The owner of two dogs that mauled a 37-year-old man in Chermside, in Brisbane's north, is expected to face harsher penalties under state law. The dogs were captured by police after the attack on October 16, and the man was taken to hospital with serious arm injuries. Brisbane City Council rescinded a destruction order for the dogs and issued a proposed dangerous dog declaration instead. The owner has two weeks to respond. No charges have been laid, and police investigations continue.
Brisbane City Council is pursuing stronger action against the owner of two pit bulls that mauled a jogger in Chermside. Real estate agent Ajay Malik, 37, was attacked in 7th Brigade Park last week and suffered serious injuries. The council withdrew an order to destroy the dogs so it could seek higher penalties. The owner, Layla Evans, faces fines of up to $120,890 or two years' imprisonment, depending on the offence. Both dogs remain held by the council, and Ms Evans has 14 days from October 21 to respond to a proposed dangerous dog declaration.
Brisbane City Council has withdrawn its destruction order for two dogs that mauled jogger Ajay Malik at Chermside. The council is pursuing a proposed dangerous dog declaration under state law, which allows tougher penalties against the owner, Layla Evans. Malik, 37, was critically injured in the attack and remains in hospital, and his family has launched a fundraising campaign. Both dogs are held at a council facility. The owner has 14 days to respond, and police are continuing their investigation. Evans was arrested over an unrelated matter but has not been charged.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Police have identified a man found dead in bushland near a Chermside shopping centre. Andy Parker, 48, was found about midday on Sunday, October 18, close to where jogger Ajay Malik was mauled by two dogs at 7th Brigade Park on Friday evening. Initial post-mortem findings indicate Parker died on Friday. Detectives are examining whether the dogs were involved in his death. Police have not established whether the animals contributed to his death. Police are urging anyone who saw or heard anything unusual in the parkland between 4pm and 6pm on Friday to come forward.
Brisbane real estate agent Ajay Malik, 37, is in a critical condition after being mauled by two dogs while jogging through Seventh Brigade Park in Chermside on Friday evening. He suffered injuries to his face and both arms and was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. His family has launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $300,000 to cover living costs while he is unable to work. The dogs belonged to 22-year-old Layla Evans, who had been living in a tent at the park. Evans said the dogs were secured inside but escaped.
A jogger mauled by two dogs in Chermside, in Brisbane's north, faces a long recovery, a family friend says. Ajay Malik, 37, was rushed to hospital in critical condition after the attack on Friday evening. Police say they cannot rule out the dogs' involvement in the death of a 48-year-old man, whose body was found in nearby bushland on Sunday. Officers opened fire on the dogs during the attack, which were later located and are in Brisbane City Council custody. Mr Malik is now in a stable condition with serious injuries.
Brisbane City Council is developing a Dawn Plan to boost early-morning economic opportunities, with a survey open until November 22 to gather resident feedback. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the plan aims to improve park facilities, pathways and public transport options for early risers. Research shows 13 per cent of Brisbane cafes open between 5am and 6am, with half serving customers by 8am.
Real estate agent Ajay Malik, 37, faces a long recovery after being seriously injured in a dog attack in Chermside on Friday evening. Two dogs attacked him in 7th Brigade Park, and first responders reached him while the attack was still under way. He was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. His family has started a GoFundMe appeal to cover medical and living costs, with a target of $300,000. Two days later, the body of a 48-year-old Chermside man was found in bushland near Kittyhawk Drive.
Police cannot rule out that two dogs which mauled a runner in Chermside were involved in the death of a 48-year-old man whose body was found in nearby bushland. The man's body was discovered about midday on Sunday near Kittyhawk Dr. Ajay Malik was seriously injured in Friday night's attack and remains in a stable condition. Police shot the dogs after initial attempts to subdue them failed, and both are now held by Brisbane City Council. Police are appealing for anyone who saw or heard anything unusual in the parkland between 4pm and 6pm on Friday to come forward.
Police have found the body of a 48-year-old man in bushland off Kittyhawk Drive at Chermside, in Brisbane's north. Two dogs had attacked a 37-year-old man in the same area on Friday night. Police shot both dogs, which are now in Brisbane City Council's custody. Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said police cannot rule out the dogs' involvement in the death, given the body's state of decomposition. A post-mortem analysis indicates the man died on Friday. Police are asking anyone who heard anything unusual in the park between 4pm and 6pm on Friday to come forward.
