Brisbane

Australia floods kill seven as severe weather pummels Queensland

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk compared the weather to a cyclone event, as Brisbane, the Queensland capital, was bracing for flooding on Sunday, before the rainfalls ease by Monday.

Nauru implements new pre-travel arrangements in Brisbane

All travellers to Nauru from Brisbane must now enter and remain in managed safe accommodation in Brisbane, three days before travel.

The Nauru Covid-19 Taskforce said this arrangement is primarily for the regular scheduled Nauru Airlines ON002 flights.

This interim measure is put in place due to the rapid surging cases and community transmission of coronavirus in Brisbane and across Australia and many other countries.

Failure to comply will result in the passenger being denied flight check-in and travel to Nauru.

 

Brisbane announced as 2032 Olympic Games host city

The decision was confirmed after a meeting of International Olympic Committee delegates in Tokyo.

Queensland's delegation — including Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck — had to restrain themselves to standing and clapping with COVID-19 restrictions ruling out any close-contact celebrations.

Brisbane's CBD riverside erupted in fireworks as the announcement was made. 

Brisbane proposed as host by International Olympic Committee

Brisbane was named the preferred bidder in February and has now been proposed as host by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board.

Several cities and countries had expressed an interest in hosting the Games, including Indonesia, Budapest, China, Doha and Germany's Ruhr Valley.

Members will vote to name the 2032 host on 21 July at the next IOC session.

IOC president Thomas Bach said the Brisbane bid had "strong support across the political spectrum".

"It was a vision for a sustainable and feasible Olympic Games," Bach said.

Brisbane lockdown ends ahead of Easter weekend

The outbreak in Queensland's capital - home to two million residents - has grown to 16 infections in total.

State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the low number of new infections meant the lockdown could be lifted in time for the Easter holiday weekend.

Some restrictions will still apply including mask-wearing in indoor areas.

Gathering numbers are also limited to 30 people in a household, while church services will be able to operate at full capacity if people remain seated and have tickets.

Emirates to resume flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane

From Monday, flights will resume to Sydney, while services will return to Melbourne from Tuesday and to Brisbane from Thursday.

Passenger flights between Dubai and Perth, as well as cargo operations to all Australian points, continue as scheduled.

Hundreds of Australians were last week left stranded after the major airline announced the cancellation on Friday night.

"We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers in the period where we had to temporarily suspend our services," a statement distributed by the airline read.

Brisbane lockdown to be lifted at 6:00pm but some restrictions to remain

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it had been a "great effort" by Queenslanders over the past three days.

"This is the best news we could have hoped for, absolutely the best news," Ms Palaszczuk.

ABC News reports no cases were reported since 6:00pm on Friday, when Queensland authorities imposed a snap lockdown to slow the potential spread of a UK coronavirus variant.

The highly contagious strain was detected in a cleaner who spent five days in the community in early January after contracting the virus at Brisbane quarantine hotel.

Greater Brisbane declared hotspot on a 'Commonwealth level',

"I know they will be some in Brisbane today asking 'why is this necessary? There is only one case. '" said Prime Minster Scott Morrison.

"Well, this isn't any ordinary case.

"This is a very special case and one that requires us to treat things quite differently until we know more and we will learn much in the next few days.

"What Queenslanders will be doing over the next few days, they will be doing not just for themselves and their own communities, but for the rest of the country.

Chris Hemsworth picks up US hitchhiker in Australia

The Thor star posted an Instagram video of himself and a friend picking up US musician Scott Hildebrand in Brisbane, who had just arrived from Mexico.

"Picked up a hitchhiker, wasn't a serial killer which we were stoked about," Hemsworth wrote.

One commenter on the post branded Hemsworth a "true Aussie champion" for his hospitality.

Hemsworth and his friend Luke Zocchi spotted the musician after arriving in the eastern city of Brisbane, and decided to offer him a lift.

"Little does he know we're getting a chopper," Zocchi says.

Nations unite for Rugby League World Cup 2017 launch

Tournament CEO Andrew Hill, chairman Dr George Peponis, OAM, and Queensland Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games, Kate Jones, were on hand to launch the 28-game series that culminates with the final in Brisbane on Saturday, December 2.

The 15th Rugby League World Cup, which was first played in France in 1954, will kick-off in Melbourne on Friday night with the clash of century-old rivals, England and Australia, coached by iconic Queensland league figures Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga.