As it happened: Brisbane on Wednesday, June 25
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The Queensland man who saved 2.4 million babies
James Harrison saved up to 2.4 million babies during his life. But how?
Harrison had a precious antibody in his blood that was used to make the medication anti-D.
Anti-D is given to mothers whose Rh-negative blood type can mean their body will see their baby's Rh-positive blood as a foreign object and mount an attack that may kill their unborn child.
His blood's rare combination of Rh-negative blood and Rh-positive antibodies were a game changer, and likely a result of being a blood recipient himself, having received over a dozen units of blood as a teenager.
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For over 60 years, Harrison donated blood a remarkable 1173 times.
In May 2018, Harrison made his final donation at the age of 81. 'I hope it's a record that somebody breaks because it will mean they are dedicated to the cause,' he said.
Harrison died in February this year at the age of 88.
'It's with enormous gratitude that we acknowledge the generous life of James,' Queensland Health said in a Facebook post this week.
'We thank him for the incredible contribution he made and the millions of lives he has saved.'
2.26pm
Today's headlines
Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of today's news from Brisbane and beyond. In case you missed them, here are the day's main stories.
Brisbane drivers are being urged to quickly fill up their tank as unleaded petrol prices rise by almost 60 cents a litre at some service stations.
Brisbane has been named Queensland's top destination, attracting four in every 10 visitors to the state, and breaking international records.
The ABC has been blasted for wasting an alleged $1 million in taxpayer money fighting presenter Antoinette Lattouf's lawsuit after a court found the broadcaster unlawfully sacked her.
President Donald Trump has unleashed a tirade on Israel for violating his ceasefire, saying both it and Iran 'don't know what the f--- they're doing', in an unprecedented display of rage.
A judge has ordered that Bruce Lehrmann's bid to have his Queensland rape case thrown out be heard in court in a matter of weeks, amid claims his previous lawyer's phone calls were obtained illegally.
And in sport, Australian sprinter Gout Gout had to wait for the school holidays to make his professional racing debut in the Czech Republic, but when he did, the 17-year-old flew to a new national record.
Teachers vow only nation-leading salaries will prevent industrial action
By Felicity Caldwell
Queensland Teachers' Union president Cresta Richardson says teachers are disappointed with the Crisafulli government's 'disrespectful salary offer'.
Teachers rallied outside Queensland parliament last night after the LNP handed down its first budget, but Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said on Wednesday he was confident he could reach a pay agreement through ongoing EBA negotiations.
Richardson said on Wednesday members were determined to fight for a deal recognising the 'serious issues and professional challenges teachers and school leaders face daily – issues the Crisafulli government has chosen to ignore'.
'Only nation-leading salaries and conditions will now prevent industrial action,' she said.
Asked by a journalist whether Queensland teachers would become the highest-paid in the country under the new pay deal, Premier David Crisafulli said they would be respected and valued.
'We want to see teachers well-paid and have good conditions, but wage negotiations are about more than just money,' he said.
1.13pm
The Queensland man who saved 2.4 million babies
James Harrison saved up to 2.4 million babies during his life. But how?
Harrison had a precious antibody in his blood that was used to make the medication anti-D.
Anti-D is given to mothers whose Rh-negative blood type can mean their body will see their baby's Rh-positive blood as a foreign object and mount an attack that may kill their unborn child.
His blood's rare combination of Rh-negative blood and Rh-positive antibodies were a game changer, and likely a result of being a blood recipient himself, having received over a dozen units of blood as a teenager.
Loading
For over 60 years, Harrison donated blood a remarkable 1173 times.
In May 2018, Harrison made his final donation at the age of 81. 'I hope it's a record that somebody breaks because it will mean they are dedicated to the cause,' he said.
Harrison died in February this year at the age of 88.
'It's with enormous gratitude that we acknowledge the generous life of James,' Queensland Health said in a Facebook post this week.
'We thank him for the incredible contribution he made and the millions of lives he has saved.'
11.58am
Today's cartoons
Here are today's cartoons from our cartoonist Matt Golding ...
11.55am
Today's Odd Spot
Here is today's Odd Spot – a tale that sounds too odd to be true, but really happened:
A man who climbed into the chimney of a Connecticut parks building while trying to rescue his dog, who somehow got trapped in the toilet when the doors automatically locked for the night had to be rescued himself after getting stuck.
