As it happened: Brisbane on Monday, August 25

Former Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann has notched one last win after a decade with the club, selling his Balmoral home for $3.275 million in a bidding blitz that drew six punters.

Swann, who returned to Melbourne last month to take up his new post as the AFL’s head of football performance, paid $1.813 million for the Wright Street property 10 years ago, which became both his beloved family home and a popular hangout for players during his Lions tenure.

While Swann’s sale was the headline act of Ray White’s in-room auction event on Saturday, Wortley said it was a three-bedroom townhouse at 3/73 Railway Parade, Norman Park, that provided the day’s biggest twist.

Read more here.

The husband of Brisbane nurse Carra Luke, who is charged with her murder, did not appear in person when his case was mentioned in court a short time ago.

Shane Donald Scheikowski, 52, is accused to stabbing Luke to death in her Taigum home in Brisbane’s north in the early hours of Saturday morning.

He was charged with one count each of domestic violence murder and entering a dwelling with intent to commit a crime.

Scheikowski did not appear in Brisbane Arrests Court when his case was briefly mentioned this morning.

His lawyer Jake O’Donnell did not apply for bail on his client’s behalf.

The court mention for Scheikowski was over in just under 90 seconds in a sparsely filled courtroom.

Read more here.

Premier David Crisafuli delivered a blunt warning to the Liberal-National faithful still reeling from the internal fractures of the post-federal election drubbing, urging rank and file members and parliamentary colleagues to “not be distracted by ideological issues”.

The highest ranking elected conservative figure in the country said vocal sections of the LNP must drop their campaigns on culture wars, environment and immigration and instead focus on issues discussed at kitchen tables.

Crisafulli said this approach would be key to both his own government’s re-election but also turning around a disastrous federal result after the Coalition bled 14 seats in the May national poll.

“There is a reason why Mr Albanese was returned to the lodge with a primary vote of just 34.5 per cent,” he told the party at the LNP state convention in Brisbane on Sunday.

“A plethora of well -meaning, right-wing campaign groups and minor parties fractured our vote. The more we tried to appease them, the further we got from the middle ground of Australian politics who shifted their vote elsewhere.”

Crisafulli’s comments were a rallying cry for the party’s federal branch, which led to the Nationals splitting from the Coalition before it reformed days later, while the Liberals were entangled in a bitter leadership contest between Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor.

But it was also a direct warning to the broadchurch of the LNP government’s parliamentary factions in Queensland, who have previously voiced opposition to progressive abortion reforms and climate policies.

Read more here.

As we reported earlier, Labor will speed up a key election pledge, allowing first home buyers to buy a house with a deposit of just 5 per cent.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the decision to bring forward the scheme from January to October will make an “enormous difference” for Australians seeking a foothold in the property market.

“We know that a 5 per cent deposit rather than sitting around paying someone else’s mortgage makes an enormous difference,” Albanese told ABC Radio National.

“The fact that we’re making this first home buyer scheme available to everyone, with no income limits, and we are also increasing the property price caps to set them higher in line with average house prices ... I think this will make an enormous difference.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is looking forward to further conversations with US President Donald Trump in coming months, as he praised Trump for engaging in “constructive” discussions since returning to public office this year.

Albanese has come under fire from political opponents for failing to secure a face-to-face meeting with Trump, who was due to meet the Australian leader at the G20 summit in June but cancelled to return to the White House early.

“We’ll have meetings with President Trump in a number of events over the coming months,” Albanese said.

“I look forward to discussions continuing face-to-face, as they have been constructive when I’ve had discussions with President Trump up to now, it’s a good thing. There is a range of ministers meeting with their counterparts. That’s a good thing.”

It comes as Defence Minister Richard Marles travels to Washington DC this week to meet his defence counterpart, Pete Hegseth, and other senior Trump administration officials.

In the year to March 2025, national greenhouse emissions fell by 1.4 per cent, putting Australia on track for its 2030 commitment to the United Nations climate treaty, the government says.

Under the Paris Agreement, Australia is committed to reduce emissions by 43 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030. So far it has cut by 28 per cent.

The Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory said the fall in emissions for the year was equivalent to 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, mostly because of renewable energy generation, industrial decarbonisation under the Safeguard Mechanism, and a decline in demand for household gas.

Across Australia’s two main grids, renewable energy has now reached over 40 per cent of all energy produced in the last financial year.

However, transport emissions continued their post-COVID rise as the use of road diesel and domestic aviation fuel reached record levels. The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard is projected to reduce transport emissions.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the government’s climate and energy policies were working to drive down emissions across the economy, and the installation of home batteries since its subsidy program began on July 1 would have additional impact.

“We are on track to achieve our emissions reduction goals if we stay the course and continue to lift our efforts,” Bowen said.

In breaking news, the Gold Coast Titans have brought Des Hasler’s tumultuous stint to an end, with the veteran coach to preside over what could be the last two games of his career before leaving the club.

The Titans confirmed on Monday morning that Hasler will move on at the end of 2025, with chairman Dennis Watt paying tribute to the departing coach in a club statement.

“His deep knowledge, passion and unwavering commitment to excellence have been evident every day he has worked with our club,” Watt said.

Hasler, who won the NRL title with Manly, coached his 500th game this year, but will not see out the final season of his three-year contract.

While the Titans have not named a replacement as yet, some reports have suggested Josh Hannay will be called upon for his first head coaching role.

Read the full story here.

Protest organiser Remah Naji appeared on Nine’s Today this morning to discuss yesterday’s march.

She described the turn-out as “one of the largest protests in the city’s history”, estimating 50,000 attendees - a figure that has been disputed by Queensland Police.

“We want this government to sanction trade. This should send a clear message [that] there’s no amount of rhetoric, amount of statements and condemnations that’s going absolve them of the responsibility to act in accordance with international law to prevent and punish genocide,” she said.

When asked about a Hamas flag that was allegedly flown at the protest she said she wasn’t aware of it.

“I was aware … of the tens of thousands of people who were from all backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, genders and sexualities to send a clear message to our government.

“She went on to say Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must “prove you’re not entirely disconnected because we are watching and we won’t stop”.