The deaths of Evan Fielder, 19, and his girlfriend Lauren Quabba, 16, in a head-on crash sends shockwaves through a Far North Queensland community.

An estimated 75,000 backpackers working, or that have worked in Australia, could be back-paid hundreds of millions of dollars after the Federal Court ruled the so-called backpacker tax invalid.

A father who threatened to kill a Federal Circuit Court Judge in a late night, expletive-laden phone call walks free from a Far North Queensland court.

A fast-moving bushfire is contained after burning down a property and threatening several more in a rural area west of Cooktown in Cape York.

The Bulldogs have gone above the Titans at the bottom of the NRL table, after the former upset the Knights in Newcastle and the latter was comfortably beaten by Penrith.

Andrew Grover's addiction to the dizzying thrills of theme park rides began in the US when he was seven. Now 34, he's heading back for the ultimate adrenaline spree.

The Gold Coast Titans announce they are parting ways with coach Garth Brennan, citing the team's poor performance on field this season, as Kevin Walters rules himself out as a replacement.

The Lions' resurgence continues as they edge out North and Freo pip the Swans after the Tigers beat the Power, the Giants thump the Pies and the Blues get the better of the Suns.

Manly sends fans home happy with a win over the Eels at Brookvale after the high-flying Storm down the Titans at Robina.

Footage shows a whale struggling to free itself from shark nets off Currumbin, hours before being untangled by rescuers, in the third incident off the Gold Coast in a month.

Former Commonwealth Games competitor Matthew Levings trained for years alongside Sun Yang. Now the Gold Coast tradie says China's Australian coach, Denis Cotterell, would never train swimmers he knew to be doping.

As another large vessel sinks below the waterline on the Gold Coast, the Queensland Transport Minister says derelict boats are becoming a real problem and taxpayers are being forced to cover the cost.

Despite warnings it could undermine the impact of the Queensland Government's policy to curb alcohol-fuelled violence, casinos will remain exempt from ID scanning and reduced hours. The move comes as the Government scales back the scheme in parts of Brisbane and Ipswich.

A club linked to a long-term business partner of the Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate may escape paying a $137,000 debt owed to the council.

Regional trials of a world-first digital platform aimed at transforming access to mental health services for young people tracks how participants are feeling in real time.

The Gold Coast Titans finally confirm Justin Holbrook will coach the struggling NRL side from the 2020 season, with the current St Helens boss signing a two-year contract.

Concerns are raised in the Queensland Parliament over the time it took a Gold Coast state school to suspend an eight-year-old boy accused of sexually assaulting his classmate.

It has been the beating heart of the Gold Coast for 90 years, now locals fear the Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade will be transformed into a 14-storey apartment block.

The pair continued south on the M1 before again confronting a driver of a vehicle near the Palm Beach exit.

Gold Coast police are searching for a man and woman after they stopped their car in the middle of the Pacific Motorway before attempting to hijack two vehicles.

The Bulldogs held on to beat the Wests Tigers at the Olympic stadium, after the Dragons broke their losing streak with a win over the Titans and the Eels pipped the Knights.

Gold Coast man John William Chardon, accused of killing his wife Novy, allegedly told her friend she had "packed her luggage and left", before propositioning her about whether she would be interested in an affair, a trial has heard.

A woman who says her daughter has been denied a wheelchair asks her local MP who's also the Minister for the NDIS to sit in on a meeting about the girl's needs.

Security vision reveals the moment a Gold Coast service station attendant is taken hostage by a man with a gun in what became a four-hour stand-off with police.

Di White says her son Anthony, 36, needed a ventilator to breathe after his diagnosis and "really didn't have a life" in the 16 months before he died in the bathroom at the local tavern.

Hawthorn keeps its finals hopes alive by beating premiers West Coast, Geelong remains a chance of claiming the minor premiership, while the Giants, Swans and Kangaroos enjoy victories.

One of the most expensive police cars used in Australia goes up in flames following a chase in north-eastern New South Wales.

In some of the darkest corners of the Gold Coast, a hug from police liaison officer Saga Selsby can be life-changing.

Melbourne Storm claim the minor premiership and bragging rights over Manly Sea Eagles, while the Sydney Roosters tune up with victory over Penrith and the Knights get a feel-good win over the Titans.

Whether it's poor merging or illegally remaining in the overtaking lane, drivers who break the law and behave badly are contributing to road congestion in Queensland, experts say.

A Gold Coast mother relives the horror of finding her young son with a pencil lodged in the roof of his mouth as she is reunited with the paramedics who helped save his life.

An 18-year-old man is charged with murder over the fatal stabbing of teenager Harrison Geppert, the younger brother of former Hells Angel bikie Ben Geppert.

Rubbish collected by a beach walker

More people over 65 are looking for work than ever before but many are not finding jobs, despite their valuable experience.

As bushfires continue across south-east Queensland, doubt is cast over this year's Riverfire event in Brisbane and whether fireworks have a place in today's society.

Firefighters from South Australia arrive in Queensland to give local crews a rest from battling bushfires, but the break may be short-lived with conditions forecast to get worse in the state later in the week.

Half a century since the first miniature-golf course came to the Gold Coast, putt putt is still popular with families.

As the ban on climbing Uluru fast approaches there remains many locations attracting crowds, despite calls from local Indigenous people to stay away.