The Brisbane Lions are at home again as they take on Geelong tomorrow night at the Gabba. Lions legend Dayne Zorko told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "From the way we trained yesterday, it was really solid. "Everyone's pulled up really well this morning when we had our captains run, touch wood everyone's on deck," Zorko continued.

Australia is off to the polls on May 3rd. The PM’s announcement this morning didn’t just signal the start of 5 weeks of intensive campaign by the pollies, it also marks the beginning of a frantic period for the Australian Electoral Commission Stephanie Attard is the AEC State Manager for Queensland joined Bill McDonald to answer frequently asked questions ahead of polling day.

The Unconventional Economist, Leith van Onselen joined Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings to unpack Peter Dutton's budget response.  In regards to the gas policy, he told Bill McDonald, "Anybody listening to this on the East Coast should perceive this as a game changer. "What it means is it means lower gas and electricity prices, it means lower bills, lower cost of living, lower inflation."

Though Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has passed, some are still on edge as parts of Queensland are in for a wet few days. Bogewong near Longreach has already seen 230mm fall in 24 hours, Florence Creek near Cloncurry has copped 154mm, the Pinnacles just outside of Townsville has had 151mm and low-lying areas in Brisbane, low-lying are being warned to prepare for flash flooding. Ken Kato from the Early Warning Network told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "At this stage the main peak of the steadier rain looks like being from say later tomorrow into Saturday. "But there is the possibility of a thunderstorm in some spots hanging around on Sunday with a burst of locally heavy rainfall."

The Lord Mayor of Brisbane has released a statement after the Queensland Music Awards issued an award for a song with an anti-Semitic title.

Sensitive plans from the US Military were 'accidentally' sent to the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine when he was included in a group chat on the app, Signal. Michael Shoebridge from Strategic Analysis Australia told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "I found it very hard to believe how anyone thought it was a great idea to use an unclassified social media app like Signal to share what look, beyond doubt to be classified chats about military strikes."

The much anticipated Masterplan for the Infrastructure for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games was delivered yesterday.  Premier David Crisafulli told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "So the independent authority said to us, you do not have time to redo the Gabba because of the wasted time." "And what is meant by that is by the time you displace two national teams, the Lions and the Bulls, you just don't have time to do that redevelopment with that displacement."

Whatever the result of the 2032 Olympics infrastructure review, it is clear that there will be a massive undertaking to build facilities to accommodate the games. CEO of Master Builders, Paul Bidwell told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "We are under great pressure." "$107 billion over the next four years on the government's capital expenditure budget, and then we're in the middle of a housing crisis. Builders, big and small, residential, commercial, have all got plenty of work on." "We just don't have enough skilled people to do the work that needs to be done. If we overlay the Olympics and another $7 billion, it's going to be a real stretch."

The federal budget drops tonight. So what can we expect? Will it be loaded with sugary pre-election sweeteners or will it be a harsh reality check for our economy? KPMG Tax Partner Hayley Locke joined Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings to preview what can be expected.

The QLD Holocaust Museum here in Brisbane recently welcomed Suzi Smeed, a survivor of the Holocaust to share her family’s remarkable story of bravery and resilience. Suzi Smeed joined Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings to share her remarkable story.

Join Bill McDonald each weekday from 9am-12pm on 4BC Mornings.  

An Australian mother is calling for urgent action against fire ants after her son fell seriously ill following multiple stings on their property. Torrential rain and flooding has caused fire ants to resurface with authorities receiving increased reports of extreme reactions to fire and sting across Southeast Queensland. The Crisafulli government has announced $24 million to boost Queensland's efforts to manage fire ants across the state. Invasive Species Council Advocacy Manager Reece Pianta told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "This is a much-needed boost to the fire ant suppression efforts." "Locals out there around Southeast Queensland are dealing with some really high and intense levels of fire ant infestation on their properties and we're starting to see the impacts of that on human and animal welfare."

The Epic Walk for DV is back this year and has expanded to the Whitsundays and the Gold Coast as the organisers hope to raise funds for the Women's Legal Service Queensland. Co-creator Brendan Mann says they also hope more hosts can get involved to keep awareness going.  

AMP has been called out after wanting to monitor employees through “big-brother-style” surveillance tactics. The financial services giant has given employees one week to sign new contracts, which includes allowing continuous surveillance at work and while working from home. Bill McDonald said on 4BC Mornings, "I think this is way over the top. It's a violation of human rights." "Surely any employer who wants to intrude like this into your personal life, in your home, I don't think they're worth working for," he continued. 

Ultra-marathon runner Sal Powell says she knows her next marathon will be the hardest as she gears up for the Atacama Desert in Chile.

TikTok Australia has collaborated with Our Watch’s The Line to launch ‘Respect. It’s The GOAT.' It’s a campaign aimed at providing young men with practical tools to call out and challenge disrespect. After research from YouGov commissioned by TikTok reveals 81 per cent of young men want to call out disrespect towards women, but a whopping 70 per cent feel there’s significant barriers holding them back.  TikTok comedian, Lachlan Fairbairn, told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "I think it really is important that we try and reinforce respect and promote that, it really does make a difference." "And if you see stuff that you don't agree with I think we do need to be talking about the fact that you should say something and call it out or show in some way that you don't find it funny," Mr Fairbairn continued. 