Village Voice has asked Brisbane City Council and the Queensland government how residents can be better protected from sewage in Brisbane waterways. An investigation by Adam Bowden reported 10.5 billion litres of untreated sewage was discharged in 2024-25. A council spokesperson gave no reasons for gaps in testing at Sandgate and Shorncliffe. Council said it was meeting its public-health obligations. Councillor Tracy Davis said the testing program tracks long-term trends rather than providing real-time warnings. A motion for more frequent testing was heavily defeated. The state environment minister's office did not say whether a review was supported.
Police are investigating whether two dogs involved in a savage attack on a runner in Chermside may have also been involved in the death of a 48-year-old man found nearby. The man's body was discovered on Sunday in bushland off Kittyhawk Drive, with forensic work underway to determine if the dogs had any interaction with the deceased. The dogs, an American Staffordshire Terrier cross Bulldog and a Bulldog cross Boxer, are in the care of Brisbane City Council, which has issued a destruction order for the animals.
Police say a 14-year-old girl reported missing from Brisbane City has been found safe and well. Police thanked the community for its help. The original media release has been changed to remove all identifying information and images for privacy reasons. Earlier, police had sought urgent public help to find the girl, who was last seen in Brisbane City on 17 October.
A Brisbane real estate agent, Ajay Malik, suffered severe injuries after being attacked by two dogs in Seventh Brigade Park. The 37-year-old was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in critical condition but has since stabilised. The dogs' owner, Layla Evans, was detained over an unrelated incident. Both animals were eventually captured and surrendered to Brisbane City Council, which is considering euthanasia orders. Malik's family expressed shock and concern over his lengthy recovery.
Police have captured two dogs after a 37-year-old man was attacked in Brisbane's north on Friday evening. Emergency services found the man with serious injuries to both arms on Kittyhawk Drive in Chermside. He was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a stable condition. One dog was captured nearby with help from a police helicopter, and the other was found at an address in Wavell Heights on Saturday morning. Brisbane City Council says both dogs are now in its possession and a decision on their future will be made as soon as possible.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
A 37-year-old cyclist is in critical condition after two dogs dragged him from his bike and attacked him in Seventh Brigade Park, Chermside, on Friday evening. Paramedics found him with serious arm injuries, described as life-threatening, and took him to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. Police caught one dog, a pitbull, and later found the second. Both dogs are now in the possession of Brisbane City Council, which says a decision on their future will be made as soon as possible.
Maritime unions have criticised a Brisbane City Council proposal to install licensed bars on 10 double-decker CityCat ferries. The council is exploring a pilot program and hopes to trial it next year, though details such as opening hours and staffing are still being worked out. The Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Maritime Officers Union say the plan was made without consulting crew. They warn it would add workload and safety risks for crews already under strain in a long-running pay dispute with RiverCity Ferries.
Brisbane City Council is looking into a pilot program that would fit ten double-decker CityCat ferries with licensed bars. The idea was inspired by Sydney ferries that serve alcohol. Councillor Andrew Wines said the plan is at an early stage and that licensing and responsible service of alcohol rules would be followed. Some residents criticised the proposal, and Labor's Lucy Collier said the council had the wrong priorities. The plan comes as CityCat operator RiverCity Ferries negotiates a new pay deal with ferry staff.
Queensland Country Bank has won the Workplace Award for Employee Wellbeing at the 2026 Queensland Mental Health Awards. The award was presented at Brisbane City Town Hall on Friday, 9 October 2026. The bank was recognised for its support of employees' mental health, flexibility and inclusion. Its approach includes Mental Health First Aid training, flexible work arrangements and employee benefits. Open Minds CEO Karen Hale-Robertson said the winners showed what compassion and innovation can achieve.
A volunteer-run suicide prevention group from Central Queensland has been named winner of the Not-For-Profit (Small) Award at the 2026 Queensland Mental Health Awards. The honour recognises its work through free education, training, community awareness drives and collaborative projects. The presentation took place at Brisbane City Town Hall on Friday, 9 October 2026, and was hosted by Open Minds, part of Vertaview Group. Open Minds chief executive Karen Hale-Robertson praised the winners for showing what compassion and innovation can achieve in mental health. The awards, now marking 30 years, celebrate achievements across the state's sector.
