Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for August, 2018
Ancient pollen study hints at dire future
Australia can expect rapid and dramatic vegetation change within two or three generations if temperatures rise at predicted levels, scientists say. August 31, 2018 Scientists studying ancient pollen have found that Australia can expect massive vegetation changes over the next 150 years if temperatures continue to rise. An international team, including researchers from the Australian […]
Qld on high fire alert this weekend
Strong winds and dry conditions have put Queensland on high fire alert over the next few days. August 31, 2018 Queensland fire crews are bracing for a challenging weekend, with conditions over the next few days leaving the state at a very high risk of bushfires. Strong winds across southwestern Queensland on Friday will combine […]
Killer robot ready to protect barrier reef
Queensland researchers have launched an underwater drone capable of killing invading species and monitoring Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching. August 31, 2018 An underwater drone that can keep watch over the Great Barrier Reef’s health and kill invading species is ready to be put to the test. Researchers from Queensland University of Technology say their […]
Qlders not getting message on seat belts
Safety campaigns haven’t convinced some Queensland drivers that seat belts save lives, with one in four road deaths involving people who weren’t strapped in. August 30, 2018 One in four people killed on Queensland’s roads weren’t wearing seatbelts, new data shows. The transport department survey of 3090 people also found five per cent don’t bother […]
Two teens charged over Qld school fires
Police have charged two teenage boys with lighting two fires at a Rockhampton school. August 29, 2018 Two teenage boys have been charged after fires destroyed a Rockhampton school’s art centre and new cooling system. The boys, 14 and 16, were charged with arson and wilful damage related offences following overnight fires at the South Rockhampton High School in […]
Qld body corp fined for fire safety breach
A Brisbane apartment complex body corporate has been slugged with a fine for a blocked fire escape and ‘chimney-like’ garbage chute. August 29, 2018 A Brisbane apartment complex body corporate has been fined after firefighters found an evacuation route blocked and a chimney-like garbage chute that could have piped fire up 10 floors. The Kangaroo […]
Two teens questioned over Qld school fires
Police are speaking to two teenage boys about suspicious fires at a Rockhampton school. August 29, 2018 Two teenage boys are in custody after two suspicious fires were lit at a Rockhampton school overnight. Police were called to the South Rockhampton High School in Wandal at 2.30am on Wednesday after security observed two people wearing black […]
Alleged Qld fraudster farmers bailed
An award-winning farmer and his chief financial officer have been granted bail after they were charged with defrauding the Queensland government of $20 million. August 28, 2018 A former Farmer of the Year finalist and his right-hand man have faced court for allegedly defrauding a Queensland government irrigation scheme of more than $20 million. John Norman, […]
Qld farmers face $20m govt fraud charges
Two Queensland farmers will face court for allegedly ripping off more than $20 million from the state government’s irrigation scheme. August 28, 2018 Two farmers have been charged with allegedly defrauding a Queensland government irrigation scheme of more than $20 million. It is alleged the 43-year-old owner and director of a farming business located at […]
Suspected asylum seekers rounded up in Qld
Queensland’s State Emergency Service says it’s been stood down after authorities rounded up a group of suspected asylum seekers in the state’s far north. August 28, 2018 Queensland SES crews have been stood down after authorities captured a group of suspected asylum seekers who abandoned their boat in croc country north of Cairns. State Emergency […]
Qld terror victim’s parents open sanctuary
The parents of London terror attack victim SaraZelenak have launched Australia’s first holistic healing centre for people suffering traumatic grief. August 28, 2018 Julie Wallace received the phone call every parent fears four days after the London Bridge terrorist attack last year. Her daughter, Sara Zelenak, had missed her daily call home to Brisbane after three men drove a […]
Protesters force lockdown of Qld govt HQ
A group of senior citizens protesting against the Adani coal mine forced the Queensland government’s headquarters into a 90-minute lockdown. August 27, 2018 Around 20 senior citizens sent Queensland’s government headquarters into lockdown with a protest against the Adani coal mine. The protesters were demanding the government prosecute Adani for an alleged breach of its […]
