North Queensland local news briefing: Wednesday, November 4, 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A 36-year-old Townsville man will front court after being charged with possessing violent extremist material. (ABC North Queensland: Tom Major)

Here's what's making news in the North Queensland region today.

Townsville police say counter-terrorism detectives spent weeks analysing the device of a 36-year-old local man who has since been charged with possessing violent extremist material.

Police said the device, seized from a Jensen home in September, contained more than 9,000 videos and 14,000 photos linked to the distribution of prohibited and antisemitic symbols.

The man was arrested and charged on Monday and will face Townsville Magistrates Court at a later date.

Sergeant Julie Cooke said the arrest followed a comprehensive investigation under new legislation.

"We certainly don't want that out in the public arena," Sergeant Cooke said.

The slowing property market means rental conditions are unlikely to improve for north Queenslanders anytime soon, according to Townsville Real Estate Institute of Queensland zone chair Ben Kingsberry.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised interest rates for the fifth time this year, taking the cash rate to an 18-year high of 4.85 per cent.

Mr Kingsberry, a Townsville agent, said rate rises had taken the heat out of the local market, with investor and first home buyer numbers waning.

He said rental vacancy rates remained below 1 per cent.

"We are not creating a lot of new rental properties at the moment," he said.

Queenslanders are being encouraged to keep cool as severe and low-intensity heatwave conditions grip the state's north and north-west.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a severe heatwave warning for the Peninsula, Gulf Country, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, North Tropical Coast, Tablelands, and Herbert and Lower Burdekin regions.

Western Cape York Peninsula experienced extreme heatwave conditions in recent days, with minimum and maximum temperatures 3 degrees Celsius above average.

BOM community information officer Daniel Hayes said a lower-intensity heatwave was extending west of Townsville, with maximum temperatures in the low 40s common from Charters Towers to Mount Isa and Camooweal.

A stand-out performance from Courtney Woods has given the Townsville Fire a 13-point home win over the Perth Lynx in the Women's National Basketball League.

The 29-year-old guard scored a game-high 24 points, with eight rebounds and 10 assists, in the 99–86 victory.

Townsville coach Shannon Seebohm praised Woods, saying she was unlucky not to have been the league's MVP a couple of times already.

"She just keeps getting better every year and adds something each off-season to her game," he said.

"No doubt she's a massive part of what we do and why we're able to win games."

Two North Queensland Cowboys stars will line up again for the Kangaroos in this Sunday's Rugby League World Cup semi-final in Sydney.

Tom Dearden has retained the halfback jersey, while Reuben Cotter will come off the bench.

Dearden was a stand-out in last weekend's match against the Cook Islands in Townsville, with two try assists.