Kenji Sato
Brisbane, QLD
Kenji Sato is a reporter for ABC Brisbane. He got his start as a newspaper cadet at The Area News in Griffith, before moving on to The Daily Advertiser in Wagga Wagga, The Mercury in Hobart, and ABC Western Plains in Dubbo.
Latest by Kenji Sato
Jockeys boycott Queensland's largest racecourse as horses 'spooked by construction'
Queensland's largest racetrack will be out of action for at least a month due to a jockey boycott over a building site which they say is spooking their horses.
Same job, different pay as school bus drivers excluded from government wage increases
With their counterparts' hourly rate rising to $35, Queensland school bus drivers won't receive a cent from an industry-wide wage increase which was designed to equalise pay in the sector.
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Bus company refuses government-funded wage rises for its own drivers
One of Australia's biggest private bus companies turns down government funding that would have gone directly to driver wage increases, leaked documents show.
Brisbane mum 'lucky' to receive early diagnosis for forgotten cancer often missed by doctors
Jacqui Cooper is grateful to be in remission from the rare cancer that stole her ability to walk or look after her son, but advocates for patients say sarcoma still does not receive enough research funding.
Queensland Labor says it will not tolerate union thuggery after Victorian construction industry allegations
Queensland Labor has warned that "all options" would be on the table to punish any union criminality in the state following allegations against the construction division of the Construction, Forestry, and Maritime Employees Union in Victoria.
feel good
feel good:How Margarita started a homeless-led charity while sleeping on the streets
This New Zealand-born woman has had some tough times. But things began to change when she started meeting with her homeless friends at a park to cook lunch.
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Owner of home lost in Brisbane blaze crushed to learn belongings underinsured, in what insurers say is a growing issue
After Jacqui Kelly lost everything in a fire that destroyed three homes in Brisbane over the weekend, she was devastated to discover most of her possessions were not insured.
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Koalas hate being cuddled, scientist says, as Lone Pine wildlife sanctuary denies animal welfare concerns
A wildlife sanctuary has denied any animal welfare concerns after it scrapped its koala cuddling experiences. Despite calls for the practice to be banned in Queensland, the premier says that won't happen.
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Whales were happier during the COVID pandemic when humans weren't around, scientists find
Scientists find eastern Australian humpback whales benefited from a reduction in human activity on the ocean during the first year of the pandemic, recording lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Brisbane's oldest house has a $6 million renovation, courtesy of taxpayers
The derelict Newstead House heritage museum was shut to the public in 2021 for repairs, but it is ready to hold a grand reopening.
End of an era as iconic Brisbane antiquarian prepares to close shop for retirement
For nearly 40 years, Rhonda McGuigan has sold sentimental trinkets from days gone by out of her antiques store in Annerley, Brisbane. The 84-year-old has run the iconic Southside Antiques Centre since 1986, but has announced plans to close up shop and retire by the end of the year.
Queensland to open second pill-testing clinic after promising Brisbane trial
The Gold Coast will host the state's second pill-testing clinic from July as the first of its kind in Brisbane is deemed a "success".
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Laws struggle to keep up as digital trackers increasingly used by domestic abusers
Law enforcement agencies say there is precious little regulation preventing an abuser from using tracking devices to stalk and control their partners.
They may be ugly and wonky but this is what natural carrots look like
Theresa Scholl says many visitors to her farm have no idea that "normal" supermarket carrots are the result of centuries of selective breeding, farming techniques and careful curation.
Greg started hoarding Pez dispensers 12 years ago and now he's addicted
The Moreton Bay father has collected more than 2,000 of the Austrian candy dispensers as a dad-daughter bonding activity, despite not liking how they taste.
Council unlawfully seized dogs and fined owners for eight years, leaked documents show
Letters obtained by the ABC show Moreton Bay council officers did not have the proper authorisations to order fines, euthanasias and impoundments for dangerous dogs.
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Why a Sydney landlord is attempting to block a Brisbane housing and retail development
Asset group Dexus is appealing the Brisbane council's approval of a 15-storey precinct with apartments and shops in order to protect its own profits, a major developer claims.
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Derelict Brisbane shopping centre faces indefinite redevelopment delays due to 'complex' flood works
Developers of the dilapidated Toombul Shopping Centre say they are grappling with the complexities of mitigating flood risk without pushing flows onto their neighbours.
Resident shocked as private ratepayer information published to council website
City of Moreton Bay council says an investigation has been launched into how names, addresses, phone numbers and complaint details were accidentally published online.
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Why Dallas gave up the glamorous city life to happily return to her family's sheep farm
Dallas Davidson grew up as a farm girl, but in her heart she dreamt of Oscar nominations and red carpet walks. Now she juggles both, hosting camera crews to film everything from country music videos to science fiction movies.
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Greens MP opposes plans for '75-storey luxury towers' in Brisbane electorate intended to combat housing crisis
A plan to build 14,000 high-density homes to ease Brisbane's housing crisis meets with stiff opposition from Greens MP Amy MacMahon, who opposes Priority Development Areas in general.
Losing her sight led to the end of Janelle's opera career. Archery became her outlet
Janelle Colquhoun fell into a pit of despair when her sight began to deteriorate at age 28 because of her type 1 diabetes, but archery has given her new targets to aim for.
Suburb hit by vandalism spree, but some victims won't receive a cent from insurers
An insurance policy clause means some victims of a vandalism spree won't receive a cent, but others will be fully covered.
Migrants keen to volunteer for struggling school tuckshops in 'limbo' after government funding cuts
Nayara Sousa says helping out at her local school tuckshop allowed her to make Australian friends and learn about Aussie culture firsthand.
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Robot bakers now staff this cake factory. But there are some things they need humans to do
Robot bakers, robot stackers and robot security guards are set to work alongside humans in this cake factory.