Rachel Riga
Rachel Riga is the state political reporter for ABC News in Brisbane. She files across television, online and radio news platforms. In 2022 she jointly won a Queensland media award for radio news current affairs reporting. Rachel joined the ABC in 2014 and has worked as a video journalist in Ipswich, and as a cross-platform reporter in Bundaberg and Mackay.
Latest by Rachel Riga
Analysis
analysis:There’s a political hot potato for Labor ahead of the Qld election – and it won’t be going away anytime soon
Steven Miles is treading a fine line between acknowledging his legacy in the Palaszczuk government and trying to sell his "new" government, write Rachel Riga and Jessica van Vonderen.
'Maybe we got that wrong': Premier concedes Gabba rebuild not his preferred option as review gets underway
Queensland's premier concedes he'd prefer the Gabba stadium isn't demolished and rebuilt for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as former lord mayor Graham Quirk is tasked with reviewing the Games master plan.
Video shows Brisbane Woolworths being vandalised, flare thrown amid Australia Day merchandise controversy
A Woolworths Metro in the Brisbane suburb of Teneriffe is spray painted with profanities surrounding the Australia Day controversy, with the apartment building above evacuated after a flare was set off.
Queensland charities experiencing unprecedented demand for fresh food
Australia's leading food rescue organisation says it's facing unprecedented demand in Queensland due to cost of living pressures.
Analysis
analysis:He was Palaszczuk's right hand man. As premier, Steven Miles is out to do it his way
The next Queensland election is less than a year away and, now he's taken over the top, job Steven Miles is keen to avoid facing the final curtain at the ballot box, writes Rachel Riga.
New Queensland premier Steven Miles outlines his priorities for 2024
After being elected unopposed by the Labor caucus on Friday morning, Steven Miles gives his maiden speech and vows to boost emission reduction targets and to address youth crime and the housing crisis.
$2.7 billion Gabba rebuild in doubt as incoming premier signals major Olympic project review
Queensland's incoming premier vows to review the $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild and promises "fresh faces" in a new-look cabinet once he is confirmed.
Analysis
analysis:Queensland has a new premier. Will it be enough to change Labor’s fortunes ahead of the election?
The departure of Annastacia Palaszczuk signals a changing of the parliamentary guard in the state's Labor party.
Analysis
analysis:Annastacia Palaszczuk's resignation was a bombshell to many, including some of her closest colleagues
It's a rare opportunity not granted to all political leaders to control their legacy and quit while on top — and leaving it too late was a risk Annastacia Palaszczuk wasn't going to take.
Queensland premier to receive almost $50k bump as politicians granted 11pc pay rise over three years
The Queensland premier is set to receive a salary increase of nearly $50,000 by 2025, while the opposition leader's salary will rise by more than $30,000 in that time.
Ten new crimes will be added to Queensland's double jeopardy legislation. Here's what it means
People could be retried for offences like manslaughter and rape under proposed changes to overhaul double jeopardy laws in Queensland.
Analysis
analysis:There's a ghost haunting Queensland politics — and it isn't going anywhere for now
Despite being evicted from George Street eight years ago, the ghost of Campbell Newman is still haunting Labor and the LNP.
Andrew's dream home was ripped out from under him. Now the government is trying to close the 'loophole' that allowed it to happen
Andrew and his wife bought a block of land to build their forever home. Months after signing the contract, the couple were told their contract would be terminated because the financier of the development wanted the blocks to sell for a higher price.
Questions raised after five infections, two deaths among heart surgery patients from same Brisbane hospital
Five heart transplant patients from the same Queensland hospital contracted fungal infections of multiple strains. Two, including much-loved GP Dr Muhammad Hussain, have died.
Analysis
analysis:'We could have done things differently': Annastacia Palaszczuk insists she has 'absolutely learnt' from a challenging 2023
Queensland's premier insists she has learnt a lesson from a politically damaging few months, as Labor and the Liberal-National Party launch unofficial election campaigns a year out from polling day, writes Rachel Riga.
Queensland opposition backflips on support for state's Path to Treaty
Five months after LNP MPs voted in favour of the laws to set up a First Nations Treaty Institute and a truth-telling and healing inquiry, leader David Crisafulli has declared the path to treaty is "not the right way forward for Queensland".
Human rights complaint lodged over 'cruel' treatment, indefinite detention of Brisbane man
Concerns about the "cruel, inhuman and degrading" treatment of a man with an intellectual disability has prompted a complaint.
'We've seen it first hand': Parents of Hannah Clarke speak out after coercive control laws introduced in Queensland
Historic legislation is introduced in Queensland, with Hannah Clarke's parents praising the new protection for victims.
Mental health patients left to sleep on the floor due to chronic bed shortages at Queensland's largest hospital
Patients with severe mental illness are having to sleep on the floor or couches inside Queensland's largest hospital due to chronic bed shortages, with some left waiting days.
Victims of violent crimes will be able to access more financial assistance in Queensland. Here's how it will work
The funding will allow certain victims and their families to claim more financial aid and will also provide on-the-ground support.
Analysis
analysis:Daniel Andrews has resigned, so what now for the last remaining COVID-era premier Annastacia Palaszczuk?
Labelled the "accidental premier", Annastacia Palaszczuk is now Australia’s longest-serving current state leader.
Investigation into death of man who took voluntary assisted dying drug prescribed for his terminally ill wife
The case, detailed in the first annual report by the Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Review Board, is the subject of review by Queensland Health.
Analysis
analysis:Why a High Court ruling has delivered a staggering blow to transparency and openness in Queensland
This decision has been described as ''judgement day for integrity in Queensland" by the state opposition because of the implications for the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission.
Accused rapists can soon be named before being committed to stand trial after changes to archaic laws in Queensland
The move has been welcomed by sexual assault advocates who say the archaic laws were born out of the false assumption that people maliciously made up complaints to damage reputations.
High Court dismisses appeal by Queensland's CCC to make report into state's former public trustee public
Peter Carne was investigated for corruption by the commission in 2018 after an anonymous complaint, though it was later determined he would not be criminally prosecuted.