As it happened: Brisbane on Monday, June 3 (2024)

Following this morning’s bridge strike in Corinda, Queensland Rail has pleaded with drivers to take note of the height of their vehicles.

As we reported earlier, a truck crashed into the rail bridge on Allan Terrace in Corinda just before 7am.

“These incidents cause major damage to our rail infrastructure and significant delays for our customers,” Queensland Rail executive officer Nev Conway said.

“They can and should be avoided.

“We are pleading with drivers to know the height of their vehicles, plan their route carefully and obey the road signs and signals in place.”

Motorists who damage rail infrastructure can be fined up to $1238 and lose four demerit points. If the matter goes to court, the maximum penalty for causing damage to rail infrastructure is approximately $12,384.

Evening peak-hour commuters are facing 30-minute delays after a truck smashed into the notorious Corinda overpass this morning.

Queensland Rail has released footage of the moment the truck collided with the overpass on Allan Terrace just before 7am, which caused hour-long delays for rail commuters.

The crash caused significant damage to the bridge, which will remain partially closed until repairs are completed.

As a result, train commuters travelling in both directions on the Ipswich and Springfield lines are facing residual delays of up to 30 minutes this afternoon.

Replacement buses are running between Darra and Corinda in both directions and a train shuttle is in place between Darra and Springfield Central.

A signalling issue at Roma Street caused further delays for travellers this morning, but Queensland Rail said the problem was resolved about 10am.

Today, reporter Felicity Caldwell wrote about an issue that has been ticking her off lately.

The clock in Brisbane City Hall is late.

Exactly one minute and five seconds late, lately.

About 11 months ago, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner revealed the council was trialling a new electric motor on the almost century-old analogue clock and asked people not to worry if the clock was “running a little fast or slow”.

“It’s all part of our plan to keep the beautiful heritage-listed clock tower ticking,” Schrinner posted on LinkedIn.

Read more here.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers landed the government’s first Josh Frydenberg joke, during question time in federal parliament this afternoon.

The Canberra rumour mill was working overtime today, with talk of Frydenberg’s return to politics. The former treasurer was sensationally booted from his Melbourne seat of Kooyong at the last election by teal independent Monique Ryan.

But Frydenberg quashed the rumours of his return earlier this afternoon.

After Queensland LNP MP Aaron Violi was booted from the chamber under section 94A, Chalmers quipped, “he should be careful, Mr Speaker, or Josh Frydenberg might be in his seat when he gets back”.

His comment got a big laugh from across the chamber.

Read more here.

Bruce Lehrmann has urged an appeal court to overturn a finding that he raped his then-colleague Brittany Higgins in Parliament House, arguing that the evidence before the court did not support that conclusion.

In a notice of appeal, filed in the Federal Court on Friday, Lehrmann sets out four grounds of appeal against the landmark decision of Justice Michael Lee on April 15 to dismiss his defamation suit against Network Ten and high-profile presenter Lisa Wilkinson.

‘Credibility problems’

The former federal Liberal staffer claims Higgins had “significant credibility problems” and the court should not have been satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Lehrmann had raped Higgins in Parliament House in 2019, in light of a principle known as the Briginshaw standard that requires a court to proceed cautiously in making grave findings.

Hypothetical damages inadequate

Lehrmann also says the judge’s assessment that he would only have been entitled to $20,000 if he had won the defamation case was “wholly inadequate”.

Defamatory meanings

He claimed the broadcast conveyed a series of defamatory meanings including that he raped Higgins in Parliament House.

Funds for appeal

It is not yet clear how Lehrmann, who is an unemployed law student, would fund an appeal.

Read more here.

Turning our attention to news in the retail sector: jewellery maker Lovisa has poached the boss of youth stationery brand Smiggle.

Chaired by retail veteran Brett Blundy, Lovisa announced this morning that John Cheston will become the chief executive of the business from tomorrow.

Lovisa has more than 700 stores across 30 countries.

“John is a highly successful global retailer and will join Lovisa at a very exciting time as we continue our global growth,” Blundy said in a statement to the ASX.

Lovisa has a market capitalisation of $3.5 billion, while Smiggle’s parent company Premier Investments – which also operates Peter Alexander as well as brands like Just Jeans, Dotti and Portmans – has a market cap of $4.65 billion.

But the investors of both companies don’t appear to see the move favourably: Lovisa’s share price has shed 9 per cent of its value, while Premier has dipped 2.9 per cent in late morning trading.

Premier’s boss, Solomon Lew, has plans to demerge Smiggle out of the wider Premier group by the end of January next year, while a Peter Alexander spinoff is slated for some time in 2025.

A spokesperson for Premier Investments said the company knew of Cheston’s resignation and that he had provided 12 months’ notice.

“Premier Retail remains well positioned in its leadership structure and will work through a constructive transition and succession plan in the months ahead,” the spokesperson said.

Police were called to a Brisbane house a “number of times” before a man shot his aunt dead and then killed himself in a tragic murder-suicide.

The 46-year-old man was a licensed gun owner and used a handgun, registered in his name, to kill his 77-year-old aunt before turning the weapon on himself about 5pm on Sunday.

His 88-year-old mother was not physically harmed and raised the alarm about 5.20pm.

“This is a tragic incident,” Detective Acting Superintendent Craig Williams told the media this morning.

He said the 46-year-old man fired a “number of shots” which killed his aunt.

Williams confirmed police had attended the house on Jamboree Street in Albany Creek a number of times in the past week, but did not elaborate further.

If you or anyone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 131 114, Mensline on 1300 789 978, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Police are speaking to the media about the shooting deaths of a man and woman on Brisbane’s northside. You can watch the press conference below.

As we reported earlier, the man and woman were found dead in the Jambaroo Street house in Albany Creek about 5.30pm on Sunday.