Jackson doctor may testify in Aussie case

The doctor convicted of killing Michael Jackson could be a witness in an Australian legal battle. Source: AAP

THE doctor convicted of killing Michael Jackson could become a star witness in Australian dance choreographer Wade Robson's $US30 million ($A33.00 million) molestation legal battle with the King of Pop's estate.

It was Conrad Murray's recent headline-making interview with Australia's 60 Minutes that captured the attention of Robson's Los Angeles-based legal team.

Murray, when asked if he believed Jackson was a pedophile, paused for 15 seconds and then declined to answer.

"Wade wants Murray to speak to his lawyers because if he has vital information on Michael then it could be significant," the New York Daily News newspaper, quoting a source close to Robson, said.

"It is obvious the way he answered the question he has much more to tell and that could be dynamite for Wade's case."

Robson's pursuit of a large payday from Jackson's estate is set to go before a judge in Los Angeles on June 2.

Brisbane-born Robson, 31, who as a five-year-old dance prodigy befriended Jackson, had been one of Jackson's staunchest supporters and testified under oath at the King of Pop's 2005 molestation trial in California that Jackson never molested him.

Robson's evidence was key to Jackson's acquittal.

Robson, however, now says Jackson was a "monster" who brainwashed, manipulated and molested him.

"He performed sexual acts on me and forced me to perform sexual acts on him," Robson said in an interview on the US Today show in May.

Jackson's family and lawyers have branded Robson's delayed allegations "outrageous and pathetic".

Robson, who has worked with Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears and won an Emmy Award for the US version of TV competition So You Think You Can Dance, claims he was so traumatised by Jackson's abuse he can no longer dance, sing or write songs.

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Stabbed woman hails cab to NSW hospital

A NSW woman mustered the strength to wave down a cab to rush herself to hospital after suffering critical stab wounds.

Police say a 42-year-old woman waved down a taxi driver on Villiers Street in South Grafton at 11.40pm (AEDT) on Friday and asked for help, saying she had been stabbed.

A man who had been standing next to the woman fled while the taxi driver took her to Grafton Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery for stab wounds to her stomach, upper chest area and neck.

Police believe the stabbing was related to a domestic incident and apprehended a 55-year-old man as he returned to a Villiers Street home in the early hours of Saturday.

He was taken to Grafton Police Station and charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

He will appear in court at a later date.

The woman remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

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Pyne faces angry schools ministers

The NSW education minister says the Abbott government must keep its promise on schools funding. Source: AAP

FEDERAL Education Minister Christopher Pyne faces a battle on multiple fronts over his plan to overhaul schools funding but denies he is at war with any part of the sector.

State and territory education ministers left a meeting with Mr Pyne in Sydney on Friday angry over his decision to renege on agreements they entered into with the previous Labor government.

NSW education minister Andrew Piccoli described the meeting as "passionate and heated".

"All in all the ministers are very disappointed (that there was) no greater clarity over what the Commonwealth is proposing," Mr Piccoli said.

There is also a growing public campaign calling for the funding agreements to be honoured, and a showdown is looming in federal parliament with the minister confirming he will need to amend laws to put in place a new scheme to fund schools from 2015.

Mr Pyne told reporters outside the meeting he was not to blame for the "shambles" of Labor's schools funding policy.

"It's not my fault that Bill Shorten ripped $1.2 billion out of the funding envelope," Mr Pyne said.

The minister this week announced the coalition government would only honour one year of the funding agreements, and allocate a further $230 million in 2014 to the states that did not sign onto the so-called Gonski scheme.

Labor made deals with NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, as well as independent and Catholic schools, but Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory held out.

Mr Piccoli said his federal Liberal colleagues had breached the trust of voters, and he and Premier Barry O'Farrell would continue to press for the four-year agreement to be honoured.

He said the next step would be to escalate the issue to the Council of Australian Governments meeting on December 13.

"It can't stop here," Mr Piccoli told AAP.

"As an education community, pressure will be placed on the Commonwealth to change their mind."

Mr Piccoli said there was majority support among the ministers for a needs-based funding system, in line with the Gonski review.

ACT education minister Joy Burch said the territory's six-year agreement was now the victim of federal government "policy on the run".

