Toowoomba News

• Cyclone Maila moving again towards Far North Queensland coast

  Cyclone Maila has woken up and is heading west, with the category four system still likely to reach Queensland's far north on Monday.

• Tourists urged not to cancel plans as Cyclone Maila intensifies

  Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila is now a category five system and is expected to cross into Far North Queensland on Sunday.

• POLAIR vision of the arrest of 39-year-old man following a carjacking spree

  On April 6, an allegedly stolen LandCruiser was spotted by police in Toowoomba and, less than three hours later, Special Emergency Response police arrested the man outside a cafe on the city’s east side.

• Man charged over alleged carjacking spree across southern Queensland

  Police allege Beau Wallace Flegler, 39, stole multiple vehicles at gunpoint across the Easter long weekend before his arrest in East Toowoomba.

• Tropical Cyclone Maila likely to cross Far North Queensland

  The Bureau of Meteorology is increasingly confident the system will move towards the Queensland coast later in the week, potentially crossing Cape York Peninsula. 

• Toddler dies after being pulled from water on Queensland property

  An 18-month-old boy has died after being pulled from water at a private property on the Western Downs.

• Scattered rain, strong wind along Qld coast as forecasters watch TC Maila

  The majority of Queensland will enjoy mild weather this week, with scattered showers across the east coast, while further north, Cyclone Maila is set to intensify.

• After decades of success, love and loss, outback pub changes hands

  After turning "the worst pub you ever walked into" into a tourism award winner, Stephen Burns is stepping away from managing the Nindigully Pub.

• Cyclone could form on Saturday, but that's not clouding Qld long weekend

  Expect average temperatures and good weather inland, with scattered showers along the coast as Queensland heads into the Easter long weekend.

• Supermarket chicken could get cheaper due to grain breakthrough

  Australian researchers develop a high-protein sorghum variety, hoping to replace expensive livestock feed with systems that could lead to cheaper meat and eggs.

• Former accountant jailed after defrauding Toowoomba theatre of $850k

  A man has pleaded guilty in Toowoomba District Court today to two counts of fraud as an employee, with one of those fraud charges involving more than $100,000.

• National campdraft competition cancelled over soaring cost of fuel

  One of Australia's biggest campdrafting events is postponed due to the fuel crisis, with organisers hoping to reschedule the event within a few months.

• Farmers clash with government over new water basin laws

  The Queensland government says new legislation will protect a vital groundwater reserve, but farmers warn the new laws will make things worse.

• Diesel cost hikes hurt 'travelling city' of resilient showmen

  Showmen are determined to keep putting on agricultural shows for regional Australia despite the "frightening" cost of fuel. 

• Petition calls for video of death in custody to be released despite coroner ruling

  Raylene Nixon says the public should be able to make their own minds up about what happened to her son in his final moments.

• Here's who you should see at comedy festivals across Australia

  Comedy season is in full swing, with festivals across the country hosting the best acts from Australia and the world. We asked our favourites to share their recommendations.

• Pastoral company fined record $45,000 for Queensland biosecurity breaches

  A pastoral company has been hit with a record $45,000 fine after moving thousands of cattle across state lines without proper tracking. Authorities say the penalty sends a clear warning.

• More than 1,600 new gas wells approved for rural Queensland until 2081

  A major multinational gas venture has just secured federal approval to ramp up extraction in rural Queensland — locking in operations for the next 55 years.

• Footballers jailed for sexually abusing girl at party in regional Victoria

  A judge described Jaiden Fidge and Riley Smith's offending as having an element of "abhorrent male bravado", with the court hearing one of the footballers boasted about the assault.

• Man charged after fire destroys PCYC building

  A 28-year-old man has been charged with stealing and arson after the Toowoomba PCYC was destroyed by fire, as the organisation says replacing it could cost up to $20 million.

• 'We want your ticks': Researchers investigate chemical resistance

  Queensland researchers are asking farmers to send them live cattle ticks as part of an effort to protect the nation's $17.7 billion cattle industry.

• Date set for Bruce Lehrmann rape trial in Queensland

  Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann will stand trial on two counts of rape at a later date.

• Former RAAF pilot charged with murder loses legal costs battle

  Robert John Crawford appealed a decision to refuse his legal costs in a District Court battle against Queensland's police commissioner.

• Floodwater creeps up on outback Queensland town

  Longreach braces for flooding set to peak this weekend as residents in low-lying areas of the town are told to sandbag their homes.

• Coroner to examine whether 'unusual' death of Elizabeth Struhs was preventable

  The Queensland coroner will examine interactions the Struhs family had with government agencies before the eight-year-old's death at the family's Toowoomba home in 2022.