ABC North West Queensland

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Flood watch for north-west Qld, but rain 'best Christmas gift'

It may not be the most welcome weather at the beach, but out in the west, rain is the best Christmas gift.

Published: TueTue 23 Dec 2025 at 8:07pmSource: ABC Western QldTopic: Weather Forecastsby Hannah Walsh

Border communities wait to fill cross-border commissioner vacuum

Towns, like Goondiwindi on the Queensland-New South Wales border, wait to see who will replace the late Ian Leavers in the role of cross-border commissioner and continue his work.

A man in a suit speaks while looking towards the camera.

Published: MonMon 22 Dec 2025 at 10:13pmSource: ABC Southern QldTopic: Regional Communitiesby Aisling Brennan and David Iliffe

Welcome Christmas rain in the outback while south-east Queensland swelters

A tropical low will bring heavy rain and storms to much of Queensland this week while a south-east heatwave persists.

A scarecrow Santa amongst dry bushland in northwest Queensland.

Published: SunSun 21 Dec 2025 at 8:39pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: Weather Forecastsby Chloe Chomicki and Meghan Dansie

Mother of three to spend second Christmas in outback home-town motel

When Leylanie moved her family back to her home town a year ago, she did not expect to be spending this Christmas still living out of a motel.

A woman stands arms crossed in front of a pub window covered in Christmas decorations.

Published: 17 Dec 2025Wed 17 Dec 2025 at 9:51pmSource: ABC North West QldTopic: Rental Housingby Maddie Nixon and Zara Margolis

Young man dies under machinery at outback Queensland worksite

Queensland's workplace health and safety regulator will investigate the death.

A small ambulance flashes its lights on the side of a country road.

Published: 13 Dec 2025Sat 13 Dec 2025 at 4:01amSource: ABC North QldTopic: Workplace Accidents and Incidentsby Chloe Chomicki

Family of missing man Tallis Ahfat tell inquest they will 'never be the same'

The inquest into a man missing in Queensland's north-west for the past three years has heard CCTV footage at a drug dealer's home from the night of the disappearance had been erased.

A young boy in a pink and blue shirt looks down and smiles at camera with blue sky above

Duration: 37 seconds

Published: 10 Dec 2025Wed 10 Dec 2025 at 10:04pmSource: ABC North West QldTopic: Courtsby Abbey Halter

Collapsed caravan manufacturer's staggering debt revealed

Zone RV plunged into administration last week, leaving customers, suppliers, employees and taxpayers in a $40 million hole.

Published: 10 Dec 2025Wed 10 Dec 2025 at 6:13amSource: ABC Sunshine CoastTopic: Company Newsby Josh Dye and Jessica Ross

Listen back

ABC North West Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 6:30am.

Duration: 4 minutes 58 seconds

Source: Listen

Meet the first graduates from Mt Isa's alternative school

School can be tough for everyone, but when life throws extra complications your way, a mainstream classroom can somestimes be too much.

Two teenagers smile at the camera in front of a schoolyard.

Duration: 2 minutes 55 seconds

Source: ABC North West QldTopic: Secondary Educationby Maddie Nixon

Country Hour 80 years: Life as rural reporter in the 1950s

These days, there are roughly 52 staff all over Australia working for ABC Rural. In the early days though, there were just a handful. Keith Topfer was one of them, based in Tasmania during the 1950s.

Duration: 4 minutes 40 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Agricultureby Annie Brown

Country Hour 80 years: The Blue Hills connection

We can't talk about the early years of the Country Hour without talking about Blue Hills — a radio serial that was broadcast during the Country Hour between 1949 and 1976.

black and white photos of five women and two men around a table with a cake on it

Duration: 4 minutes 22 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Agricultureby Annie Brown

ABC Radio NORTH WEST QUEENSLAND

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2:00am to6:00am

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Elvis Kernaghan and the Min Min Lights

Elvis Kernaghan and the Min Min Lights playing for caravaners in a Mount Isa tourist park. Supplied: Kylie Rixon

Duration: 30 seconds

Source: ABC News

Italian country singer has found a home in outback Queensland.

Nicole Piccone, 24, has moved from her home in Italy to outback Queensland to fulfil her country music dreams.

A woman wearing a brown cowboy hat sings into a microphone.

Duration: 27 seconds

Source: ABC News

Mount Isa faces an uncertain future, with the imminent closure of its copper mine

The North West Queensland city is bracing for the impact of the closure on the mining community.