Tasmanian minister Nick McKim said there was a "unity ticket" between Labor, the Greens and coalition states on sticking up for Australian schools and said Mr Pyne had created a "crisis of uncertainty."

"(Mr Pyne) has dropped a stick of dynamite into what was a very tranquil pool," Mr McKim said.

Mr Pyne declined to criticise any of the state and territory ministers.

"I'm not at war with anybody," he said.

"I will work collaboratively and respectfully with all my colleagues."

He said the government would keep its pre-election promise to match "dollar for dollar" schools funding allocated by the previous Labor government for 2014.

But beyond that, he would sit down with the state ministers and develop a new model in the early part of 2014.

Greens education spokeswoman Penny Wright said her party would block in the Senate any amendment that "increased inequality in education".

Australian Education Union federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said Mr Pyne had injected "absolute uncertainty" into schools funding.

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Medibank sale advisors announced

The government has appointed advisors to prepare for the sale of health insurer Medibank Private. Source: AAP

THE federal government has appointed key advisers to prepare for the sale of health insurer Medibank Private, increasing the prospects it might be announced in next year's budget.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann announced on Friday that a panel to conduct a scoping study would report back in February next year so it's findings can be considered ahead of the 2014/15 budget.

Lazard Pty Ltd is the business adviser, Herbert Smith Freehills the legal adviser, Ernst and Young the accounting adviser while the Australian Government Solicitor is advising on probity matters.

The study will provide recommendations to government on all aspects of the proposed sale including method, timing, costs, regulatory issues and estimated proceeds.

The entity has previously been valued at $4.5 billion.

With 3.8 million members, Medibank Private is Australia's largest health insurance provider and government owned.

Senator Cormann said there was "no compelling policy reason" for the federal government to continue ownership of the asset.

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Bieber's graffiti - will it stay or go?

GRAFFITI by Justin Bieber is at the centre of a stoush between a Gold Coast hotel, which wants to keep it, and local authorities, who want it erased.

Bieber landed himself in trouble after photos and video footage showed the pop star nonchalantly spraying cartoon faces in fluorescent paint on the QT Hotel wall at Surfers Paradise early on Wednesday following his first Brisbane show.

The hotel says it gave the Canadian permission and that the council had no authority to get rid of the graffiti because it is on private property and not accessible from public land.

"He asked, and we said YES", the QT Hotel on the Gold Coast said on its Facebook page next to a picture of the colourful spray can artwork.

The hotel said in a comment on the page that "we absolutely gave approval".

The hotel reckons it's a coup to have the star paint "a piece of art in appreciation of his stay".

"This piece of art is now available to be viewed by fans of the artist and we believe that it is a wonderful addition to the colourful Gold Coast arts scene," it said.

Even so, Gold Coast mayor Tom Tait says the council will order the removal of the graffiti.

"It might be on private land, but it's in prominent public view," a council spokesman told AAP.

"The mayor will be contacting our compliance officers today to have a notice issued to the hotel to clean it up."

A photo of Bieber's artistic offerings was posted on Instagram while entertainment website TMZ published a video of the incident.

Earlier, the mayor said the singer should clean up his mess.

He even suggested Bieber should perform for free at an upcoming Christmas carols event to make amends.

Mr Tait said the singer risked undermining the good work of the council in its fight against the scourge of graffiti.

"The last thing we want is to have graffiti glorified and more young people thinking it's a cool thing to do," he told AAP.

He said Bieber was welcome to use one of the council's clean-up kits to get rid of his mess.

"I know he's got beautiful eyes. I've got some goggles for him, and some gloves because I know he doesn't want to get his hands dirty," Mr Tait said.

"Just come and clean it up and we'll be happy with you," said Mr Tait.

"Alternatively come and sing at our mayoral Christmas carols on the 7th of December for an hour and I'll let you go."

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Aged man facing third manslaughter trial

AN elderly man is facing the prospect of a third trial over the death of a 42-year-old woman in Western Australia more than 20 years ago.

Ronald Leslie Pennington, 84, has been tried twice at the WA Supreme Court for the alleged July 1992 manslaughter of Cariad Anderson-Slater, whose remains were found in his former backyard in February 2011.

