Regional Queenslanders are set to get home faster and safer under a whopping $1.6 billion budget roads and rail bonanza from the Coast to Cairns, while Brisbane has missed out on the spending spree. The record spend exceeds last year s $1.3 billion pandemic cash splash and is being spruiked as major employment booster, with 2800 jobs on the line. There will be cash for the Bruce Highway in central Queensland, light and heavy rail on the Gold Coast, major highways in Cairns and Townsville as well as intersection and rail upgrades at the Sunshine Coast. No new money is going towards the M1 through Logan and Brisbane this year, after some upgrades and pledges towards a second M1 in last year s budget.
Coroner rules on fate of man who disappeared on road trip A coroner has ruled out foul play in the disappearance of a 22-year-old man who walked into the bush near Charters Towers.
Crime by Grace Mason
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Subscriber only A CORONER has ruled out foul play in the disappearance of Jayden Penno-Tompsett and found he likely died due to exposure to the elements in remote bushland during a drug-fuelled road trip to Cairns. The 22-year-old was travelling from Newcastle with a friend Lucas Tattersall to celebrate New Year s Eve in December 2017 and the pair took drugs throughout the trip before Mr Penno-Tompsett was last seen early on December 31 near Charters Towers.
Mr Tompsett called Jayden his greatest achievement . This kid taught me to love when he was born, he said. Jayden Penno-Tompsett s father Brendan Tompsett leaves the Cairns court after closing submissions in the inquest. I ve stitched my heart together with tears every day so I can bleed out every night. That will never stop because there is no closure. I think we all know what happened, but you never stop having hope. Ms Penno said she prayed this inquest brings the answers I ve been searching for . My only mission is to find Jay and bring him home to his loved ones, she said.
(I said to him) we re in the middle of nowhere … don t do anything stupid, he told the court. I didn t want to be separated from my friend in a place I didn t know. He told the court he searched for some time before being told by other friends already in Cairns to continue driving. Jayden Penno-Tompsett was reportedly last seen on Stock Route Road, which is a semirural area on the outskirts of Charters Towers. When asked why he did not immediately report Mr Penno-Tompsett s disappearance when he reached Cairns he said he didn t want to be a rat if he was found in possession of drugs.
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Rugby league big guns Chelsea Baker and Ali Brigginshaw will battle it out in a Browne Park blockbuster on Saturday.
A forced reshuffle will result in skipper Baker returning to her traditional role of fullback for the CQ Capras in the much-anticipated clash at 6pm.
The Capras will be looking for their second win in the BHP Premiership when they tackle the star-studded Valleys Diehards, led by Queensland Origin and Brisbane Broncos captain Ali Brigginshaw. Valleys Diehards captain Ali Brigginshaw wraps up North Queensland Gold Stars player Jasmine Peters in their BHP Premiership clash. Picture: Brendan Radke