Duration: 2 minutes 53 seconds

Source: ABC News

Mount Isa faces uncertain future, with imminent closure of copper mine

Mount Isa is set to lose a major industry by the end of July, with Glencore set to close its underground copper mine. The North West Queensland city is bracing for the impact of the closure on the mining community.

Duration: 2 minutes 53 seconds

Source: ABC News

Features

Her 8yo son was killed in an e-motorbike crash. Now Kloe Weedon wants new rules to protect kids

Kloe Weedon's son Zeke William Hondow, a schoolboy with a sharp wit and even sharper haircuts, was farewelled at a funeral last week.

Sad woman holding frame of child's photo with bear toy on lap.

Source: StatelineTopic: Road Accidents and Incidentsby Owen Jacques

50 years ago, a transgender mining engineer broke the glass ceiling

The mining industry is notoriously "bloke-centred". Rebecca Norton transitioned gender and kept going.

Rebecca in a cave wearing a helmet and holding dynamite

Source: ABC BallaratTopic: LGBTQIA+by Alice Walker and Prue Bentley

Once paid with a gold nugget, The Flying Vet calls time on 45-year career

Peter Trembath, the subject of the 1990s documentary The Flying Vet, is calling time on a long and adventurous career.

Source: ABC RuralTopic: Human Interestby Christine Schindler

Outback women don't shy from one of the world's most dangerous sports

Sidelined in the sport's history by the words "women don't do that", female bronc riders are proving they not only do it but do it thrillingly well — and the sport is taking notice.

Three women in pink shirts, jeans and chaps with their hands infront of them standing infront of a car in a red dirt arena.

Source: ABC Western QldTopic: Womenby Hannah Walsh and Abbey Halter

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A dray grassy plain with a tree in the foreground and blue skies

Published: 15 Jul 2022Fri 15 Jul 2022 at 3:58amSource: ABC North West Queensland

Know your ABCs in an emergency

This summer know your ABCs; action plan, be safe, connect with us. The ABC has a host of useful resources and tips on how to best prepare yourself for emergency weather so you can keep you and your household safe.

Letters A, B and C in pink, yellow and blue with small infographics of people completing emergency safety tasks

Published: 17 Dec 2025Wed 17 Dec 2025 at 5:08amSource: ABC EmergencyTopic: Bushfires

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The ABC listen app connects you to the best podcasts and live radio from the presenters you know and love. Download it today and hear the world differently.

Published: 27 Aug 2024Tue 27 Aug 2024 at 4:23amSource: ABC BRISBANE

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Published: 17 Jun 2024Mon 17 Jun 2024 at 1:53amSource: ABC BRISBANE

Qld Sport

'We push it to the max': She ready to add to Sydney to Hobart history

A fellowship of sailors will embark on She's 23rd Sydney to Hobart campaign. As they do they will honour one of the most resilient boats in the race's history and remember late owner Peter Rodgers.

A crew of eight sailors seated or crouching on board a boat, posing before the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Sailing

Stokes defends teammates as Archer's Ashes ends

England's disastrous Ashes tour has received another blow with Jofra Archer ruled out of the remaining two Tests while skipper Ben Stokes has dug in to defend his beleaguered team.

Joffrs Archer during England's tour match at Lilac Hill.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Cricket

English cricket investigating Duckett social media video

A video said to feature Ben Duckett is under ECB investigation in another problem for England's disastrous Ashes tour.

Ben Duckett looks dejected. wears helmet and cricket whites.

Duration: 1 minute 18 seconds

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Ashes

Re-Spin: Mark Schwarzer on Australian football's past glories and future challenges

The Socceroos' 2005 World Cup qualifier win over Uruguay is arguably Australia's greatest sports moment. Mark Schwarzer was at the centre of it and has just been named to Sports Australia's Hall of Fame.

Mark Schwarzer lifts his arms in the air wearing a grey goalkeeper's outfit with several Australian soccer players behind.

Duration: 14 minutes

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

Qld News

Crane collapse, thousands without power after Christmas Day storms in SEQ

Storms hit south-east Queensland on Christmas Day afternoon, knocking out power to thousands of homes.

Duration: 14 seconds

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Construction (Assembling)by Lottie Twyford

How Mackay's Filipino community maintains connection

Music, food and a festive mood are what make a Filipino Christmas Mass unique, according to organisers of a north Queensland Simbang Gabi celebration.

