Nine News Queensland
| Company type | Television news program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting, News media |
| Founded | 1957 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
Area served | Queensland, Northern Territory, regional Queensland, eastern and central Australia |
Key people | Melissa Downes (current lead anchor), Jonathan Uptin (sport anchor), Garry Youngberry (weather) |
| Products | Television news broadcasts |
| Website | www |
Nine News Queensland serves as the premier state-focused news program broadcast by the Nine Network in Brisbane, Australia. Similar to other Nine News editions, this Queensland bulletin airs nightly at 6:00pm and runs for a full hour. Additionally, it is broadcast with a thirty-minute delay in the Northern Territory. The program delivers a comprehensive mix of local, national, and international news, alongside segments covering sports, weather updates, and financial reports.
Distinct from other metropolitan news editions, this bulletin is distinguished by its state designation rather than by city.
Simulcast
The 6:00pm news is simultaneously transmitted in Brisbane via the commercial radio channel River 94.9, distributed across regional Queensland through the WIN Network, and broadcast on NTD in Darwin. It also reaches remote areas of eastern and central Australia via Imparja Television.
History
From 1995 until 2001, the 6:00pm bulletin was co-anchored by Bruce Paige and Heather Foord. In 2001, Foord transitioned to weekend presenting alongside Mike London, with Jillian Whiting stepping in as her weeknight replacement. Following allegations that Mike London had orchestrated a complaint against Bruce Paige, London resigned in June 2003. In 2004, Foord and Whiting exchanged their presenting roles, and Melissa Downes assumed weekend presenting duties in 2006.
Foord stepped down from her weeknight position in December 2008 and was succeeded by Melissa Downes; weekends were anchored by Eva Milic and former ABC presenter Andrew Lofthouse. The following year, Paige left the weeknight desk and was replaced by Lofthouse, while Foord returned to solo weekend presenting for two years. Beginning January 2012, Paige resumed full-time newsreading on Nine Gold Coast News, later partnering with Wendy Kingston from July 2016.
Alison Ariotti departed from weekend presenting in February 2018; Darren Curtis briefly filled the role before Jonathan Uptin—formerly of Nine News Regional Queensland—assumed weekend duties.
In January 2023, veteran sports presenter Wally Lewis resigned due to health concerns and was succeeded by Jonathan Uptin, who had anchored weekend news between 2018 and 2022. Mia Glover then took over Uptin’s previous weekend position.
Andrew Lofthouse announced his immediate exit from the bulletin in January 2025. Subsequently, in May 2025, Nine confirmed that Joel Dry would return to co-anchor alongside Melissa Downes starting August.
Ratings
During the 1990s through the early 2000s, Nine News Queensland maintained a dominant position in Brisbane’s ratings. However, following the departure of key figures—including weatherman John Schluter in 2006 and sports presenter Wally Lewis’s on-air collapse later that year—the bulletin experienced a ratings downturn. Competitor Seven News Brisbane leveraged this opportunity by recruiting former Nine presenter Sharyn Ghidella, resulting in Seven overtaking Nine in 2007.
After Andrew Lofthouse and Melissa Downes became lead co-anchors in 2009, Nine News Queensland steadily increased its audience share and reclaimed the top ratings spot by 2013. Despite this recovery, by 2018 Seven News Brisbane had once again surpassed Nine’s viewership figures.
"Choppergate" controversy
On 20 and 21 August 2011, Nine News Queensland aired live helicopter reports featuring Melissa Mallet and Cameron Price, which were presented as being near "Beerwah," the location where Daniel Morcombe’s remains were discovered. The authenticity of these broadcasts was challenged when rival station Channel Seven captured footage showing the Nine helicopter stationed on its helipad at Mount Coot-tha during the live reports. Radar data confirmed that the helicopter was actually positioned over Chapel Hill, approximately from Beerwah. As a consequence of this deception, Mallet, Price, and news producer Aaron Wakeley were terminated by the Nine Network, while news director Lee Anderson resigned amid the fallout. Despite this scandal, Nine’s 6:00 pm news ratings increased over the subsequent weeks, securing more weekly wins than it had in the prior three years combined and ultimately regaining its status as Queensland’s leading news service by 2013.
Presenters
| Position | Broadcast Days | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
| News | Melissa Downes (since 2009) | Mia Glover (since 2023) | |||||
| Sport | Jonathan Uptin (since 2023) | Dominique Loudon (since 2023) | |||||
| Weather | Garry Youngberry (since 2009) | Luke Bradnam (since 2016) | Garry Youngberry (since 2009) | ||||
Substitute presenters
In instances when Downes is unavailable, the bulletin is delivered solo. The main substitutes are Wendy Kingston, Aislin Kriukelis, and Paul Taylor. Other backup presenters include Josh Bavas for news, Dominique Loudon for sports, and Luke Bradnam alongside Ebony Cavallaro for weather segments.
News
- Andrew Lofthouse (2009–2024)
- Bruce Paige (1985–1990, 1993–2009)
- Heather Foord (1989–2008, 2009–2011)
- Mike London (1986–2003)
- Jillian Whiting (1998–2008)
- Eva Milic (2009, July 2011 – October 2014)
- Darren Curtis (2014–2018)
- Alison Ariotti (2014–2018)
- Sophie Walsh (early 2016)
- Frank Warrick (1984–1985)
- Don Seccombe (1960s–1985)
- Paul Griffin (1973–1983)
Sport
- Chris Bombolas
- Steve Haddan
- Ian Healy
- Sam Squiers
- Wally Lewis
Weather
- Sami Lukis
- Joseph May
- John Schluter
- Frank Warrick
News
- Peter Fegan
- Ebony Cavallaro
- Bruce Paige (Seniors Reporter)
- Anna Rawlings (Court Reporter)
- Josh Bavas
- Jacob Chicco
- Lily Greer
- Abbey Geran
- Jakob Funk
- Pat Heagney
- Kate Lambe
- Clare Todhunter
- Michelle Tapper
- Emily Prain (crime reporter)
*Bold denotes senior reporters
Sport
- Dominique Loudon
- Adam Jackson
- Ben Dobbin
- Mark Gottlieb
Noteworthy former reporters
- Alex Bernhardt
- Neil Doorley – currently Senior Media Adviser with Queensland Government
- Spencer Jolly – retired
- Alyshia Gates – presently with Special Broadcasting Service
- Brittney Kleyn – now part of ABC News
- Melissa Mallet (2009–2011)
- Paris Martin – currently at 10 News Sydney
- Ashley McDermid
- Cameron Price (2008–2011)
- Nat Wallace – now with A Current Affair
- Sophie Walsh (2011–2016) – currently with Nine News Sydney
- Phil Willmington – retired
- Lane Calcutt (state political reporter) – now Senior Media Adviser with Queensland Government
- Tim Arvier
External links
- Articles with short description
- Australian television news shows
- Nine News
- Black-and-white Australian television shows
- Television shows set in Queensland
- 1957 Australian television series debuts
- 1960s Australian television series
- 1970s Australian television series
- 1980s Australian television series
- 1990s Australian television series
- 2000s Australian television series
- 2010s Australian television series