Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for August, 2020
Bidders battle for Bjelke-Petersen estate
The estate of former Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen has been auctioned, with bidders paying record prices for some historical items. August 12, 2020 Bidders for loved and loathed Queensland politician Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s personal possessions have paid record-breaking prices at auction. The estate of the Sunshine State’s longest-serving premier and his wife, Lady Florence, went under […]
Dreamworld to reopen after COVID closure
Dreamworld will reopen to visitors a fortnight before the theme park’s parent company is sentenced for safety offences following the deaths of four visitors. August 12, 2020 Dreamworld will reopen to visitors two weeks before its parent company is set to be sentenced for safety offences following the deaths of four tourists on the Thunder […]
Qld man surrenders after quarantine breach
A 25-year-old Queensland man, who allegedly fled mandatory quarantine after visiting a NSW coronavirus hotspot, has now surrendered to police. August 12, 2020 A Queensland man has handed himself into police after allegedly fleeing mandatory coronavirus hotel quarantine in a rural town. Police began searching for the 25-year-old on Tuesday after he left a Toowoomba hotel […]
Call for clarity over NT border controls
The NT’s peak tourism body is calling for clarity after Chief Minister Michael Gunner said hard border controls would remain for at least 18 months. August 12, 2020 The Northern Territory chief minister’s declaration that hard border controls would remain for at least 18 months has caused confusion among interstate visitors, the Top End’s peak […]
Qld to boost coronavirus-ravaged economy
Queensland’s premier has announced $270 million in small-scale school and council building projects as part of a coronavirus economic recovery program. August 12, 2020 Queensland’s coronavirus-savaged economy will be given a boost with $270 million to be pumped into community projects and schools. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says $220 million will go to state schools for upgrades […]
NT border controls to remain for 18 months
The Top End is beefing up its border controls on travellers from coronavirus hotspots for at least the next 18 months, Chief Minister Michael Gunner says. August 11, 2020 The Northern Territory’s border controls on visitors from coronavirus hotspots have been locked in until 2022 with locals told to cancel their Christmas travel plans and […]
Brisbane bridge protest set to go-ahead
Refugee advocates say they will protest on Brisbane’s Story Bridge after their demands for the release of 120 detained men were not met. August 11, 2020 Refugee advocates will defy authorities pleas not to gather in large groups and hold a weekend protest on Brisbane’s Story Bridge. The community group says its demands for the […]
Teens who got train from Sydney arrested
Police have taken two teenage girls into custody on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast after they allegedly lied about being in coronavirus hotspot Sydney. August 10, 2020 Two teens who travelled from coronavirus hotspot Sydney have been arrested in Queensland after allegedly lying on their border declarations. The girls, aged 15 and 16, arrived on a train […]
Queensland-NSW border bubble on notice
Communities on the Queensland-NSW border have been warned to prepare for an end to exemptions as authorities lift restrictions on the state’s aged care homes. August 10, 2020 Communities on Queensland’s southern border have been put on notice that exemptions allowing them to cross over will end if coronavirus spreads north from NSW. The warning […]
Early voting opens for Territory election
Early voting has opened for the Northern Territory election with Chief Minister Michael Gunner one of the first to cast his vote. August 10, 2020 Early voting in the Northern Territory election has kicked off with Chief Minister Michael Gunner one of the first to cast his vote. Mr Gunner led Labor to a solid win […]
Qld aged care homes to reopen to visitors
Queensland health authorities will lift restrictions on the state’s aged care homes after they stopped the community spread of a coronavirus cluster. August 10, 2020 Queensland’s aged care homes can now reopen to visitors, with authorities confident two infected teens who dodged quarantine did not spread coronavirus. Health authorities had been on high alert for an […]
Queensland closes border with NSW, again
Returning Queenslanders must now arrive by air and spend 14 days in hotel quarantine at their own expense, with the state closing its border with NSW overnight. August 8, 2020 Queensland’s border with NSW has officially closed with road access blocked to everyone except essential workers and locals living along the interstate boundary. Chief Health Officer […]
