ABC Southern 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

Heat to ease as storms ramp up in unsettled Christmas week for Queensland

The weather bureau is forecasting heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for large parts of the state over the Christmas week, but temperatures are expected to ease.

a severe storm cell sweeps over brisbane

Published: MonMon 22 Dec 2025 at 7:57pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: Weatherby Ned Hammond

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

Christmas wish comes true as 6yo Laylah is cancer-free

When six-year-old Laylah-Jane Morton rang the bell at the Queensland Children's Hospital, it marked the end of her chemotherapy treatment for blood cancer — and she had her merry band of eight siblings with her to help her celebrate.

A six-year-old girl in brown and yellow T-shirt rings a bell in a garden

Published: SunSun 21 Dec 2025 at 7:51pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: Cancerby Janelle Miles and Arianna Levy

Regional town's residents 'at breaking point' amid end-of-year crime spike

The crime rate spikes every year around the holidays, according to the police. Tensions are rising in the Murgon community, as residents say they don't feel safe in their homes.

Oriel Macpherson carrying her dog and holding up her key.

Published: FriFri 19 Dec 2025 at 9:07pmSource: ABC Southern QldTopic: Crimeby Grace Nakamura

Family cuts weekly mortgage payment to $330 with rural move

The Ballini family made the move to regional Queensland where they are are paying half the mortgage they were in the south-east, but that's rapidly changing.

Mum and dad with two teenagers, two young children, standing in front of home with water tank, green grass

Published: 18 Dec 2025Thu 18 Dec 2025 at 9:00pmSource: ABC CapricorniaTopic: Mortgagesby Vanessa Jarrett

Listen back

ABC Southern Queensland Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 6:30am

Duration: 4 minutes 58 seconds

Source: Listen

Library dog helps kids learn to read

Encouraging kids to read aloud can sometimes be a struggle, no matter how exciting the tale may be. That's where tails of a different kind are coming in handy with some young Queensland readers.

An overhead shot of three kids reading a book

Duration: 3 minutes 4 seconds

Source: ABC Southern QldTopic: Primary Educationby David Iliffe

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 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

Live. Overnights

with Michael Pavlich

2:00am to6:00am

Play Live Radio Schedule

Listen on the go on ABC listen app

Watch

Beneficial Bugs: Using good bugs to fight pest insects

The specially bred insects are despatched to growers ready to hatch on delivery and get to work devouring bad bugs.

Duration: 12 minutes 6 seconds

Source: ABC News

Queensland man charged with selling stolen sheep.

Police have executed several search warrants and held a muster during an investigation into allegedly stolen sheep in Southern Queensland.

Duration: 39 seconds

Source: ABC News

Large hailstones in Placid Hills, Queensland

Large hailstones in Placid Hills, Queensland.

Three large hailstones gathered in a person's palm.

Duration: 13 seconds

Source: ABC News

Beautiful Blooms: How drought led a farming family to flower growing

In the midst of drought, a young farming family took a gamble to grow flowers commercially. Alongside their sheep and cropping interests, they now grow flowers year-round.

Duration: 12 minutes 26 seconds

Source: ABC News

Features

Travelling teacher brings instrumental music to regional schools

Tina Greenfield drives 350 kilometres each week to teach music to students at five schools in regional Queensland.

Source: ABC Wide BayTopic: Music Educationby Grace Whiteside

Before experiencing postpartum depression, this mother had never heard of it

Nilupulie Karunaratne thought asking for help was a sign of weakness. Then her husband referred her to a psychologist.

Woman with brown hair, brown top and black blazer.

Source: ABC BallaratTopic: Mental Healthby Charlotte Wilkes

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

Meet the pink-haired, motorbike-riding priest calling churchgoers to action

Pauline Harley did not grow up with religion, far from it. She was homeless for six months as a teenager, which has informed her passion now for social justice in Toowoomba.

Woman with pink hair wearing bike leathers and cross necklace outside a church.

Source: ABC Southern QldTopic: Homelessnessby Grace Nakamura

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Rolling green hills covered in trees on a bright sunny day with a blue sky

Published: 15 Jul 2022Fri 15 Jul 2022 at 3:06amSource: ABC Southern 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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Want informative, educational and entertaining stories straight to your inbox? Subscribe to a wide range of newsletters from around the ABC including local and national content.

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 Southern Queensland

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

Border communities wait to fill cross-border commissioner vacuum

Heat to ease as storms ramp up in unsettled Christmas week for Queensland

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

Christmas wish comes true as 6yo Laylah is cancer-free

Regional town's residents 'at breaking point' amid end-of-year crime spike

Family cuts weekly mortgage payment to $330 with rural move

ABC Southern Queensland Local News

Library dog helps kids learn to read

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

Country Hour 80 years: The Blue Hills connection

ABC Radio SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

Live. Overnights

Connect with ABC Southern Queensland

Get the ABC Southern Queensland newsletter

Beneficial Bugs: Using good bugs to fight pest insects

Queensland man charged with selling stolen sheep.

Large hailstones in Placid Hills, Queensland

Beautiful Blooms: How drought led a farming family to flower growing

Travelling teacher brings instrumental music to regional schools

Before experiencing postpartum depression, this mother had never heard of it

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

Meet the pink-haired, motorbike-riding priest calling churchgoers to action

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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