Latest news with #WideBay
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Court orders owner of alleged illegal tobacconists to close businesses for six months
A Queensland judge has ordered a business owner to close five of his Wide Bay stores which health officials allege have been selling unlawful smoking products. In June, a significant quantity of illicit cigarettes, loose tobacco and vapes were allegedly seized during raids on multiple retail premises in Hervey Bay. Earlier this month, Queensland Health launched court action against the owner of some of the stores, Mohammed Alfalahi, seeking a permanent injunction under strengthened tobacco laws. While that matter is pending, on Wednesday, Queensland Health sought an interim injunction of the same effect. Lawyer Peter O'Connor told the court the order would restrict Mr Alfalahi from engaging in the alleged illegal conduct and receiving income from it unlawfully. "Until such time that the substantive proceedings can be finalised," he said. Mr O'Connor told the court the "fundamental question" was whether any of Mr Alfalahi's businesses held a licence to supply smoking products. "There's no assertion by [Mr Alfalahi] that in fact he has or did in fact at any stage," he said. "The evidence, in fact, establishes that he has not ever held such a license." Mr O'Connor told the court, Mr Alfalahi is the tenant of the business premise, and the permitted use according to his lease is a tobacconist or tobacco shop. "He can't claim ignorance of the nature of business operating out of the premises that he is leasing," he said "He similarly cannot claim ignorance of the regulatory scheme given the number of interactions that he has had with the authorities over a substantial period of time." The court heard he had previously paid infringement notices for past contraventions under the legislation. Mr Alfalahi's lawyer James Wallace told the court it had been difficult to get in contact with his client as he lived overseas, and had not been adequately instructed on any possible defence to the allegations. However, Mr Wallace said his client "can't possibly be criticised" for not responding in detail, in what he asserts were inadequate time frames for submitting material, and that this was "not a full hearing on the merits" of the allegations. "I'm not conceding the prima facie case," he said. "I have no evidence to rely on to submit sensibly." It was argued that several employees would lose their jobs if the order was granted and Mr Alfalahi could be at risk of breaching the order due to his limited communication and the impracticality of shutting the stores effective immediately. Mr Wallace argued the balance of convenience should be in favour of his client, as there were separate yet related proceedings due to be heard in the magistrates court later this month. "In theory, in 10 days' time a magistrate will determine whether those five stores should be shut down for six months," he said. "Leaving the status quo would allow the matters to proceed as they are in the magistrates court without pre-emptively finalising the matter." The court heard the magistrate court action and the district court action "complement each other" but they served independent purposes. In the lower court proceedings, Queensland Health is seeking not only closure of the stores for six months, but also enforcement against the landlord to ensure no-one else takes over the lease. Judge Ken Barlow KC granted the interim injunction, accepting there was "no real evidence of substance of any defence". "It seems to me there is no doubt a prima facie case," he said. Judge Barlow KC also rejected the submission Mr Alfalahi could not properly instruct his lawyers. "The communication abilities of the modern world, particularly between Australia and Dubai where [Mr Alfalahi] currently lives, are such that I do not accept that the respondent would not have had the opportunity to be sent the material read and discuss it at length with his solicitors," he said. "While I do not go so far as to infer that there is no possible defence... the absence of any skeleton of any defence does not assist [Mr Alfalahi]." Mr Alfalahi will have until Friday to cease operating the five business. He will also be prohibited from running any other companies which involve the sale of tobacco.
ABC News
26-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
2.5m crocodile found in 'atypical' Mary River habitat to be removed
Queensland wildlife officers are searching for a crocodile seen basking on the bank of the Mary River near Maryborough. The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) received a report on Tuesday of the crocodile being spotted near the town of Dundathu. The person who submitted the report saw a 2.5-metre crocodile on the riverbank before it slid into the river, a DETSI spokesperson said. Wildlife officers inspected the site on Wednesday and are attempting to capture the crocodile. DETSI is asking anyone who sees a crocodile in the Mary River or Wide Bay region to contact them. The sighting follows reports of crocodiles at Inskip Point in February and Bundaberg in January. A 3.8m crocodile was caught on the Mary River near Maryboroug in 2014 and relocated to a crocodile farm in Rockhampton.
