Brisbane news live: Renowned Brisbane party boat up for auction, with bidding starting at just $9

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The Kookaburra Queen is now up for public auction, with any Australian able to potentially grab it for a bargain.

The auction for the party boat, which can fit 30 people on its observation deck and 320 people in two dining rooms, has started on auction website Grays.com.

Kookaburra Queen I was one of two similar boats built for World Expo 88. It was a near-constant presence on the Brisbane River for decades, hosting countless parties and tours.

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While bidding started at just $9, the 30.5-metre timber vessel was also offered on Facebook Marketplace in 2024 for $800,000.

About 24 hours after the auction went live, the top bid was $15,000.

Communications Minister Anika Wells has asked to speak with Singtel - Optus' parent company - when they visit Australia next week, to discuss the Optus triple-zero outage that resulted in three deaths.

"I have asked to speak to Singtel when they are in the country next week ... I spoke to Nerida, the chair of the ACMA [Australian Communications and Media Authority], walking into the UN this morning," Wells told ABC News Breakfast this morning.

"This remains a constant watch for me, and whilst we have to let the investigation play out and we have to be considered in a government response to the results of this investigation, meeting with Singtel, I think, is an important step for us."

Wells also stressed the importance of instilling confidence in Australians in the nation's triple-zero system, "particularly ahead of the summer disaster season".

An independent review into the outage will examine Optus' management of triple-zero calls and actions in response to the incident in adherence to policies, procedures and legal requirements.

The report is expected before the end of the year.

A sunny day is expected in Brisbane today, with a top of 28 degrees and even warmer days ahead.

Keep in mind that the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast an apparent - or "feels like" - temperature in the mid-teens, so the perfect spring weather could still feel a little chilly.

Here's the seven-day outlook, taking in the weekend and beyond:

Here's what's making news further afield this morning:

Just as Anthony Albanese's failure to secure his first meeting with Trump was beginning to become politically damaging, the prime minister has locked in a White House visit next month - and even got a selfie.

European leaders have praised Australia's world-first move to limit young people's access to social media. "Since the announcement of Australia's landmark minimum age law, I've been watching very closely, and I've been inspired by Australia's example," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. Speaking as a mother and grandmother, Von der Leyen said she believed it was "plain common sense" to limit children's access to social media.

NDIS participants will no longer be required to source their own evidence from family doctors or allied health professionals to get support, as costly external reports will be replaced by a lengthy interview with agency assessors in a new planning regime that aims to improve consistency across the $48 billion scheme.

Donald Trump added a revealing flourish to his sudden reversal on Ukraine in his remarks at the United Nations this week, when he heaped scorn on Russia as a weak power that could lose the war. If you have whiplash following Trump on Ukraine, here are some facts.

And your shopping trolley might be filled with fresh produce, healthy whole grains, lean meats, dairy and legumes, but celebrity chef Jamie Oliver says there's still one crucial thing missing.

Good morning and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news blog for Thursday, September 25. Today we can expect a sunny day with a maximum temperature of 29 degrees.

In this morning's local headlines:

Senior department officials made a surprise visit to a Brisbane kindergarten following revelations of a staff exodus and parents' fury at the make-up of the committee running the centre.

Fast food restaurants and cafes in inner Brisbane have been put on high alert as the national workplace regulator runs a sting on "cheap eats" havens until Friday.

Lawyers for the family of a young Queensland man who died in Bali have criticised the police investigation and the responsiveness of the Australian consulate, saying there appeared to be more to the death than a straightforward case of antidepressants, too much booze and a plunge pool.

Queensland's peak union body has raised alarm about the "slippery slope" of a proposed Crisafulli government productivity drive for the public sector across frontline services.

One of rugby league's most prolific point-scorers has declared the rapid rise of Josiah Karapani was no fluke, insisting the Broncos' flyer had the tools to become a mainstay in the NRL.

There's a love story that Janelle and Ian Lynch tell, and it's not just about their lifelong devotion to the Brisbane Lions football team.