Palaszczuk considering Katter response
Annastacia Palaszczuk is reviewing Katter’s Australian Party’s response to her call for Queensland members to denounce Senator Fraser Anning’s maiden speech. August 25, 2018 Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is considering Katter’s Australian Party’s response to her demand for its state members to denounce Senator Fraser Anning’s divisive maiden speech. KAP replied on Friday to a […]
Four sought over Dutton office attack
Detectives are calling for witnesses following an attack by vandals on Peter Dutton’s Brisbane office on the eve of his failed bid to unseat the prime minister. August 25, 2018 Police are searching for four vandals who smashed the front of Peter Dutton’s electorate office and sprayed offensive comments about him on a nearby footpath. […]
Thunderstorms on way for Qld drought areas
While it won’t break the drought in southern Queensland, forecast rains at the weekend will be a welcome relief for farmers and coastal-dwellers alike. August 25, 2018 Rain is on the way for drought-stricken farmers in southern Queensland, with the most significant showers in six months expected to fall at the weekend. While the thunderstorms […]
Palaszczuk to consider Katter response
The Queensland government will review the Katter’s Australian Party’s response to a request that it denounce Senator Fraser Anning’s speech. August 24, 2018 Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is considering Katter’s Australian Party’s response to her demand that its state members denounce Senator Fraser Anning’s divisive maiden speech. KAP replied on Friday to a letter from the […]
Qld administrator takes Ipswich reins
Following the sacking of Ipswich City Council, administrator Greg Chemello has stepped in to begin the rebuild. August 23, 2018 The job of restoring community faith in local government in the southeast Queensland city of Ipswich has begun with a new administrator taking the reins. But with no guidebook to work from following the passing […]
Queensland police crack 80s cold case
Police say Linda Reed was abducted and murdered by a teenager in 1983 after charging a 51-year-old man with her killing. August 23, 2018 An almost 35-year-old Queensland cold case may be a step closer to being solved after a police breakthrough in the murder of Linda Reed. Troy James O’Meara, 51, was charged on Wednesday […]
Qld stock routes full as NSW drought bites
Stock routes are being denuded as NSW farmers drive their herds north, competing for feed with Queensland graziers like Peter Cookson. August 23, 2018 When Queensland grazier Peter Cookson pushed his cattle onto stock routes to find feed, he hoped it might get him through to the rains. But after two months of droving through […]
Man arrested over Qld cold case murder
Police allege a Gold Coast woman was abducted and murdered by a teenager in 1983 after arresting a 51-year-old man on Wednesday. August 22, 2018 A teenager abducted and murdered a 21-year-old Gold Coast woman in 1983, police will allege, after a major breakthrough in one of Queensland’s longest-running murder mysteries. Newly-married Linda Reed disappeared […]
New assignment for Qld citizen scientists
Ocean-loving Queenslanders are being called on to join a citizen science project and document marine species moving beyond their normal habitat. August 22, 2018 The Rusty Jobfish, the Midnight Snapper and Oblique-banded Sweetlips are among the ocean life people are being asked to target for a citizen science project. Their observations of these and other on-the-move sea […]
Three dead after Qld fuel tanker crash
A fuel tanker has collided with two cars in north Queensland, killing three people. August 21, 2018 Three people are believed to have been killed after a petrol tanker collided with two cars in north Queensland. Debris was strewn across the bitumen of the Bruce Highway and into a neighbouring paddock, 4km north of Bowen, […]
Hectic start to Queensland’s fire season
Blazes continue to burn across Queensland with strong winds expected to keep fire danger levels high for much of the week. August 20, 2018 Queensland’s fire season is off to a hectic start after 800 bushfires lashed the state in less than a week. Across the state, 122 fires continued to burn on Monday night, […]
Debris rains on cars after Qld truck crash
Cars have been showered in chunks of plasterboard after a truck crashed on a Brisbane motorway. August 20, 2018 Cars passing under the Gateway Motorway in Brisbane’s northeast have been showered in plasterboard after a truck travelling on the highway above hit a concrete barrier and lost its load. None of the motorists were injured in […]