ABC Far North

19/07/2025

There's an electoral boundary review hanging over the heads of Queensland politicians.

According to a new discussion paper released by the redistribution commission, over a third of seats in state parliament face the prospect of some sort of change.

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An electoral boundary review is hanging over the heads of the state's politicians and the redrawing can either end a career or make a once comfortably held seat a knife edge fight to retain, writes Jack McKay.

18/07/2025

The 98-year-old ran a camp for youth for two decades in far north Queensland. He now stands accused of repeatedly s*xually assaulting and having s*x with a minor in the 1970s.

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The 98-year-old ran a camp for youth for two decades in far north Queensland. He now stands accused of repeatedly s*xually assaulting and having s*x with a minor in the 1970s.

17/07/2025

🪦 Ten residents at the McLeod St Pioneer Cemetery in Cairns will have their stories told this weekend and next weekend as part of the Cairns and District Family History Society's annual event, 'Shadows from the Past'. These residents give an insight into life in Cairns over 100 years ago. The first show is tonight.

All shows have now sold out this year but they are hoping to add a few extra shows next year when Cairns celebrates 150 years.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-06/history-buffs-walk-cairns-cemetery-to-learn-qld-past-secrets/102688556?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

🪦🌴🪦🌴🪦🌴🪦🌴🪦🌴🪦🌴🪦🌴🪦🌴🪦🌴

17/07/2025

It will be a wet start to the weekend in much of Queensland, but sunny days are not far away — except in the north where showers are expected.

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It will be a wet start to the weekend in much of Queensland, but sunny days are not far away — except in the north where showers are expected.

17/07/2025

🔧 Still plumbing at 79. Still teaching us all a lesson.

Meet Roy Walker—over 60 years in the trade and still rolling up his sleeves.

Since 1967, he's built more than a business—he's built a legacy, now shared with his kids and grandkids. At a time when the trades are facing a major skills gap, Roy reminds us what true craftsmanship, purpose, and work ethic really look like.

👷‍♂️ We don’t just need more workers. We need more people like Roy.

Have you got any "Roy's" in your world?

Step inside the workshop of 79-year-old Roy Walker, who’s still rolling up his sleeves more than 60 years after picking up his first wrench. Since starting his business in 1967, he’s built more than a plumbing company—he’s built a legacy, now carried on by his children and grandchildren. To ...

16/07/2025

A former Queensland quarry worker has been committed to stand trial for the alleged murder of an Indigenous woman more than a decade ago.

Warning: This article contains details said in court of threats and violence that some readers may find distressing.

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Cape York man Thomas Byrnes has been committed to stand trial for the alleged murder of an Indigenous Kowanyama woman.

16/07/2025

Two Torres Strait traditional owners at the heart of a landmark climate case against the Australian government have invited the prime minister to their islands after they lost in the Federal Court.

Uncle Paul Kabai and Uncle Pabai Pabai from the remote low-lying islands of Saibai and Boigu, just kilometres from Papua New Guinea, have spent four years fighting for the government to be found negligent when it comes to its emissions reduction targets and adaptation measures.

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After a federal court judge found Torres Strait Islanders will likely become "climate refugees" without urgent action, the two traditional owners at the heart of the case invite the prime minister to their islands to witness the impacts firsthand.

16/07/2025

For 25 years, Amanda from Freshwater battled anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating in silence — driven by numbers, shame, and a voice saying, “you’re never going to be enough.”

Eating disorders often go undetected. They're not always about body image — sometimes, they’re how people cope with pain.

Her turning point? “Having no peace.”
Now, 20 years into recovery, Amanda’s focus is peace — not food, body image, or diet culture.

The first step? Self-compassion and connection.
Recovery is possible. 💛

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/farnorth-breakfast/body-image-stigma/105537318

In Australia, one in four young people struggle with disordered eating and the reasons why are many and varied. Amanda from Freshwater endured a 25-year internal battle with numerous eating disorders and a complicated relationship with food and her body. So, what help and support is out there and wh...

15/07/2025

The Queensland government is on track to pocket more than $2 billion a year from taxes on insurance products amid ongoing premium price rises.

The latest budget figures reveal the state is set to reap $1.78 billion from insurance duty in 2025-26 — which is about $120 million more than the year before.

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The latest budget figures reveal the state is set to reap $1.78 billion from insurance duty in 2025-26, and $2b by 2028-29.

15/07/2025

Another person has died from the soil-borne disease melioidosis in Queensland, bringing the total recorded deaths across the state this year to 35.

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Queensland Health says the death occurred in the Cairns and Hinterland region in the past seven days, taking the state's death toll from the disease this year to 35.

15/07/2025

📍 Georgetown, QLD | A Legacy at Risk

Tony Gallagher came to Georgetown in 1994, a single dad chasing a new beginning. With the support of his brother-in-law Vic Ryan, he built a family butcher shop from the ground up — selling fresh, local meat for 30 years. 🥩

Now retired, Tony hoped to pass the reins to his son Aaron. But in August, a shock decision by Etheridge Shire Council not to renew the lease on their long-running slaughter block has put the future of the business in jeopardy.

“No one picked up the phone. Just... a no, out of the blue,” Tony said.

A proud family legacy — three decades in the making — now hangs in the balance.

A veteran butcher claims a shock decision by council has killed plans re-development plans for a slaughter yard, which has supplied locally produced and processed beef to locals and visitors to the Etheridge shire for decades.

15/07/2025

Torres Strait Islanders are awaiting the ruling in a landmark climate case today — one that, if successful, could have a significant impact on the future of their islands and culture.

Guda Maluyligal traditional owners Uncle Paul Kabai and Uncle Pabai Pabai — from the islands of Saibai and Boigu — have travelled almost 900 kilometres from their ancestral homes to the Federal Court in Cairns to hear the outcome.\

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In a landmark case, a judge will today decide whether Australia needs to make deeper emissions cuts to protect its low-lying islands. Two Torres Strait Islanders have sued the federal government for failing to protect their homes from the impacts of climate change.