A QBuild maintenance assessment report reveals South East Queensland's major stadiums are riddled with defects.  The Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Sleeman Sports Complex, Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, the Gabba, and Suncorp Stadium have been reported to have issues that require renovation before the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.  Bill McDonald said on 4BC Mornings, "The reality is our best stadiums are Suncorp and the Gabba [and they] are at the end of their life and the rest need a full renovation." "This city was never ready to host an Olympic Games when we put our hand up, and it's still not ready four years later," Bill continued. 

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to seek a limited ceasefire against energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Founder and director of Strategic Analysis Australia, Michael Shoebridge told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "I think it's more that Vladimir Putin knew he had to give Donald Trump something." "So he threw him the smallest bone that he could clap his eyes on, because this really is the ceasefire you get when you don't have a ceasefire."

A new report has revealed Brisbane Airport is the most expensive to park your car in the whole country. Aviation reporter from The Australian Robin Ironside told 4BC Mornings the airport could stand to decrease their car park prices.

The shocking abuse that appears rampant in our private childcare was laid bare last night by ABC’s Four Corners. NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd helped uncover the story and told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "These aren't isolated, this is across the country, these are private operators who are squeezing profit out of centres that aren't caring for our kids." "We know that there is one reported incident at least every day of sexual abuse or sexual touching of children in childcare centres." "We are looking at multiple children going missing every day across Australia, I found plenty of incidents of that, where children were just being allowed to run into carparks or onto roads because they weren't being supervised," Ms. Boyd continued.

4BC Mornings received information that the City of Moreton Bay Council spent yesterday issuing compliance notices to locals sleeping rough – giving them two weeks to pack up and get out. Beau Haywood from Nourish Street told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "People are sort of shrugging their shoulders, going, where were we meant to go?" "I'm really concerned of what the face of homelessness is going to look like," Haywood continued.

Parts of Brisbane continue to be impacted by floods time and time again. Questions have been raised as to whether Brisbane can be somehow 'flood-proofed'. QLD and NT manager for the Planning Institute of Australia, Nicole Bennetts told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "We've got an urgent need for more of the right homes, but we need to make sure they're in the right places so that future residents are safe from these future floods." "I raised the idea that our settlement patterns need to change over time. What that means is a retreat from extreme hazard-prone areas," Ms. Bennetts continued.

The Brisbane City Council has declared to evict the Brisbane homeless community out of the city's parks. According to councils, crisis accommodation has been offered and refused, homeless advocates dispute those claims.  Housing Minister Sam O’Connor told Bill McDonald, "Every person that we can engage with we are trying to get into this emergency accommodation."

Paul Slater from Northwest Community Group has responded to claims from the Brisbane City Council that the homeless community are knocking back offers of emergency accommodation. Paul Slater told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "They are not being offered accommodation, we need to be very clear about that." "They haven't been offered accommodation, they've been sitting outside of offices, they've been talking to charities, they've been waiting and waiting and waiting and they are not being offered accommodation."

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has declared that the Brisbane homeless community would be given 24 hours to leave the city's public parks, to bring the standards in line with the Moreton Bay Council.  Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "When you look at people living in tents in parks, you assume that they've got no options... But we're seeing that that's not actually the case anymore. "Maybe a couple of years ago, it was the case when all of the accommodation was full and there was no crisis accommodation, but now the State Government's telling us they do have crisis accommodation available and it's being knocked back."

The prospect of a minority government looms over the upcoming federal election as pre-polls grow increasingly close. Former Labor Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "We need to turn crisis into opportunity." "The crisis of a hung parliament doesn't have to be ugly," Fitzgibbon continued.

As Donald Trump rejects a tariff exemption for Australia experts are warning that Australia needs to lift military spending, and spend it more efficiently. Director and Founder of Strategic Analysis Australia, Michael Shoebridge told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "We're clearly not funding our own military successfully." "But the bigger problem is if we spend 3%, it needs to be spent better than the defence organisation is spending it now," Shoebridge continued.

Music Icon and activist, Bob Geldof is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the legendary Live Aid concert. An Evening with Bob Geldof: Songs and Stories from an Extraordinary Life is coming to Brisbane on April 1 at QPAC. Bob Geldof joined 4BC Mornings with Bill McDonald to preview the show, and share extraordinary stories, from an extraordinary life.

Southeast Queensland is on high alert for flash flooding as the after effects of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continue to be felt. Logan Mayor Jon Raven told Bill McDonald, "Right now the the Albert River is falling at Beenleigh, which is great news." "[We're] just keeping our eye on what's happening on the Logan River, especially at the Waterford Bridge," Mayor Jon Raven continued.

