As it happened: Brisbane on Monday, November 10

Queensland needs nearly 50,000 more health workers by the year of the Olympics, with a report finding 20 per cent of the state’s health workforce is at or approaching retirement age.

The Queensland Health Workforce Gap Analysis report released today shows major shortages across broad fields, with regional workforce gaps as high as 50 per cent in some health professions, and workforce shortages of more than 20 per cent in rural and remote regions.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls said in some instances, the absence of even one health professional can lead to the entire loss of a service in a small regional town, as seen in the closure of birthing services at Biolela and Cooktown since 2022.

“There are some very startling figures in this report,” Nicholls said.

“[And these shortages] are across the board: they’re in medical services, they’re in specialities, they’re in allied health [and in] nursing.”

The report found 20 per cent of Queensland’s registered health workforce is at or approaching retirement age, with an estimated 46,000 extra staff needed by 2032.

But Nicholls rebuffed suggestions better incentives were needed to attract and retain health workers, telling reporters “quite clearly the incentives [offered by the previous Labor government] didn’t work”.

“Otherwise we wouldn’t have these gaps,” he said.

Coffee drinkers could be protecting themselves from heart failure, stroke and premature death, new research suggests.

Atrial fibrillation (AF)– an irregular heartbeat – affects one in three people at some point in their lifetime, but many are undiagnosed.

New research from the University of Adelaide and University of California shows just one cup of coffee a day could be highly beneficial for those with AF.

A randomised clinical trial was carried out on 200 patients with an irregular heartbeat from Australia, the United States and Canada. Half of the participants were required to consume at least one cup of coffee or espresso shot each day, while the other group had to abstain from coffee and caffeinated products.

“The results were astounding,” said Professor Christopher X from the University of Adelaide.

“In contrast to conventional wisdom, we found the coffee drinkers experienced a significant reduction in AF compared to those who avoided coffee and caffeine.

“This is surprising as it goes against the common assumption by doctors and patients that coffee worsens heart rhythm disorders such as AF.

Doctors have always recommended patients with problematic AF minimise their coffee intake, but this trial suggests that coffee is not only safe but likely to be protective.”

A 35-year-old man is due to face court today after allegedly exposing himself to teenage girls in locations across inner-Brisbane and Ipswich.

Detectives arrested the man after reports of multiple indecent incidents, including when police say he exposed himself to two teenage girls in Newstead on September 9.

He then allegedly repeated the act in the Springfield Central area on October 7.

Between November 3 and November 6, he also allegedly committed several more wilful exposure offences in the Springfield Central area.

The man was arrested in the Ipswich suburb of Deebing Heights, where he was charged with five counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, wilful exposure, two counts of indecent acts and unlawful stalking.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Martin said investigators were urging anyone with further information about the incidents or other similar interactions to come forward.

“Crimes of this nature are disturbing, especially for persons so young, and our officers work tirelessly to ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” he said.

Thanks for joining us today. In today’s headlines:

• Claims of alleged emotional manipulation and unpaid work embroil a once-thriving dance-studio community.
• Former ANZ boss forfeits $13.5m as board slashes bonuses
• One month until the social media ban and tech giants still can’t answer these questions
• Tributes flow for radio icon John Laws
• US judge steps down to speak out against Trump, ‘threat to democracy’
• Succeeding Smith: The top contenders – and AFL convert – building Test cases

Our live news blog will return early on Tuesday.

Queensland needs nearly 50,000 more health workers by the year of the Olympics, with a report finding 20 per cent of the state’s health workforce is at or approaching retirement age.

The Queensland Health Workforce Gap Analysis report released today shows major shortages across broad fields, with regional workforce gaps as high as 50 per cent in some health professions, and workforce shortages of more than 20 per cent in rural and remote regions.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls said in some instances, the absence of even one health professional can lead to the entire loss of a service in a small regional town, as seen in the closure of birthing services at Biolela and Cooktown since 2022.

“There are some very startling figures in this report,” Nicholls said.

“[And these shortages] are across the board: they’re in medical services, they’re in specialities, they’re in allied health [and in] nursing.”

The report found 20 per cent of Queensland’s registered health workforce is at or approaching retirement age, with an estimated 46,000 extra staff needed by 2032.

But Nicholls rebuffed suggestions better incentives were needed to attract and retain health workers, telling reporters “quite clearly the incentives [offered by the previous Labor government] didn’t work”.

“Otherwise we wouldn’t have these gaps,” he said.

Coffee drinkers could be protecting themselves from heart failure, stroke and premature death, new research suggests.

Atrial fibrillation (AF)– an irregular heartbeat – affects one in three people at some point in their lifetime, but many are undiagnosed.

New research from the University of Adelaide and University of California shows just one cup of coffee a day could be highly beneficial for those with AF.

A randomised clinical trial was carried out on 200 patients with an irregular heartbeat from Australia, the United States and Canada. Half of the participants were required to consume at least one cup of coffee or espresso shot each day, while the other group had to abstain from coffee and caffeinated products.

“The results were astounding,” said Professor Christopher X from the University of Adelaide.

“In contrast to conventional wisdom, we found the coffee drinkers experienced a significant reduction in AF compared to those who avoided coffee and caffeine.

“This is surprising as it goes against the common assumption by doctors and patients that coffee worsens heart rhythm disorders such as AF.

Doctors have always recommended patients with problematic AF minimise their coffee intake, but this trial suggests that coffee is not only safe but likely to be protective.”

Not all football is over for the year, and the Brisbane Lions have secured a home AFLW preliminary final after beating the Melbourne Demons at Princes Park in a 13-point win.

They will now take on either Hawthorn or Carlton in the prelim after a week off.

Meanwhile in cricket, Melbourne Renegades (3-66) beat Brisbane Heat (133) by seven wickets with three balls remaining (DLS) in their season opener.

The Heat will take on Perth Scorchers on November 12 at Allen Border Field in Albion, then go up against Hobart Hurricanes on November 15 at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney.

In ice hockey, Brisbane Lightning lost 5-6 to Perth Inferno in a nail-biting game on Saturday, coming back with a vengeance on Sunday to win in overtime 4-3.

The Lightning will take on Melbourne Ice and Adelaide Rush the next two weekends, with their next home game held at Boondall IceWorld on December 6 against the Melbourne Ducks.