Brisbane News Live: First Metro routes revealed; Where SEQ’s workers live

Migrating humpback whales off Australia’s east coast became less stressed over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, research led by The University of Queensland found.

Dr Jake Linsky used drone photos and blubber samples to assess the health of eastern Australian humpback whales in the waters off Minjerribah, North Stradbroke Island, during their migration in 2020 and 2021.

Lab results revealed significantly lower cortisol concentrations in the whales in 2021 compared to 2020.

“This change in their physiology suggests a decline in environmental stressors between the two years,” Linsky said.

“Several things happened during this period that likely contributed to our findings, including a shift in climate into La Nina and dramatic changes to human activity during the pandemic.”

A former V8 Supercars driver and nightclub owner has been released from court on a suspended sentence for drug possession after a more serious trafficking charge was dropped.

Wayne Jason Wakefield, 53, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court today to a string of charges relating to two police raids on his homes within a year starting in May 2020.

Wakefield admitted 18 charges including possession of a dangerous drug in excess of two grams, possessing a dangerous drug, contravening an order to access an electronic device and possessing a controlled substance.

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The kings of Brisbane breakfast radio, Stav, Abby and Matt, from B105, have cemented their position at the top, winning their fourth consecutive radio survey.

B105 also reported its best audience share (14.4 per cent), in a decade, since survey seven in 2004.

The station’s afternoon hosts, Carrie and Tommy, remained Brisbane’s number one for drive, 3-6pm.

Stav, Abby and Matt thanked listeners for tuning in every day.

“B105 is Brisbane’s radio station and we bound out of bed, every cold and dark morning, to create this show for our listeners and the city we all love,” they said, in a statement.

The Independent, an ambitious new restaurant at Brisbane Airport’s domestic terminal, will open today.

The restaurant is intended as a showcase for Australian chefs, both acclaimed and emerging. Its inaugural headliner is Luke Mangan, the star chef best known for Sydney restaurants such as Glass Brasserie, Luke’s Kitchen and Luke’s Table, and his providores brand, LMH Providores.

Mangan, who has cooked for former US president Bill Clinton, Sir Richard Branson, Tom Cruise and Danish King Frederik and Queen Mary, said:

I am thrilled to be part of the launch of The Independent at Brisbane Airport, bringing travellers the opportunity to enjoy a great meal with us before they embark on their journey.

Mangan’s menu at The Independent will feature a Mooloolaba prawn roll, a prawn cocktail, tuna sashimi nachos and tacos, Sydney rock oysters, seafood towers for two, steak, and market fish. Expect wines from Fortitude Valley’s City Winery, a rotating roster of craft beer, a Japanese whisky menu, and a back bar populated by more than 50 Australian spirits.

The Independent is the result of a partnership between Airport Retail Enterprises (ARE) and Brisbane Airport, and a major part of a $7.8 million redevelopment of the southern end of the domestic terminal.

ANZ’s $4.9 billion acquisition of Suncorp’s banking arm will be complete at month’s end following the merger receiving the last authorisation required.

Queensland’s Office of Parliamentary Counsel on Tuesday officially proclaimed legislative changes that passed parliament in June, paving the way for the merger to go ahead on July 31.

The transaction first announced in July 2022 was approved by federal treasurer Jim Chalmers on June 28 and by the Australian Competition Tribunal on February 20.

ANZ said on Tuesday it would welcome Suncorp bank’s roughly 3000 employees and 1.2 million customers into ANZ Group on August 1.

“This strategically important acquisition will boost ANZ’s presence in Queensland, add scale to our retail and commercial businesses and enable us to compete more effectively across the Australian market,” ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott said.

In return for the legislative changes allowing the deal to go ahead, ANZ has agreed to hire or place 700 people into a new tech hub in Brisbane over the next five years.

More than 80 security cameras have been installed in Mount Coot-tha bushlands to thwart attacks on women on walking trails.

Brisbane City Council worked with Queensland Police to quietly place the cameras after several incidents were reported in May and June.

Some cameras are visible, while many are hidden in trees, bushes and near creeks and walking trails, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

Acting Inspector Shane Hancock said one woman was assaulted on the Bardon side of Mount Coot-tha in June.

“We would welcome anyone who might have seen this incident first hand to come forward,” Inspector Hancock said.

Police were also investigating an indecent exposure incident at Brookfield, he said.

Bushwalkers Julie Chance and Margaret Walton said placing the covert cameras was a good move.

“I used to walk with Julie often to get away from the city. But after I heard about the incident that was taken away from me,” Walton said.

Billy Slater has rejected claims he is rattled ahead of State of Origin III, after breaking with tradition and pulling Queensland players from media interviews ahead of the decider.

Maroons management made the call to not have their players conduct one-on-one interviews in a full-squad media session, as is tradition in Origin camps.

Slater rejected any suggestion he was rattled.

“I am feeling good,” Slater said.

“I am happy and I am looking forward to it. I was as disappointed as anyone after game two but time heals everything.”

Slater was adamant his decision to pull players from media was not performance-related, and had no bearing on their worst-ever first half of a game in Origin history in Melbourne.

“We couldn’t quite get everyone available but we do everything possible to get the voices of our players out to the people watching our games,” he said.

“I don’t think you should read into it too much.”

AAP