.
Continue reading...Heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding forecast across Kimberley, Northern Territory and much of Cape York peninsula
Northern Australia is battening down the hatches as the Bureau of Meteorology warns intensifying activity in the Coral Sea is likely to result in the formation of Cyclone Kirrily.
While the low-pressure system won’t be officially named until it is properly formed, the bureau expects the cyclone to develop off the Queensland coast by Monday.
Continue reading...Bom says it’s still ‘too early to say’ how strong a potential cyclone may be and when it could reach land
Far north Queensland is bracing for a second natural disaster in about a month while flooding has forced people to flee their homes in the Northern Territory.
Meanwhile, a swathe of Western Australia is enduring temperatures approaching 50C.
Continue reading...NSW authorities are working to determine how long the pest has been in the area and how they arrived
Invasive fire ants are continuing their march south, prompting a plea for vigilance, after a nest was detected at Wardell, south of Byron Bay, the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries says.
A gardener raised the alarm on Friday after disturbing the nest and being bitten, suffering what was described as blistering pain.
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Victoria police recover over $600,000 worth of drugs in raids
A man has had to let go of his prized Lego collection yesterday after police seized more than $600,000 worth of 1,4-Butanediol – a chemical that mirrors the drug GHB when ingested.
34kg of iodine – a precursor to methylamphetamine.
32kg of hypophosphorus acid – a precursor to methylamphetamine.
Illegal steroids.
Methylamphetamine.
A handgun.
An extendable baton.
Ammunition.
Three digital devices.
Continue reading...Storm brewing in the Coral Sea could develop into a cyclone and hit the coast mid-next week, BoM weather update says
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, has urged residents of parts of the state to be prepared for an incoming cyclone, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of a potential “severe impact” if it hits the coast mid-next week.
On Friday morning, the BoM forecast that there was a 55% chance a storm brewing in the Coral Sea would develop into a tropical cyclone to be named Kirrily by late Sunday, rising to 75% on Monday. It could become a category three system or even stronger before hitting land.
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