Vivien Hanrahan prepares a ham in her kitchen in preparation for Filipino Christmas.

Source: ABC Tropical NorthTopic: Community and Multicultural Festivalsby Liam McNally

White Christmas in Tasmania as heat climbs in other states

Snow has arrived in the island state on Christmas morning, but hotter conditions are expected around the country, including a scorcher in the west.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Weatherby Gian De Poloni, Scout Wallen, Rebecca Trigger and Kelsey Reid

'We push it to the max': She ready to add to Sydney to Hobart history

A fellowship of sailors will embark on She's 23rd Sydney to Hobart campaign. As they do they will honour one of the most resilient boats in the race's history and remember late owner Peter Rodgers.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Sailingby Andrew McGarry

National News

King pays homage to acts of 'spontaneous bravery' in Christmas message

King Charles III pays homage to those who confronted terror at the Bondi Beach massacre, acknowledging their "spontaneous acts of bravery" in his annual Christmas message.

Britain's King Charles III during the recording of his Christmas message

Published: 1h agoThu 25 Dec 2025 at 3:02pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: Royalty

Pope Leo asks people to think about Gaza during Christmas Day speech

During his Urbi et Orbi (city and world) speech on Christmas Day, Pope Leo XIV has called for an end to all wars and for people to think about the conditions in Gaza.

Pope Leo stands on a balcony flanked by two cardinals.

Published: 2h agoThu 25 Dec 2025 at 1:06pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: Christmas

Crane collapse, thousands without power after Christmas Day storms in SEQ

Storms hit south-east Queensland on Christmas Day afternoon, knocking out power to thousands of homes.

Duration: 14 seconds

Published: 7h agoThu 25 Dec 2025 at 8:51amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Construction (Assembling)by Lottie Twyford

Boddington locals urged to 'leave immediately' as bushfire fast approaching

Several bushfires burning north and south of Perth have caused major power blackouts, including the entire town of Margaret River.

Duration: 10 seconds

Published: 5h agoThu 25 Dec 2025 at 10:21amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Bushfiresby Bridget McArthur, Madigan Landry and Gian De Poloni

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ABC North West Queensland

Flood watch for north-west Qld, but rain 'best Christmas gift'

Border communities wait to fill cross-border commissioner vacuum

Welcome Christmas rain in the outback while south-east Queensland swelters

Mother of three to spend second Christmas in outback home-town motel

Young man dies under machinery at outback Queensland worksite

Family of missing man Tallis Ahfat tell inquest they will 'never be the same'

Collapsed caravan manufacturer's staggering debt revealed

ABC North West Local News

Meet the first graduates from Mt Isa's alternative school

Country Hour 80 years: Life as rural reporter in the 1950s

Country Hour 80 years: The Blue Hills connection

ABC Radio NORTH WEST QUEENSLAND

Live. Overnights

Connect with ABC North West Queensland

Get the ABC North West Queensland newsletter

Elvis Kernaghan and the Min Min Lights

Italian country singer has found a home in outback Queensland.

Mount Isa faces an uncertain future, with the imminent closure of its copper mine

Mount Isa faces uncertain future, with imminent closure of copper mine

Her 8yo son was killed in an e-motorbike crash. Now Kloe Weedon wants new rules to protect kids

50 years ago, a transgender mining engineer broke the glass ceiling

Once paid with a gold nugget, The Flying Vet calls time on 45-year career

Outback women don't shy from one of the world's most dangerous sports

Local news direct to your inbox

Know your ABCs in an emergency

Download our free ABC listen app

Sign up for an ABC newsletter

'We push it to the max': She ready to add to Sydney to Hobart history

Stokes defends teammates as Archer's Ashes ends

English cricket investigating Duckett social media video

Re-Spin: Mark Schwarzer on Australian football's past glories and future challenges

Crane collapse, thousands without power after Christmas Day storms in SEQ

How Mackay's Filipino community maintains connection

White Christmas in Tasmania as heat climbs in other states

'We push it to the max': She ready to add to Sydney to Hobart history

King pays homage to acts of 'spontaneous bravery' in Christmas message

Pope Leo asks people to think about Gaza during Christmas Day speech

Crane collapse, thousands without power after Christmas Day storms in SEQ

Boddington locals urged to 'leave immediately' as bushfire fast approaching

Other ways to listen

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