ABC News
04-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Timeline of Wide Bay teenager Pheobe Bishop's disappearance
Almost three weeks after Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop went missing, police have taken her male housemate into custody. The 17-year-old girl from the Wide Bay region, about four hours north of Brisbane, has not been seen or heard from since Thursday, May 15. James Wood, 34, was arrested on Wednesday but no charges have been laid. The arrest followed an announcement earlier in the day by police that they would no longer be conducting any "physical searches" for Pheobe. Instead, police said searches would restart "as needed and as information is provided". Pheobe had been living in the town of Gin Gin, which has a population of about 1,100 people, with two people police had called "associates". She had been meant to board a flight from Bundaberg to Western Australia on May 15, but police said airport CCTV showed she never entered the terminal. Police issued a missing person's report about 6pm a day later, on Friday, May 16. Over the following weekend, Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson repeatedly posted to social media urging anyone with information to contact police. By Sunday, May 18, more than 400 missing person posters with Pheobe's photo were plastered across the Wide Bay region. On Monday, May 19, police conducted a land search along Bundaberg's Airport Drive and surrounding areas but failed to find Pheobe or any of her belongings. Police described her disappearance as out of character and at a media conference on Tuesday, May 20, asked for information about a 2011 grey Hyundai ix35 hatch that had been seen around Airport Drive. On Wednesday, May 21, six days after Pheobe went missing, police said they were treating her disappearance as suspicious and two crime scenes had been established. The crime scenes were the home where Pheobe had been living and the car she was believed to be in on to way to the airport. Police appealed for dash camera and CCTV footage of the car, naming the locations of interest at Bundaberg — Airport Drive and Samuels Road — as well as Gin Gin. By Thursday, May 22, Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson said public information would be vital in finding Pheobe. "People don't vanish," he said. On Friday, May 23, more than a week after her daughter was last heard from, Ms Johnson urged people to hold their loved ones tight. That afternoon, at a press conference, police revealed specialist officers were searching bushland and waterways at Good Night Scrub National Park. The search of the national park continued throughout the weekend of May 24 and 25. On the Saturday, forensic police collected items in brown evidence bags, but would not confirm whether it was linked to Pheobe's disappearance. Police dogs joined the search on the Sunday. On Monday, May 26, police expanded their search area, saying they believed evidence may have been moved from the Good Night Scrub area before they arrived. The same day, Premier David Crisafulli said Pheobe's disappearance was deeply concerning and that police would be given every resource needed to do the job. On Tuesday, May 27, police renewed their appeal for information, and a day later, the search in Good Night Scrub National Park was suspended after five days. Police said they would continue to investigate. This morning, they confirmed physical searches would be called off. Throughout the time Pheobe has been missing, her mother has been posting on social media about the family's ordeal. In a video statement released via police on Saturday, Ms Johnson said her family's life had changed for the worse since her daughter's disappearance. "I still hold hope that Pheobe will come home, but I have to consider the possibility that she also won't," she said. In a social media post this morning, Ms Johnson questioned whether life would be the same again. "Starting day 20 with you still missing Pheobe," the post read. "I don't know if life will ever be the same again? I don't know if I will ever look at the world the same way that I did before May 15th."
ABC News
04-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Man in police custody over disappearance of missing Queensland teenager Pheobe Bishop
Queensland police say a man is in custody over the disappearance of Wide Bay teenager Pheobe Bishop. The 17-year-old went missing on May 15 after failing to board a flight at Bundaberg airport. A major search operation was launched amid fears for her safety. A 34-year-old man is currently assisting police with their inquiries, but no charges have been laid.
ABC News
09-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Wide Bay beachside communities experience unprecedented growth
Thousands of beachside blocks are hitting the market in regional Queensland as sleepy coastal towns grapple with population growth and changing identities. The Wide Bay region, about 400 kilometres north of Brisbane, is home to sleepy beachside suburbs thrust into a major transformation from rural farmland to residential subdivisions. Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn said about 5,000 housing lots were under construction on the 15-kilometre coastal stretch between Elliott Heads and Bargara. "That's significant … that will change the face of our region," she said. The communities are in high demand from southerners and retirees, with approvals for more than 2,000 additional retirement and over 50s dwellings. "People have found out the secret of our Bundaberg coastline, our beautiful waterways, and our clean, fresh environment," Cr Blackburn said. "There's no doubt that it will grow and grow substantially in the next few years." Not everyone is retired. Shantara Manulat, who recently moved from the Gold Coast, operates a coffee van near Innes Park. "Everyone's so welcoming, I've made so many friends being here and yeah, I'm just loving it, I wouldn't go back," the 27-year-old said. She said it was an easier place to run a business because there was less competition. She said it was also a more affordable location to live. The median house price in the Wide Bay region, which incorporates Bundaberg, has risen to $611,000, according to the latest Proptrack report. At the southern fringe of the region, the Fraser Coast is also experiencing similar growth with $3 billion in commercial projects approved by the council in 2024. A master-planned community with more than 1,600 home sites is expected to be built at Dundowran Beach in the next decade. Some of the more controversial approvals, including an 18-storey high-rise development on the Esplanade at Hervey Bay, have sparked debate over the urbanisation of the area. "I'm not against development but it needs to be in the right places," resident Ross Horne said. While many locals supported the growth, there were concerns that roads and infrastructure would not cope with the increase in traffic. Near Bundaberg, Bargara café owner Joey Caruana said he wanted to see the state government invest in schools and sporting infrastructure. "The growth of soccer clubs, athletics, nippers … there's a need for a sporting base," he said. "A multi-purpose facility where we can have footy, hockey, netball, all the things that young families want." Earlier this year the state government announced a $2 billion Regional Activation Fund, with half of the money to be spent on upgrading roads, drainage and other infrastructure in rural areas. The first round of funding is to be issued to councils from July. "We're aware that we need to try to make sure that our roads are maintained so that we can keep up with the traffic … and we need to make sure that we have enough hospital staff, policing staff," Cr Blackburn said. She said finding qualified tradespeople was another issue. "I would say at this point in time we're probably a bit stretched in terms of the labour market," she said. Despite the challenges, Cr Blackburn said the coastal expansion was necessary to help attract families and professionals to move from south-east Queensland. "Every place needs to grow, and we need new ideas and new people so that we can have those eateries and those shops that we desperately would like to have in our region," she said.
