ABC Tropical North

Latest

Regional towns hurting as Qld road toll soars above 200 deaths

A regional Queensland doctor is urging drivers to slow down and drive more responsibly, saying road trauma should not be accepted as "part of doing business in this country".

Woman with wide hat and red work shirt and jeans getting out of ute

Published: 14h agoSun 7 Sep 2025 at 7:51pmSource: ABC CapricorniaTopic: Road Accidents and Incidentsby Vanessa Jarrett

Young apprentices keep butcher trade alive in country town

While many traditional country butchers have declined, the family-run butcher shop in this small rural town in central Queensland is bucking a trend in more ways than one.

A young woman in a butcher's uniform smiles as she slices meat.

Published: YesterdaySun 7 Sep 2025 at 12:40amSource: ABC CapricorniaTopic: Small Businessesby Aaron Kelly

Surge in berry consumption prompts call for pesticide review

Australians are eating so many berries that regulators are considering restricting the use of a widely used pesticide.

Published: 1 Sep 2025Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 10:42pmSource: ABC RuralTopic: Agricultural Pest Controlby Brandon Long

Government releases some documents investigating 2023 Taipan crash

Documents investigating the 2023 helicopter crash, today released by the government, identified failings by the Department of Defence.

A composite image of four fair-skinned men, three of whom are in military uniform.

Published: 1 Sep 2025Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 10:09amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Defence Forcesby Laura Lavelle

During floods and bushfires, bush choppers are ready at any moment

From the cockpit of his chopper, Jedd Manning is dropping supplies to disaster-affected areas one day and rounding up rebellious cattle the next.

A pilot wearing a cap sits in the cockpit of a helicopter inside a hangar.

Published: 29 Aug 2025Fri 29 Aug 2025 at 8:30pmSource: ABC CapricorniaTopic: Rural and Remote Communitiesby Aaron Kelly

Cold snap coming to end Queensland's unusually warm winter week

The Bureau of Meteorology says a cold front pushing up from Queensland's south-west will drop temperatures from above average to below average overnight this weekend.

a life guard ute parked at the beach below a lifeguard tower

Published: 28 Aug 2025Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 7:48pmSource: ABC Gold CoastTopic: Weather Forecastsby Mackenzie Colahan

'Country music mad' north lures global superstar for surprise show

Australian fans of Nashville star Jelly Roll rejoice at the news Townsville has scored a concert coup after mounting fan pressure and behind-the-scenes negotiations.

A man with facial tattoos with a crowd behind him

Published: 28 Aug 2025Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 4:03amSource: ABC North QldTopic: Bands and Artistsby Georgia Loney and Alex Chambers

Listen back

ABC Tropical North Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 6:30am.

Duration: 4 minutes 58 seconds

Source: Listen

Kagiso Rabada: The Best Players in the World Are the Ones Who Do Well in Test Cricket

South African quick Kagiso Rabada joined Quentin Hull, Jason Gillespie and Stuart Clark for a lovely chat in the innings break of the 3rd ODI between Australia and South Africa.

Kagiso Rabada sitting in the media box smiling with a headset on.

Duration: 22 minutes 39 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Cricket

The teacher behind all of Dirty Dancing's moves

Everyone's heard of the film Dirty Dancing - the music, the dancing the love - but if it wasn't for one Aussie Patrick Swazye's moves mightn't have made it to the big screen.

Jennifer Grey as Baby and Patrick Swayze as Johnny in Dirty Dancing

Duration: 3 minutes 37 seconds

Source: ABC Tropical Northby Dave Perkins

Agave opportunities in northern Australia

Agave is now being trialled across several sites in the Northern Territory.

Duration: 14 minutes 12 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Agricultural Cropsby Matt Brann

ABC Radio TROPICAL NORTH

Live. Evenings

with Kelly Higgins-Devine

9:00am to12:00pm

Play Live Radio Schedule

Listen on the go on ABC listen app

Connect with ABC Tropical North

Discover more on Facebook. Text us on 0487 993 222 (rates apply) or call us on 1300 101 222.

Watch

Illegal 'chop shop raided in Mackay and millions of cigarettes, loose tobacco and vapes seized

Police and Mackay Public Health Unit officers have seized one of the largest hauls of illicit tobacco and nicotine products in a single raid in Queensland history. Supplied: Mackay Public Health Unit.

Duration: 28 seconds

Source: ABC News

How do you stay safe in crocodile country?