NT revokes Qld and some NSW hotspots
The Northern Territory has dropped its hotspot ruling for parts of Queensland and NSW, with travellers allowed to enter the Top End without quarantining. August 7, 2020 The Northern Territory has reopened its borders to all Queenslanders, but parts of NSW and all of Victoria remain coronavirus hotspots. Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich in southeast Queensland were […]
Brother’s death inspires top art award win
Veteran desert artist Ngarralja Tommy May has won the major prize at this years’ National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. August 7, 2020 A veteran desert artist’s drawing inspired by his brother’s death has won Australia’s most prestigious Indigenous art prize. Ngarralja Tommy May was announced the major winner of The National Aboriginal […]
Qld border to NSW, ACT set to close
Queensland’s border with NSW will shut this weekend as new rules for people entering the state come into force. August 7, 2020 HOW TO ENTER QUEENSLAND AFTER THE BORDER WITH NSW CLOSES: * The Sunshine State will close its border with NSW and ban ACT residents from 1am on Saturday. * Chief Health Officer Jeannette […]
Anxious wait in Qld to prevent another Vic
Queenslanders are counting down to the border closing with NSW as health officials remain on high alert for the spread of coronavirus in community. August 6, 2020 Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the decision to shut the borders to NSW, saying she didn’t want Queensland to become another Victoria. It comes as the state waits […]
Qld Whitsundays wants more Jobkeeper money
A Queensland tourism hotspot wants the federal government to extend Jobkeeper payments to new staff as it attempts to recover from the coronavirus crisis. August 6, 2020 Queensland’s holiday hotspot is pleading with the federal government to extend Jobkeeper payments to new staff as it attempts to recover from the coronavirus crisis. Tourism Whitsundays wants […]
Next four days crucial for Qld: Palaszczuk
Queensland health officials remain on high alert for the spread of coronavirus as the state counts down to the border closing with NSW. August 6, 2020 Queenslanders are waiting anxiously to find out if efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus have been successful as the state counts down to another border closure. It has […]
Queensland-NSW border closure looms
Queenslanders are being urged to head home as the state prepares to reinstate a hard border lockdown with NSW at the weekend. August 6, 2020 Queenslanders have been told to get home before the state closes its border with NSW at the weekend. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday announced the closure as Australia recorded its […]
Qld to re-close border to NSW, ACT
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Queensland’s border with NSW and the ACT will shut this weekend because people are dodging mandatory quarantine. August 5, 2020 QUEENSLAND WILL CLOSE ITS BORDER TO PEOPLE FROM NSW AND ACT: * The Sunshine State will close its border with NSW and ban ACT residents from 1am on Saturday. * Chief Health […]
Qld police seek victims from sex videos
Queensland police have called for any alleged victims of a man charged with sexual assault to come forward after disturbing videos were found on his phone. August 5, 2020 Disturbing videos of young women found on a mobile phone during a search related to a sexual assault investigation have prompted Queensland police to appeal for […]
Qld probe into virus arrival’s DFAT letter
Queensland’s premier has asked police to investigate a letter used by a man to claim a diplomatic exemption from mandatory hotel quarantine. August 4, 2020 Queensland police are investigating a federal government document used by a man to bypass hotel quarantine after he returned from coronavirus-ravaged Afghanistan. The man in his 20s flew from Kabul […]
Qld dad faces court accused of baby murder
A Queensland dad has faced court for allegedly murdering his baby son after the boy was found unresponsive with a traumatic brain injury in June. August 4, 2020 A Queensland man accused of murdering his baby son after the child was found with a traumatic brain injury has faced court. Ayden Jedd Bradshaw, 24, briefly […]
Three men busted sneaking into Queensland
Three men have been issued court notices after allegedly trying to sneak back into Queensland from virus-ravaged Victoria without undergoing quarantine. August 4, 2020 Another three people have been caught trying to dodge quarantine in Queensland after travelling from coronavirus-ravaged Victoria. The men, aged 23, 25 and 29, failed to declare they had been to the […]