The Queensland outback town of Quilpie is offering 62 new residential lots and a $20,000 grant to people who build a home. Its earlier free land scheme in 2021 attracted wide interest but met only a small target, with two homes built since. Builders Heather and Matt Stennett say construction costs in the remote town are prohibitively high, with materials freighted over long distances. Mayor Ben Hall says even 20 new residents would have a major impact on the town's growth.
The Albanese Government has committed $10 million to upgrade Cloncurry Airport in North West Queensland. The funding adds to $11.5 million already provided by the Australian and Queensland governments through disaster recovery arrangements. The airport suffered significant flood damage from weather events in late 2025 and early 2026. Earlier funding paid for emergency repairs and flood resilience work so the airport could reopen. The new money will give Cloncurry Shire Council the remaining funds needed to finish upgrades for regular passenger services. Ministers say the airport supports aeromedical services, business travel, tourism and mining operations.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and ministers have marked the start of upgrade works on the Bruce Highway at Gairloch, near Ingham. The projects are funded under an 80-20 deal with the Federal Government. Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the works aim to improve flood immunity and safety, and to reduce closure times. Officials said 150 projects are either completed, underway or in planning along the highway, which is part of a $9 billion program.
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Regional Queenslanders face widely varying fuel prices, according to RACQ's latest quarterly report. Beaudesert had the cheapest regular unleaded over the September quarter, at 193.5 cents per litre, while Longreach was the most expensive at 229.2 cents. Tully had the lowest diesel prices, and Longreach again the highest. RACQ spokesperson Tristan Vorias said refinery margins for unleaded jumped from 1.2 cents last year to 29 cents in the September quarter, while service station margins on petrol fell.
Cash-strapped Queenslanders are moving away from Brisbane's established suburbs towards regional mining, farming and manufacturing towns, according to new quarterly sales data from InfoTrack. The Reserve Bank's four rate rises this year lifted the cash rate to 4.6 per cent, cutting borrowing power. Regional hotspots such as Kirwan in Townsville, Maryborough, Gracemere and Emerald appear in the state's top 10 house markets, with median prices well below the $890,000 statewide average. InfoTrack's Lee Bailie said affordability is driving the shift.
Federal Labor's plan to cap working holiday visas has alarmed businesses in North Queensland. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the second-year cap would fall from 57,000 to 45,000, and the third-year cap to 5,000. Townsville and Cairns business owners say they depend heavily on backpacker workers and fear job losses and reduced hours. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has called the policy nuts. Canadian barista Sydney Schetter says she would not have built her life in Australia under the new rules.
