Wallaby joey euthanased after 'horrific' animal cruelty discovery
By Conor Byrne

Wildlife carers have lodged formal complaints with police and environment officials after stumbling across a scene involving a dead mother wallaby tied to a signpost.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-02/wallaby-death-leads-to-animal-cruelty-complaints/106185200

#AnimalCruelty #WildlifeTrafficAccidentsandIncidents #Animals #ConorByrne

Mother wallaby death sparks animal cruelty investigation in far north Queensland

Wildlife carers have lodged formal complaints with police and environment officials after stumbling across a scene involving a dead mother wallaby tied to a signpost.

ABC News

Four stinky corpse flowers to bloom in a week at Queensland botanic gardens
By Sharnie Kim and Conor Byrne

Renowned for their size and stench, blooming corpse flowers are a rare occurrence. But to have four flowering in a week is "something of a record".

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-01/four-titan-arums-simultaneously-flower-in-cairns-botanic-gardens/106190260

#Plants #BotanicalGardens #FlowerGardens #Gardening #EndangeredandProtectedSpecies #SharnieKim #ConorByrne

Four titan arum 'corpse flowers' to bloom in a week at Cairns Botanic Gardens

Renowned for their size and stench, blooming corpse flowers are a rare occurrence. But to have four flowering in a week is "something of a record".

ABC News

Police investigate fire as man fights for life
By Conor Byrne

A man has sustained life-threatening burns after a unit complex went up in flames in Cairns. Police continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-29/police-investigate-cairns-unit-fire/106185198

#HouseFires #ConorByrne

Man fights for life after sustaining critical burns in Cairns unit fire

A man has sustained life-threatening burns after a unit complex went up in flames in Cairns. Police continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

ABC News

Search suspended for missing deep-sea diver
By Conor Byrne and Adam Stephen

A professional deep-sea diver, with several fish species named in his honour, is remembered as a loving father and well-respected in the science community for his contributions to the study of fish species.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-19/search-suspended-for-deep-sea-diver-timothy-bennett-coral-sea/106164760

#MissingPerson #GreatBarrierReef #Fish #DeathandDying #MarineIncidents #MarineBiology #ConorByrne #AdamStephen

Search suspended for deep-sea diver Timothy Bennett in Coral Sea

A professional deep-sea diver, with several fish species named in his honour, is remembered as a loving father and well-respected in the science community for his contributions to the study of fish species.

ABC News

Health authorities rebrand tropical disease after cases increase fourfold
By Conor Byrne

Cases of melioidosis in Cairns have set records this year, and authorities are uncertain why. But one survivor has joined a campaign to start a conversation about safety as the rains return in the north.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-18/tropical-disease-melioidosis-rebranded-melio-/106157064

#DiseaseOutbreak #PublicHealth #ConorByrne

Tropical disease melioidosis rebranded 'melio' after record-breaking year for soil-borne bacteria

Cases of melioidosis in Cairns have set records this year, and authorities are uncertain why. But one survivor has joined a campaign to start a conversation about safety as the rains return in the north.

ABC News

Conservationists scrambling for alternative funding after USAID cuts
By Conor Byrne, Christopher Testa, and Emma Siossian

Citizen science and AI have never been more important to the environment after White House cuts to USAID are felt beneath the waves, a new report says.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-29/conservationists-scrambling-for-funding-after-usaid-cuts/106053490

#GreatBarrierReef #AI #EnvironmentalPolicy #ClimateChange #ConorByrne #ChristopherTesta # #EmmaSiossian

Conservationists worldwide scrambling for alternative funding after USAID cuts

Citizen science and AI have never been more important to the environment after White House cuts to USAID are felt beneath the waves, a new report says.

ABC News

Detective who tracked Toyah Cordingley's phone gives evidence in murder trial
By Conor Byrne

Detective Sergeant Matt Mattock gives evidence about cars of interest in the investigation into the Far North Queensland woman's murder.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-19/queensland-toyah-cordingley-trial-hears-from-police-officer/106027408

#Courts #ConorByrne

Police officer who tracked Toyah Cordingley's phone gives evidence at Rajwinder Singh's murder trial

Detective Sergeant Matt Mattock gives evidence about cars of interest in the investigation into the Far North Queensland woman's murder.

ABC News

Accused murderer 'stressed' on day Toyah Cordingley's body found, court told
By Conor Byrne

Rajwinder Singh, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, is on trial in the Supreme Court in Cairns.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-18/rajwinder-singh-murder-trial-toyah-cordingley-friend-evidence/106022864

#Courts #ConorByrne

Rajwinder Singh, charged with the murder of Toyah Cordingley, was 'very stressed' on day body found, court told

Rajwinder Singh, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, is on trial in the Supreme Court in Cairns.

ABC News

Murder trial jury taken to beach where Toyah Cordingley's body was found
By Conor Byrne

The jury was taken by bus to Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, where Ms Cordingley's body was found buried in a shallow sand grave in 2018.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-17/qld-toyah-cordingley-trial-rajwinder-singh-cairns/106016662

#Courts #ConorByrne

Jury in trial of Rajwinder Singh, charged with murder of Toyah Cordingley, taken to beach where her body was found

The jury was taken by bus to Wangetti Beach, north of Cairns, where Ms Cordingley's body was found buried in a shallow sand grave in 2018.

ABC News

Cruise ship had mechanical issues before grandmother's death on island
By Kristy Sexton-McGrath, Rosanne Maloney, and Conor Byrne

Passengers have left the the ill-fated Coral Adventurer following the death of Suzanne Rees. Ongoing mechanical problems have cut the journey short and the ship is returning south from the Torres Strait.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-03/coral-adventurer-mechanical-problems-passenger-death/105965482

#Cruises #Hiking #DeathandDying #KristySextonMcGrath #RosanneMaloney # #ConorByrne

Coral Adventurer had mechanical problems ahead of passenger Suzanne Rees's death

Passengers have left the the ill-fated circumnavigation of the Coral Adventurer following the death of Suzanne Rees. Ongoing mechanical problems have cut the journey short and the ship is returning south from the Torres Strait.

ABC News