Firefighters were called in by staff at Rockwell Park, who reported someone was in the chimney of the pavilion, and in freeing the man they caused up to $US10,000 ($15,400) of damage to the building, police said.
The man was arrested and charged with burglary, trespassing and criminal mischief. The dog was fine.
11.50am
Mixed reviews over 'nation-leading' home buyer scheme
By
A 'nation-leading' home ownership scheme has been defended by a state government amid concerns it will lead to more mortgage stress.
Treasurer David Janetzki highlighted the 'boost to buy' plan when he handed down the first Queensland budget under a Liberal National government since 2014.
It promises 30 per cent equity in new builds and 25 per cent in existing homes of up to $1 million for 1000 Queenslanders.
Brisbane's median house price officially surpassed the $1 million mark in January.
'We make no apologies for being so aspirational for aspirational Queenslanders,' Janetzki said.
'My view is, a thousand people, that's what we need to drive this program. I don't accept that it won't get more people into homes.'
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The Real Estate Institute of Queensland welcomed the scheme, calling it a 'smart, timely step to match market conditions'.
The Queensland Council of Social Services said measures that improved home ownership were positive but believed the scheme could be targeted better.
'What we would like to see is that it would be targeted to people who are the least likely to be able to do it without government support,' QCOSS chief executive Aimee McVeigh said.
'It could be a really significant change for those families and generate intergenerational wealth, which is really important when you think about how we lift people out of poverty or provide people with financial security into the future.'
Labor's Shannon Fentiman expressed support for the shared-equity scheme but believed it would only assist a small number of Queenslanders.
10.56am
Qatar Airways flights from Brisbane expected to resume today
By Courtney Kruk
Qatar Airways flights departing Brisbane are expected to fly as normal today, despite last-minute cancellations this week due to the conflict in the Middle East.
On Tuesday, Brisbane travellers arrived at the airport to learn their flights to European destinations, including Greece, via Doha had been cancelled.
Passengers booked on Virgin Australia's scheduled services from Brisbane to Doha were unable to travel unless their journey terminated at Doha, due to the global aviation chaos caused by the Israel and Iran conflict. This affected travellers transiting through Qatar en route to Europe.
A spokesperson for Virgin Australia said all scheduled services operated by Qatar Airways were expected to operate today.
'We encourage guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days to monitor their flight information closely,' the spokesperson said.
Virgin will be offering free cancellations, or flight changes, to travellers booked on the airline's Doha services with onward connections from now until June 30 who no longer wish to travel.
10.47am
More Bank of Queensland branches closing
By William Davis
The Bank of Queensland is reducing its branches across the state, including one in Brisbane, after numerous closures earlier this year.
Aspley, in Brisbane's north, is one of nine suburbs across the country set to lose its bricks-and-mortar bank branch.
Branches at Aitkenvale in Townsville, Edge Hill in Cairns and Surfers Paradise are also closing.
The Brisbane-headquartered bank said the move was designed to simplify operations.
'As our branch network evolves in line with our business priorities and growth corridors, we remain committed to our customers,' the bank said in a statement.
'As customer preferences continue to evolve, we remain committed to expanding our mobile lender and business banker teams – offering customers greater choice in how they bank with us.'
The bank said 'most team members' would be offered new roles.
The latest closures come after 14 branches were shut in January, including those in Logan Central, Caloundra, Carindale, Elanora, Sherwood, Springwood, and Toowong.
10.16am
Public sector negotiations are about 'more than pay': Premier
By Felicity Caldwell
Premier David Crisafulli says EBA negotiations, which are ongoing with Queensland's teachers, police officers and nurses, are about more than money.
'If you speak to a police officer, wages are really important to him or her,' he said
'So too is being able to make sure that when you pull a Taser, that it might work and that it can keep you safe.
'Wages are one component of it, an important part, so are conditions, so are resources.'
10.03am
Minister confident he can do a deal with teachers
By Felicity Caldwell
Teachers descended on Queensland Parliament yesterday demanding a better pay deal after the state government handed down its budget
But Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek says he's confident he can reach an agreement with them.
'This is part of the negotiations that go on through an enterprise bargain process,' he said, speaking at Mitchelton Special School on Wednesday morning.
'Last time, EB7 was one that I did back in 2012 (under the former Newman government), we did it without any real dramas.
'I'm confident that while they've rejected our first offer, that we've had 14 rounds of negotiations, there's more to come, and we'll make sure that we do a deal with the teachers.'
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