Cairns - 4870

The two men did not know whale sharks could be found in waters off Queensland's south-east coast until the inquisitive creature glided up next to their boat.

If the tropical low develops into a cyclone, it would be Queensland's third in as many months. 

An environmental advocate says the changing climate means its more important than ever to protect the reef from human damage. It comes after a private charter skipper is convicted of numerous maritime offences.

Teen finds World War I photos of soldiers and army platoons and family photos from the early 1900's,in an esky floating in floodwaters less than 100 metres away from being washed out to sea.

A coronial inquest into the disappearance of the 23-year-old Kokoberra woman was due to resume this month but proceedings have been put on hold after a man was charged with her murder.

With only 12 public cyclone shelters across Queensland, a leading design engineer recommends more people should consider building dedicated rooms in their homes.

Queensland’s state-owned power grid quietly forced almost 170,000 air-conditioners in homes and businesses into low-power mode six times over summer.

The Kowanyama woman was 23 when she was last seen with a quarry caretaker more than 10 years ago, leading to a long-running inquest and a $500,000 reward.

Police say a 62-year-old man is assisting with their inquiries over the February 2013 disappearance of a Kowanyama woman known as Ms Bernard.

One area that saw rain-induced flooding was Charters Towers, where emergency services rescued 14 people after they became trapped overnight.

Major barriers still stand in the way for young and regional people to get a diagnosis and treatment for endometriosis. 

A Cairns patient has died from the bacterial disease melioidosis, with health authorities further south warning those on cyclone clean-up to take precautions against contracting the infection.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is moving inland as a tropical low after crossing the Queensland coast overnight leaving more than 60,000 residents without power.

Queenslanders are urged to be alert to the hazards of mud left by flooding after a record number of melioidosis cases in Cairns during January.

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily has been downgraded to a category one system as it crosses the Queensland coast, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

A Cairns psychologist working for the state government has gone public with her deep concerns about possible human rights breaches in police watch houses.

Cape Tribulation is a major international tourist destination in the heart of the Daintree but a major landslip last month has rendered it largely inaccessible. Businesses there now fear permanent closure.

Inside a watch house in Cairns, children as young as 10 are locked into cells designed for adults, sometimes four at a time with their mattresses on the floor.

Vinnies stores across Queensland have been swamped with unsaleable donations, which the charity says are causing "chaos" for busy volunteers.

From sandbags to generators, this is what you need to know ahead of a tropical cyclone forecast to make landfall in north Queensland between Cardwell and Bowen.

The weather bureau forecasts the tropical cyclone will form later tonight at a lower intensity than previously predicted.

Driving in the dark, Les Edmistone didn't see a massive gap in a collapsed bridge in Queensland's Gulf Country until it was too late. All he could do was hold on and "go with it".

The cyclone is currently a category one but is expected to cross the coast as a category two system on Thursday night, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. 

The slow-moving system is still gathering moisture over the Coral Sea, meaning it will bring rain to a broad area once it crosses over land. 

Future Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to cross the Queensland coast on Thursday as a severe system.