![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ben_Smee_v2.png\")
Ben Smee<\/p>\nConcept images of controversial Victoria Park precinct revealed ahead of 2032 Brisbane OlympicsBen Smee<\/p>\n
The Queensland government has released new concept images showing Brisbane\u2019s broader Victoria Park precinct after the construction of the 2032 Olympic stadium and aquatic centre.<\/p>\n
Victoria Park is Brisbane\u2019s largest inner-city parkland and a site of significance for First Nations elders.<\/p>\n
It is a controversial choice as home to Brisbane\u2019s upcoming Olympics, leading to protests from community members concerned about the loss of community green space and areas of cultural importance.<\/p>\n
The images \u2013 along with a master plan for the broader parkland site \u2013 show plans for two new pedestrian bridges across the inner-city bypass. The road severs the site from Spring Hill and the rest of the Brisbane CBD and had been a significant constraint for planners.<\/p>\n
![\"Artists](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1800.jpg\")
Artists impressions of the Victoria Park precinct, in the Queensland government\u2019s Victoria Park Draft Legacy Plan. Illustration: Supplied by the Queensland Government<\/p>\n
It also proposes flooding existing sports fields on the site to expand the York\u2019s Hollow wetland.<\/p>\n
The government says the precinct will \u201cbecome a world-class destination that celebrates Brisbane\u2019s unique outdoor lifestyle while creating a vibrant place where people can gather, play, connect and experience unforgettable moments for generations to come\u201d.<\/p>\n
It says about two-thirds of the existing park will remain public green space.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.34 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Australian man jailed over child abuse material as children removed from harm<\/p>\n Six children have been removed from harm in the Philippines as a West Australian man was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years and six months in prison for online child abuse material offences.<\/p>\n Australian Border Force officers found videos of children being sexually abused on the 74-year-old man\u2019s mobile phone after selecting him for a baggage examination after he arrived at Perth Airport in May 2025.<\/p>\n As the Australian Federal Police examined his phone, they found conversations between him and a woman in the Philippines where she transmitted child abuse material.<\/p>\n The matter was later referred to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre, and the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking Division began an investigation.<\/p>\n In April 2026. the division executed a search warrant at a home in Bislig City, Philippines, where a woman was arrested and six children, who were known to her, were removed from harm.<\/p>\n The 32-year-old woman was later charged and is before the court in the Philippines.<\/p>\n The 74-year-old man was sentenced at Perth District Court after pleading guilty to a series of charges including three counts of using a carriage service to groom another person to make it easier to procure persons under 16.<\/p>\n ABF superintendent John Eldridge said:<\/p>\n double quotation markUnfortunately, we are finding child abuse material on digital devices of travellers all too often, but when we do, we act decisively with our law enforcement partners to ensure these perpetrators face criminal charges and prevent further harm.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n NSW premier says evidence must come before judgment following Icac hearings<\/p>\n As the NSW anti-corruption watchdog investigates allegations of corruption against people associated with the state\u2019s Liberal branch, the premier, Chris Minns has said Icac must be able to present its evidence free from political commentary.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe need the evidence to be accumulated before we pass a judgment on it, and that\u2019s really Icac\u2019s job.<\/p>\n What\u2019s interesting and perhaps worrying inquiry for me is that over the same time that this inquiry has been taking place, One Nation\u2019s vote has skyrocketed, and they\u2019ve got nothing to do with this Icac investigation.<\/p>\n My concern is that people say, \u201cWell, I\u2019ve seen Labor at Icac, and I\u2019ve seen the Liberal Party at Icac. I\u2019m going to vote for a third party this time.\u201d<\/p>\n So, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s necessarily the big boon for our political party that many believe, and I also think it\u2019s sad for politics when when people who are in elected positions are acting in this way because it casts a pall over everybody in politics.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Continuing on from last post \u2026.<\/p>\n Opponents of the proposal have long scoffed at claims that most of the parkland surrounding a new 60,000-seat stadium will remain valuable green space.<\/p>\n Save Victoria Park spokesperson Sue Bremner said the \u201cmisleading\u201d impressions were an attempt to distract from Olympics budget blowouts.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe have said time and time again \u2013 it is one of the most complex, expensive and poorly connected sites in Brisbane to build sporting venues.<\/p>\n What we saw today was not a plan. It was another insulting fantasy vision with no details. Where are the car parks? Where are the roads? Where\u2019s the connection to the train station? Where are the crowd-holding plazas? The ramp from the [bypass]?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.18 EDT<\/p>\n Concept images of controversial Victoria Park precinct revealed ahead of 2032 Brisbane Olympics The Queensland government has released new concept images showing Brisbane\u2019s broader Victoria Park precinct after the construction of the 2032 Olympic stadium and aquatic centre.<\/p>\n Victoria Park is Brisbane\u2019s largest inner-city parkland and a site of significance for First Nations elders.<\/p>\n It is a controversial choice as home to Brisbane\u2019s upcoming Olympics, leading to protests from community members concerned about the loss of community green space and areas of cultural importance.<\/p>\n The images \u2013 along with a master plan for the broader parkland site \u2013 show plans for two new pedestrian bridges across the inner-city bypass. The road severs the site from Spring Hill and the rest of the Brisbane CBD and had been a significant constraint for planners.<\/p>\n Artists impressions of the Victoria Park precinct, in the Queensland government\u2019s Victoria Park Draft Legacy Plan. Illustration: Supplied by the Queensland Government<\/p>\n It also proposes flooding existing sports fields on the site to expand the York\u2019s Hollow wetland.<\/p>\n The government says the precinct will \u201cbecome a world-class destination that celebrates Brisbane\u2019s unique outdoor lifestyle while creating a vibrant place where people can gather, play, connect and experience unforgettable moments for generations to come\u201d.<\/p>\n It says about two-thirds of the existing park will remain public green space.