The Sunshine Coast region has been slammed with rain overnight. Sunshine Coast Mayor, Rosanna Natoli told Bill McDonald on 4BC's Special Coverage, "One of the areas, Diamond Valley had more than 350mm."

Queensland Premier, David Crisafulli has delivered an update on recovery payments and the road to recovery for Queenslanders in the wake of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Spokesperson for Energex, Danny Donald joined Bill McDonald on 4BC's Special Coverage to provide an update on widespread power outages across Southeast Queensland due to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Storms have been heading west through Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley as deluge continued in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, leading to flash flooding in the early hours of this morning. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding told Bill McDonald on 4BC's Special Coverage "We are expecting a peak this afternoon from the BOM, so there will be flooding of homes and businesses."

Bus services resumed this morning; however, some areas of Brisbane are flooding. Councillor Ryan Murphy told Bill McDonald, "In Brisbane, we're a bus city. Two thirds of all public transport trips are taken on a bus. Queensland Rail are still out of action today. So if it wasn't going to be our buses, it was going to be nothing." "So yes, we came into service, but we were watching very closely the weather conditions and ultimately we made the decision that, look, there wasn't going to be many people out in that kind of torrential rain using the services anyway," Councillor Murphy continued. 

There has been a briefing from Emergency Management Queensland at Kedron.  Acting Queensland Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy said, "Members of the public and motorists are within the declaration were urged to stay indoors and do not drive unless necessary." An update from QFES: "It is still a very live risk of flash flooding and a potential threat to life, so please follow that advice and stay safe and make good decisions." An update from Energy Queensland: "There's currently 320,000 premises or businesses that need reconnecting. We'll continue to work hard over the coming days to do so."

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has provided an update on the unfolding weather situation impacting Southeast Queensland. On schools, the Premier said that by 5pm, every school in the impacted area will have an individual status as to whether they will open.

Logan Mayor Jon Raven joined Bill McDonald on 4BC's Special Coverage to provide an update on Logan.

Miriam Bradbury from the Bureau of Meteorology joined Bill McDonald on 4BC's Special Coverage to provide the latest update on the weather.

Danny Donald from Energex joined Bill McDonald to provide an update on the current situation across the southeast as 321,000 customers are still without power.

Acting Police Commissioner, Shane Chelepy joined Bill McDonald on 4BC's Rolling Coverage to provide an update on the emergency response to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The coastal swell surrounding Cyclone Alfred is wreaking havoc on the South Coast beaches. Nine News reporter Tim Arvier is reporting from Currumbin, and told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "The erosion is just extraordinary."

With a cyclone approaching, many are wondering what to do in a medical emergency, or when caring for the medically vulnerable during a weather event. President of the AMAQ, Nick Yim told Bill McDonald, " So the key thing is obviously if people are having an emergency, having a heart attack, a stroke, please call 000." "If you are unwell, if you're not sure, we have set up a virtual emergency care service across Queensland, which is brilliant. Their number is 13 Health or 13 43 25 84," Dr Yim continued.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has addressed the public in a press conference to provide an update regarding the latest on Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is predicted to make landfall on Saturday as it continues to move towards the coast at a snails pace. Anthony Cornelius from Weatherwatch told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "I think that edge is probably the one that we'll certainly be watching because that's likely to have those really significant wind gusts occurring." "That said, the western and southern edge of this system is particularly the strongest." "The Gold Coast, Bayside and Logan areas are probably going to really bear the brunt of this," Mr. Cornelius said.

The 2022 floods in Brisbane resulted in more than 240,000 insurance claims with a total value of $6 billion. With Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaching, many are preparing for the possibility of doing these insurance claims all over again. Sarah Orr from Compare the Market told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "It doesn't hurt to take photos, because insurers will be assessing lots of claims." "If you have evidence that your property was damaged, then you may be able to pass through the process a little bit faster."

As Cyclone Alfred moves closer to the coast everyone is concerned about how much longer we’ll have access to power and electricity.  Many have reported getting scam messages from Energex to say that they will be turning the power off before the cyclone hits.  Danny Donald from Energex told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "We are certainly not turning any power off as the cyclone crosses the coast, we will have power until Mother Nature tells us we don't have power anymore."

City of Moreton Bay Mayor, Peter Flannery joined Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings to discuss Moreton Bay refuge centres, sandbag depots and the most at risk when Cyclone Alfred makes landfall.

The Australian today reports that Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation has helped facilitate a secret state heritage application to declare the peak of Mount Panorama a sacred site. Shadow Minister for the Environment, Jonno Duniam told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "This is absolutely ridiculous."

4BC Mornings was contacted by numerous listeners regarding the safety of the homeless community as Tropical Cyclone Alfred looms. Paul Slater from Northwest Community Group told Bill McDonald on 4BC Mornings, "I've just come from Musgrave Park and we've got the Department of Housing, Council, police, we're all there working together." "We've all got a plan." "We're pulling down tents, we're moving everyone up to the offices of Micah, who are going to be trying to put people into hotels, and we've got evacuation centres ready to go," Mr Slater continued.