Brisbane news live: Counterfeit money on paper and cardboard sparks police warning

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Counterfeit money on paper and cardboard sparks police warning

By Catherine Strohfeldt

Police have warned residents in Brisbane’s bayside following a spate of reports concerning counterfeit money printed on plastic, paper and cardboard.

Officers said 10 reports were received since August 29 from service stations, fast-food and retail stores across Alexandra Hills, Birkdale, Capalaba, Cleveland and Wynnum.

Upon further inspections, officers said the notes were printed on a range of materials, and some were low-quality prints containing serial number faults or the word “copy” on the note.

Police say some of the notes are poorly counterfeited, with incorrect serial numbers or the word “copy” on them.

Police urged businesses in the affected suburbs and nearby areas to remain vigilant to signs of counterfeit notes, adding that notes would probably be presented during busy periods to avoid scrutiny.

In other instances, someone might ask for a false note to be exchanged for smaller notes.

A note suspected to be counterfeit can be refused at any time, although officers advised anyone who had been given one to handle the fake as little as possible, take down as many details about the person who supplied the note as possible, and contact police.

7.20am

Dredging to begin around Bribie Island

By Catherine Strohfeldt

The state will begin dredging sand in Pumicestone Passage, on the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, on Sunday.

A dredging barge was moved into place earlier this week off the shore of Caloundra, with crews working to weld together a 100-metre-long pipe that will move sand onto the second and third breakthrough points on Bribie Island.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said it was the first part of emergency works in the two-step state solution for the three island breakthroughs caused by ex-tropical cyclone Seth in 2022 and Cyclone Alfred this year.

“Without intervention, remaining sections of the island may be lost entirely, creating significant safety and infrastructure risks to the Caloundra community and users of Pumicestone Passage,” Bleijie said.

The two gaps were expected to be closed in November this year, although the first breakthrough – which is the widest gap, more than 1.6 kilometres wide – would remain open.

Bleijie said the dredging works and beach restorations would be “similar to what they’re doing at the Gold Coast”.

“We’re actually in the process now of procuring a second dredge to attack the other side of Bribie Island from the ocean side to give even a better barrier and protection,” he said.

“It’s not just closing the gaps, it’s actually widening Bribie Island to make sure the barrier’s there to deal with the storm season, but also future cyclonic events.”

Rehabilitation for plant life on the Island – which is both state and federally protected – were also expected to begin in November, and all construction was due to finish by the end of April next year.

7.13am

Counterfeit money on paper and cardboard sparks police warning

By Catherine Strohfeldt

Police have warned residents in Brisbane’s bayside following a spate of reports concerning counterfeit money printed on plastic, paper and cardboard.

Officers said 10 reports were received since August 29 from service stations, fast-food and retail stores across Alexandra Hills, Birkdale, Capalaba, Cleveland and Wynnum.

Upon further inspections, officers said the notes were printed on a range of materials, and some were low-quality prints containing serial number faults or the word “copy” on the note.

Police urged businesses in the affected suburbs and nearby areas to remain vigilant to signs of counterfeit notes, adding that notes would probably be presented during busy periods to avoid scrutiny.

In other instances, someone might ask for a false note to be exchanged for smaller notes.

7.02am

Weather into the weekend

A perfect Friday is in store as far as the weather in Brisbane is looking.

The Bureau of Meteorology says we can expect a mostly sunny day with a top temperature just short of 30 degrees, although it will feel much cooler, with an apparent temperature far lower.

For the weekend’s forecast, similar temperatures are predicted, although tomorrow should be a much cloudier day. And next week will start warm as well, with the chance of storm activity later in the week.

Here’s the seven-day outlook:

6.53am

While you were sleeping

Here’s what’s making news further afield this morning:

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just touched down in London this morning and will meet with UK prime minister Keir Starmer during his visit. Albanese, Starmer, and Canadian leader Mark Carney will hold talks with other European leaders at a thinktank conference before heading to 10 Downing Street.

It began with what should have been a routine upgrade to the network. On September 18, that checklist failed at the first hurdle for Optus. Australians in desperate need of help dialled Triple Zero and were met with silence. Within hours, three people were dead. And what happened over the next 72 hours is even more damning.

As Andrew Hastie outlines a new direction for the Liberals, he’s activating a cheer squad among elements of the party’s right, who are pushing his leadership potential. Other colleagues are suspicious of his strategy.

And in an address from the White House, US President Donald Trump issued a warning against “energising” right-wing activists and raised the spectre of retaliatory attacks against left-wing figures as he blamed progressives and Democrats for the latest act of political violence to divide the country.

Biting animated satire South Park has taken aim at US Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr, the man whose perceived government overreach is at the centre of the political storm triggered by Disney yanking talk show host Jimmy Kimmel off-air for a week.

6.42am

The top stories this morning

Good morning and welcome to Brisbane Times’ live news blog for Friday, September 26. Today we can expect a mostly sunny day with a maximum temperature of 29 degrees.

In this morning’s local headlines:

Queensland Health has provided a list of 11 locations in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast visited by a recently returned traveller infected with measles.

Designs for a set of five riverfront apartments in Kangaroo Point have been unveiled, with the architects drawing from the nearby Story Bridge to create the “original” design, and developers asking almost $10 million for each home.

The six-storey complex features one 340-square-metre apartment on each level, including four bedrooms, en suite, two living spaces, and end-to-end, crescent-shaped outdoor terraces.

On the eve of the AFL grand final, our experts run their eyes over the Brisbane Lions and the Geelong Cats. And the way Will Ashcroft hits the peak of his powers once the Brisbane Lions’ season goes on the line is nothing new, according to those closest to him.

Queensland police have voted to accept a new pay deal in a tight ballot amid officer unrest stemming from the in-principle agreement struck between the union and Crisafulli government.

The suspension of Star Entertainment’s Gold Coast casino licence has been pushed back a full year despite a report revealing remediation efforts at the troubled gaming company had been slower than expected.

Logan City Council’s vision for a new diamond sport stadium, developed with the aim of attracting Olympic baseball and softball to the city in 2032, could see Brisbane’s only professional baseball team pack up their gear and move south.

A theory emerged from Reece Walsh’s emphatic performance against the Raiders – put the Broncos fullback under a warm sun, and his best comes to the fore. An exercise and sport science expert has weighed into how the afternoon timeslot could affect Brisbane’s clash against Penrith.

And catch up on local, national and international news with the week’s trivia challenge.