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.34 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018Starting to take off\u2019: bird flu mass mortality likely<\/p>\n A mass mortality event<\/a>, potentially triggered by bird flu, mirrors what\u2019s happened as the deadly disease spread overseas, environmental advocates warn.<\/p>\n AAP reports, more than 80 dead and sick greater crested terns have been found at an island called Baudin Rock in South Australia.<\/p>\n Authorities say it is likely to be the first mass mortality event from the deadly disease.<\/p>\n The Invasive Species Council\u2019s chief executive, Jack Gough, said Australia was still at the very early stages of the H5 outbreak, but it could spread quickly.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt seems the virus is starting to take off, mirroring the experience in South America.<\/p>\n [That is:] early detections, then rapid increases in numbers and spread, leading to mass mortality events in wildlife.<\/p>\n Bird flu has caused significant illness and deaths in poultry, wild birds and mammals in Asia; Europe; North and South America; and the Arctic and Antarctic, according to Wildlife Health Australia.<\/p>\n Over 600 bird species and more than 100 mammalian species, including wild marine and land mammals, have been affected.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.46 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018More than just objects\u2019: Australian booksellers raise alarm over \u2018horrific\u2019 destruction of rare titles to feed AI<\/p>\n Vendors and rare books experts are increasingly worried that these artefacts may be under threat of destruction by generative AI companies seeking to feed their ravenous technology with new texts.<\/p>\n Stephanie Convery writes the fears stem from a copyright lawsuit brought against AI company Anthropic in the United States by book authors. Unsealed court files revealed earlier this year that the company was engaging in the practice of \u201cdestructive scanning\u201d \u2013 buying physical books, slicing off the spines to more efficiently scan the pages, then pulping the remains \u2013 and had sought to keep it quiet. The judge ruled this was lawful under US copyright law, as it amounted to \u201ctransformative use\u201d.<\/p>\n The practice is now understood to be widespread among generative AI companies, and recent reports suggest intermediaries are stepping up<\/a> to facilitate the process.<\/p>\n Australian secondhand booksellers are wondering if they have been caught up in the AI supply chain after they recently experienced waves of orders that did not fit with usual customer patterns.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Nation-first fully integrated bionic arm to hit shelves<\/p>\n A university startup has developed Australia\u2019s first fully integrated bionic arm, giving hope to users who have given up on heavy, painful prosthetics, AAP reports.<\/p>\n Cost, weight and accessibility changes means 35\u201340% of prosthetic users in high-income countries end up rejecting their devices.<\/p>\n But after speaking to dozens of people with limb difference to identify key challenges over 10 years of development, University of Melbourne-led startup Meablex have developed a bionic arm that could change the experience of prosthetics for users.<\/p>\n It features soft and flexible materials that weigh about half what a conventional prosthetic does.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also been designed with an adjustable socket to make the prosthetic easier to fit, and is more reliable to control than others currently on the market.<\/p>\n Australian scientists have created a revolutionary lightweight bionic arm. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins\/AAP<\/p>\n Senior research engineer Dr Alireza Mohammadi told AAP:<\/p>\n double quotation markOur technology combines a lightweight 3D-printed prosthetic hand with a new sensorised socket that detects subtle muscle movement, rather than relying only on traditional electrical muscle signals.<\/p>\n He hopes the device can enter the market next year, following clinical trials and regulatory approvals later this year.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019re not just looking at Australia, we are thinking more globally.<\/p>\n It will definitely affect many lives and many people that can use this device.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.16 EDT<\/p>\n How a tragedy in a homeless camp laid bare regional Australia\u2019s housing crisis<\/p>\n Three months ago, a homeless encampment in Wagga Wagga made headlines when a newborn baby died at a nearby riverbank<\/a> after their mother gave birth in a tent.<\/p>\n Since then, the response to the growing crisis has been fractured and confusing and the community is divided on how to manage the camp.<\/p>\n Some have jumped in to help, while others have sided with the council in calls to clear it out.<\/p>\n Cait Kelly writes about the ways the housing crisis is playing out in regional Australia.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.58 EDT<\/p>\n PM urged to stand aside special envoy after assault charge<\/p>\n The deputy opposition leader, Jane Hume, has called on the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to take action against his special envoy for defence, veterans\u2019 affairs and northern Australia, Luke Gosling.<\/p>\n The MP has been charged over an alleged assault on the Northern Territory\u2019s administrator earlier this month.<\/p>\n Hume told ABC\u2019s Insiders it was a \u201cpretty serious charge\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s alleged at this stage but the charge has been laid.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese has been very quick to condemn other people and request, in previous lives, that prime ministers stand down their ministers or their senior members of parliament for far less.<\/p>\n I think that he should live up to his own high expectations and stand Luke Gosling down.<\/p>\n Gosling previously said he could not comment as the matter was before the courts, but thanked his family and vowed to work to serve his constituents.<\/p>\n Labor MP Luke Gosling. Photograph: AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.42 EDT<\/p>\n Penny Wong addresses Garma festival: \u2018We are not a monoculture and we have never been\u2019<\/p>\n The announcement was delivered before a powerful audience that included senior cabinet ministers Penny Wong, Malarndirri McCarthy and Jason Clare, and Pacific leaders including Timor-Leste\u2019s prime minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusm\u00e3o.<\/p>\n As the ripples of the announcement spread across Garma, AAP reports, Wong used her address to draw a contrast with those she suggested were trying to divide Australians.<\/p>\n double quotation markAt a time when there are those who seek to set us apart, First Nations peoples, with your generosity, remind us our many different stories brought together make us stronger.<\/p>\n We are not a monoculture and we have never been.<\/p>\nBen Smee<\/p>\nBen Smee<\/p>\n