Jessica Black
Jessica Black is a journalist with ABC News Digital. She has worked as a BBC broadcast journalist in Belfast, and as a reporter for ABC Regional. She tweets at @JesseBlack39.
Latest by Jessica Black
A Google search would have revealed paedophile's past offences before he got lifeguard job – but nobody did one
A basic internet search that would have revealed the criminal convictions of paedophile Dean Carelse was never done when he was screened for a job as a children's lifeguard at a UK family fun park, the ABC has confirmed.
Queensland paedophile and former water polo coach employed as children's lifeguard in UK
An ABC investigation tracks former Sunshine Coast teacher and coach Dean Carelse to a family holiday park in south-west England.
Multiple swiftwater rescues as rising floodwaters catch people off guard in Queensland
Several people are rescued in the Moreton Bay suburb of Bray Park as some streets are flooded and waist-deep water sweeps through homes.
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily crossing coast near Townsville downgraded to category two system — as it happened
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is crossing the north Queensland coast near Townsville, with the system revised to category two — as it happened.
Kirrily makes landfall in north Queensland, with system forecast to weaken as it heads inland
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily has been downgraded to a category one system as it crosses the Queensland coast, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
Cyclone models predict more than 1 metre of rain as system tracks toward Queensland
The system is now forecast to cross the coast late on Thursday between Cardwell and Airlie Beach.
Cyclone 'more likely than not' will cross Queensland coast next week, possibility of severe category three system
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the slow-moving system will track south or south-westerly over the weekend.
Cyclone track maps could be issued as early as Saturday, as BOM meets with Queensland's disaster committee
A tropical low developing in the Coral Sea is forecast to strengthen into a cyclone over the weekend and may track south south-westerly towards the Queensland coast.
Latest predicted tropical cyclone could hit anywhere from Mt Isa to New Caledonia — but it will be intense, BOM says
A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to develop into a cyclone by Monday, with a "significant risk" the system may impact the Queensland coast from Tuesday onwards.
QTAC regrets 'issue' that delayed university offers, while its board promises a review
Students were told to "try logging in later" if QTAC's maintenance screen appeared on their browser, and others logged in to find a message saying that they had not applied to any universities.
Police confirm two dead in light plane crash at Boonah, south of Brisbane
It is believed the pilot was attempting to land at Boonah Airfield when the plane crashed.
High school graduates delay university enrolment, say they 'can't afford to make mistakes'
Lilla Pearl Coffey says high school graduates of 2023 "can't afford" to find themselves at university.
Further recovery support announced for Far North Queensland as Kowanyama braces for floods
"Significant additional support" will be rolled out for those affected by flooding in Far North Queensland, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with emergency service workers and volunteers.
Residents begin to assess damage from ex-Cyclone Jasper as heavy rain and flood threat persist — as it happened
Several people have been evacuated and the extent of the damage is beginning to emerge in Far North Queensland as ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper continues to cause widespread heavy rain and flooding.
Tropical Cyclone Jasper expected to weaken overnight, but damaging winds and heavy rainfall remain — as it happened
The cyclone is expected to take several hours to fully cross the coast due to its size, with authorities warning of potentially life-threatening flash flooding. Look back on Wednesday's updates.
Winds to ramp up on Queensland's north coast as Cyclone Jasper continues its approach
Jasper is now forecast to cross the coast on Wednesday or Thursday, anywhere between Cape Melville and Townsville.
'Almost an amputation': Swimmer almost loses ankle in central Queensland to shark bite
The 20-year-old man is recovering in hospital after being bitten by the shark while swimming south of Gladstone.
'I will always regret that one mistake': Mayor won't contest next election after drink-driving crash
Redland City mayor Karen Williams was more than three times the limit when she crashed her car in June 2022.
Cyclone Jasper is 'unusually slow' but could re-intensify as it crosses the Queensland coast
Jasper dropped down to a category three system on Saturday evening and is expected to further weaken to category two by late Sunday or Monday, before intensifying again with potential for severe impacts from Tuesday.
Police offer $500k cold case reward over murder of 'vulnerable' woman whose body was hidden behind a wall in Brisbane
Cleaners found Tanya Lee Glover's body tightly wrapped and covered in layers of clothing and bedding, hidden behind a block wall in December 2022.
Tropical Cyclone Jasper could intensify to category four overnight, forecast to hit north of Mackay
Cyclone Jasper is currently south of the Solomons and was upgraded to a category three late yesterday afternoon.
Donald Day has been arrested in connection with the Wieambilla terror attack. Here's what we know
The Arizonan extremist linked to the Wieambilla siege was understood to be a figure in the shooters' lives for more than two years before they murdered three people.
Man arrested in Arizona over Wieambilla attack sent shooters 'end of days' ideological messages
A man has been arrested in the US state of Arizona in connection with the shooting of two young police officers and a civilian neighbour in the rural Queensland community of Wieambilla last year.
Queensland A-G defends premier against old guard calling for 'new model' leader
Former Labor Party ministers have told Annastacia Palaszczuk to go before next year's state election but Yvette D'Ath says that leadership speculation does not extend to the caucus.
Queensland government calls on Brisbane City Council to put up $30m for RNA stadium
Brisbane City Council, the RNA, and the two sporting codes will be asked to pay the rest of the projected $137 million bill for the 20,000-seat stadium.