Up to 30,000 crocodiles are estimated to live in Queensland waterways — and just because you can't see them doesn't mean they're not there. So, how do you stay safe in crocodile country?

Duration: 1 minute 50 seconds

Source: ABC News

Eureka! Modern day gold rush in rural Queensland

A new generation of prospectors are flooding into the Queensland town of the Clermont, looking to cash in on record gold prices.

New era gold rush: Two men scan earth for gold, Donnie Pascoe’s face in a box

Duration: 5 minutes 34 seconds

Source: ABC News

Why regional Queensland is an election wildcard

In Queensland, more people live outside the capital than in it. Come on a 3,000km road trip to see what's really behind the regional divide.

Duration: 45 minutes 43 seconds

Source: ABC News

Features

Young apprentices keep butcher trade alive in country town

While many traditional country butchers have declined, the family-run butcher shop in this small rural town in central Queensland is bucking a trend in more ways than one.

Source: ABC CapricorniaTopic: Small Businessesby Aaron Kelly

During floods and bushfires, bush choppers are ready at any moment

From the cockpit of his chopper, Jedd Manning is dropping supplies to disaster-affected areas one day and rounding up rebellious cattle the next.

Source: ABC CapricorniaTopic: Rural and Remote Communitiesby Aaron Kelly

Thrill of the racetrack entices more women into motorsport

Women are experiencing the adrenaline of racing and loving it, both behind the wheel and behind the scenes.

A woman sits in the driver's seat of a car.

Source: ABC Far NorthTopic: Car Enthusiasmby Amanda Cranston

Once a relic of the past, cane fires are burning in Queensland again

After years of mostly green harvesting, cane farmers around Mackay are reaching for the drip torch this season to get rid of old plantings that could not be harvested last year.

Fire takes over the sugarcane field with flames beginning to reach into the sky.

Source: ABC RuralTopic: Sugar Cane Growingby Liam McNally

What's happening

Australia Votes: Your Vote, Your Say

This election, the ABC is asking you to be part of the conversation.

Text reads: Your Say. Tell us what's on your mind this election. Have your say here.

Published: 27 Feb 2025Thu 27 Feb 2025 at 3:05amSource: Radio

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Calling all book lovers to vote now for their favourite titles!

Published: 20 Aug 2025Wed 20 Aug 2025 at 7:04amSource: Radio

Know your ABCs in an emergency

This summer know your ABCs; action plan, be safe, connect with us. The ABC has a host of useful resources and tips on how to best prepare yourself for emergency weather so you can keep you and your household safe.

Letters A, B and C in pink, yellow and blue with small infographics of people completing emergency safety tasks

Published: 9 Dec 2024Mon 9 Dec 2024 at 5:23amSource: ABC EmergencyTopic: Bushfires

Download our free ABC listen app

The ABC listen app connects you to the best podcasts and live radio from the presenters you know and love. Download it today and hear the world differently.

Published: 27 Aug 2024Tue 27 Aug 2024 at 4:23amSource: ABC BRISBANE

Qld Sport

The storylines to define the NRL finals

In the industry, they call it the 'second season'. Only eight teams remain as the NRL gears up for a finals series rich with storylines. What are the narratives that will define finals time?

Tom Starling jumps on Corey Horsburgh, who is hugging Hudson Young after scoring an NRL try.

Duration: 14 minutes 54 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

Raiders leader in moon boot, Broncos captain confident of finals return

Canberra enforcer Josh Papalii is in serious doubt for the Raiders' qualifying final against Brisbane after suffering an ankle injury at training.

Canberra Raiders player Josh Papalii with his hands on hips, grimacing

Source: ABC NewsTopic: NRL

Queensland fans gear up for 'biggest ever' AFL game

Elated Gold Coast fans say "15 years of struggle" are finally paying off for the club, as the Suns look towards a QClash semi against Brisbane this weekend, hailed as a "massive" moment for Queensland footy.

David Swallow shouts to celebrate a goal in an AFL elimination final.

Source: ABC Gold CoastTopic: AFL

Molloy wonder goal stuns the crowd as Fish stars for Swans

Chloe Molloy kicks a stunner and Zippy Fish stars as the Swans account for the Dockers in the AFLW.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: AFL Women’s

Qld News

Inquest hears hospital could have prevented fatal assault on dementia patient

A coronial inquest into a fatal confrontation between two dementia patients at a Queensland hospital hears added security and anti-barricade doors could have stopped the attack.

