Toowoomba News

• Perseverance, stamina and a moment of irritation create $40m investment

  John Russell had a vision to mechanise a dangerous and expensive job that costs mines up to $500,000 an hour, and now the federal government will invest in the company he founded thanks to the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation.

• 'Unfair' $42,000 payment to voted-out MPs should be doubled, says former speaker

  MPs who lose their seat are eligible for a payout worth 12 weeks of their salary but an association representing former members says it should be more.

• Alan Jones's domination of Sydney's airwaves for decades gave him influence in Australia

  The shock jock dominated Sydney's airwaves for more than 35 years — interviewing eight prime ministers, numerous premiers and MPs.

• Prescribed burns are used to reduce bushfire risk. A new study suggests it has the opposite effect

  Areas that had multiple fires prior to 2019–20 had greater biodiversity losses when Black Summer fires hit compared to areas that had burnt once or not at all beforehand.

• Severe storms likely in Queensland and New South Wales, bringing the threat of large hail and damaging winds

  A string of scorchers ended in a spectacular lightning display in south-east Queensland last night.

• Queensland teacher charged with child sex offences

  A man who worked as a teacher on Queensland's Western Downs has been charged with child sex offences.

• In the popular Victorian commuter town of Castlemaine, there are only 10 homes available to rent

  Castlemaine is one of 68 locations across Australia with a rental vacancy rate of less than 1 per cent. There are said to be 600 people who need a house in the region, yet only 10 homes are listed for lease online.

• A Lettuce Story: The growers who became price makers not takers

  A lettuce growing family found a market supplying to fast food restaurants where the contract price is set just once a year.

• Alex woke up to 'dark clouds everywhere'. Then, her entire town was evacuated as a 'potentially deadly' disaster loomed

  Authorities have warned those in bushfire-prone areas to "be ready" as an "increased risk" of fires is predicted this spring.

• Fast food chains help savvy farmers give supermarket price uncertainty the slip

  The Story family know where every lettuce plant they grow is going and what they'll be paid for it, but it hasn't always been this way.

• 'Chaotic scene': Two dead and six injured after trucks collide south-west of Brisbane

  Two trucks heading in opposite directions collided near Tregony, on the Southern Downs, causing both to rollover. 

• Residents given green light to return home as bushfire in regional Queensland de-escalates

  The Baloone Shire mayor is proud of how Dirranbandi locals pulled together and supported one another through the emergency, declaring it now safe to return.

• Mark-Bry Leedham found guilty of 'cowardly murder' of Michael Purse

  The 32-year-old victim was last seen alive in the Adelaide CBD in February 2019.

• If a child commits murder in Queensland, they could soon face the same penalties as an adult

  Queensland's new premier wants to introduce laws to imprison children who commit "adult crimes" to "adult time" before Christmas. Here's how that could work.

• Running 570km in two weeks, Bear the 'unwanted' Kelpie blitzes the competition

  A kelpie that cost a farmer $200 has blitzed a national working dog challenge by running almost the distance of Brisbane to Rockhampton in two weeks.

• What an LNP government could mean for regional Queensland

  Queensland Premier-elect David Crisafulli is finalising his LNP cabinet, which is likely to be dominated by regional MPs and first-time ministers.

• Some regional seats are LNP for the first time in 100 years. This is how regional Queensland voted

  Regional Queensland voters delivered the LNP to power, with a tough-on-crime mandate resonating loud and clear. With 11 of the 12 seats needed for the LNP to win decided in decentralised areas, the question now is what a new government will look like for those living outside the city.

• This tranquil fishing spot has become the centre of 'something seriously bad'

  Personal trainer Jack McLennan disappeared on October 4 after a boys' trip to a campground in southern Queensland. Now, as a police search is scaled down, his family fears the worst.

• Grave concerns for missing Queenslander as homicide detectives brought in to help with search

  A search in Queensland's South Burnett for missing Sunshine Coast man Jack McLennan has been scaled back amid grave fears for the 27-year-old's safety.

• Foreign agriculture giant acquires Australia's biggest cotton ginning company for $160 million

  A foreign company has acquired Australia's biggest cotton ginning business for about $160 million, ending an eight-month bidding war and intervention by the competition watchdog.

• Could a lack of education options for their kids be turning highly qualified women away from the bush?

  Women are making strides towards equality in agriculture, but when a supervisor is needed for a child's education, mothers on farms can find their careers take a back seat.

• Electoral commission warns of falsehoods, mistruths that could sway Queensland poll

  The Queensland election campaign began on October 1 but the fight against misinformation began far earlier.

• Decline in regional news media a 'threat' to democracy and social cohesion

  The loss of local newspapers across regional Australia is having a huge impact — from today's history not being recorded to residents missing friends' funerals because there's nowhere to publish death notices.

• As Queenslanders prepare to vote, experts say the loss of regional news media is a threat to democracy

  The closure of hundreds of newspapers across regional Australia is having a huge impact on residents, as they struggle to remain informed about council decisions and social events.

• Police say disappearance of man is 'increasingly concerning' after shoes discovered

  Police say they have increased concerns for 27-year-old Jack McLennan who disappeared in Queensland's South Burnett region, and after shoes were discovered as part of widespread search efforts.