Source: ABC Gold CoastTopic: Courtsby Mackenzie Colahan

Man charged with murder of Ipswich couple was 'hearing voices', court told

Lars Faleata has been charged with the murders of Christine and Joe Stephan, who were found dead after a fire at their home in Ipswich — south-west of Brisbane — in January, 2022.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Courtsby Lucy Loram

Foster carers warn system 'unsustainable' as costs set to hit $7 billion

Three weeks of public hearings are due to be held in the state's far north as part of an ongoing inquiry into Queensland's child protection system.

Tasmania's child protection service had to place 23 children in refuges in the last year.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Childrenby Christopher Testa

Raiders leader in moon boot, Broncos captain confident of finals return

Canberra enforcer Josh Papalii is in serious doubt for the Raiders' qualifying final against Brisbane after suffering an ankle injury at training.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: NRL

National News

Chatbots expected to be banned from talking sex or suicide with Australian kids

Australian children will be prevented from having sexual, violent or harmful conversations with AI companions in a world-first move expected on Tuesday.

Julie Inman Grant looking down the barrel of the camera in a portrait.

Published: 2m agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 10:41amSource: 7.30Topic: Internetby Neve Brissenden Neve Brissenden and Sarah Ferguson

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

A man in his 40s has been critically injured in a workplace incident in Perth's north-east.

Front entrance of a building marked "Hoffman Engineering"

Published: 22m agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 10:21amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Accidents and Emergency Incidents

'Smoke in the cockpit': Plane's emergency landing after mayday call

The British Airways passenger flight BA16 was on its way to Singapore and made the emergency return to Sydney Airport about an hour after take-off this afternoon.

Published: 21m agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 10:22amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Air Incidentsby Jean Kennedy

Bulldogs prop forced to move out of home on eve of NRL finals

Max King has been living with a mould infestation at home that he is glad to have finally escaped in the lead-up to Friday's qualification final at Melbourne.

Max King of the Bulldogs running with the NRL ball

Published: 1h agoMon 8 Sep 2025 at 9:08amSource: ABC NewsTopic: NRL

Other ways to listen

Listen online, on the ABC listen app, or On Air in

Mackay 101.1 FM
Moranbah 104.9 FM
Airlie Beach 89.9 FM
Dysart 91.7 FM

Or ask your smart speaker to "play ABC Tropical North"

ABC Tropical North

Regional towns hurting as Qld road toll soars above 200 deaths

Young apprentices keep butcher trade alive in country town

Surge in berry consumption prompts call for pesticide review

Government releases some documents investigating 2023 Taipan crash

During floods and bushfires, bush choppers are ready at any moment

Cold snap coming to end Queensland's unusually warm winter week

'Country music mad' north lures global superstar for surprise show

ABC Tropical North Local News

Kagiso Rabada: The Best Players in the World Are the Ones Who Do Well in Test Cricket

The teacher behind all of Dirty Dancing's moves

Agave opportunities in northern Australia

ABC Radio TROPICAL NORTH

Live. Evenings

Connect with ABC Tropical North

Illegal 'chop shop raided in Mackay and millions of cigarettes, loose tobacco and vapes seized

How do you stay safe in crocodile country?

Eureka! Modern day gold rush in rural Queensland

Why regional Queensland is an election wildcard

Young apprentices keep butcher trade alive in country town

During floods and bushfires, bush choppers are ready at any moment

Thrill of the racetrack entices more women into motorsport

Once a relic of the past, cane fires are burning in Queensland again

Australia Votes: Your Vote, Your Say

Top 100 Books of the 21st Century

Know your ABCs in an emergency

Download our free ABC listen app

The storylines to define the NRL finals

Raiders leader in moon boot, Broncos captain confident of finals return

Queensland fans gear up for 'biggest ever' AFL game

Molloy wonder goal stuns the crowd as Fish stars for Swans

Inquest hears hospital could have prevented fatal assault on dementia patient

Man charged with murder of Ipswich couple was 'hearing voices', court told

Foster carers warn system 'unsustainable' as costs set to hit $7 billion

Raiders leader in moon boot, Broncos captain confident of finals return

Chatbots expected to be banned from talking sex or suicide with Australian kids

Man critically injured in Perth workplace incident

'Smoke in the cockpit': Plane's emergency landing after mayday call

Bulldogs prop forced to move out of home on eve of NRL finals

Other ways to listen

Footer