Pennington had moved to Tasmania, but was extradited to Perth to face the charges.

He was convicted of manslaughter after a trial in March last year and sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' jail.

But the conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal because the trial judge erred in his directions to the jury.

Pennington faced a retrial but the jury was discharged earlier this month because it could not reach a verdict.

At a directions hearing on Thursday, Justice Lindy Jenkins was told prosecutors were planning to try the case again.

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Retailers cashing in after solid year

WHO said Australian retailing was dead?

JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman have proved the naysayers wrong, with their share prices almost doubling this year.

And while people were writing off department stores David Jones and Myer 18 months ago, there appears to have been a rethink in values as traditional retailers embrace online shopping and focus on fashion.

Well-known players have significantly outperformed the overall sharemarket during 2013, however share prices are still around 2009/10 levels.

Among the lesser known consumer goods, sports and fashion brands, Super Retail Group, Specialty Fashion and Breville Group have all performed well in 2013.

The ASX200 index has rallied 15 per cent since the start of the year as consumer confidence builds and the busy Christmas trading season gets into full swing.

The buoyant mood has prompted electronics retailer Dick Smith to follow a recent string of successful floats as it looks to raise almost $345 million by listing on the share market on December 4.

Analysts say share price gains among the major retailers in 2013 are significant, but they need to be taken in context.

"The retailers have been the standouts this year," CommSec analyst Steven Daghlian told AAP.

"But putting that in perspective, they didn't do very well in the year's prior, in 2010/11 when consumers were very cautious to part with their dollars and while the Aussie dollar remained quite high."

Recent share market highs had boosted investor confidence and helped retailers like Harvey Norman, Myer and David Jones.

"We're seeing a bit of a recovery," Mr Daghlian said.

"They're just back to where they were five years ago."

If you bought shares in JB Hi-Fi this time last year you could now double your money.

And cashing in your Harvey Norman shares would deliver an 80 per cent premium on a 12 month investment.

Gains among David Jones and Myer have been more modest, but investors are still well ahead of the local index.

David Jones shares jumped 32 per cent this year while Myer shareholders are looking at a 27 per cent profit for 2013.

Sports and leisure retailer Super Retail is also in the money, putting on 37 per cent while electronic appliance maker Breville is up 29 per cent in the calendar year.

Despite several measures of consumer confidence and spending showing improvements since the September election, the big retailers remain cautious.

Harvey Norman CEO Gerry Harvey is the latest big retailer to say his business has not felt the benefits as he continues to complain about the GST exemption on foreign purchases less than $1000.

Department store chain Myer is also cautious as it faces a challenging economic and consumer environment while David Jones is waiting for consistent consumer sentiment results.

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Bank of Qld cautious on local economy

Bank of Queensland expects economic growth to slow as weakness remains in the non-mining sector. Source: AAP

BANK of Queensland (BoQ) says it will be at least another year before it sees any benefits from a lower Australian dollar.

While BoQ returned to profit in the year to August, after becoming the first Australian bank in two decades to incur a loss, it is taking a cautious approach to the year ahead.

"We think it's probably into 2015, late '14/15 - if the exchange rate goes down, we'll start to see the benefit of those flows," chief executive Stuart Grimshaw told reporters after BoQ's annual general meeting in Brisbane.

The bank is heavily exposed to the tourism industry sensitive Queensland economy, which in turn is influenced by movements in the exchange rate.

During the meeting, chairman Roger Davis highlighted the concerns the bank holds about the economy.

"While we are pleased with the 2013 result, we also recognise the challenges the year ahead will bring with slowing economic growth, continued margin pressure especially from the asset side of the balance sheet, rising regulatory imposts, continued weakness in the non-mining sectors of the economy, frustratingly high foreign exchange levels and, of course, continued global growth concerns," he said.

Meanwhile, the bank said it will team with other smaller lenders to lobby the federal government for changes in the banking sector, which is dominated by the big four players.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has appointed former Commonwealth Bank of Australia boss David Murray to head a "root and branch" review of the financial system.

BoQ plans to lobby for capital guarantee lending requirements to be relaxed for smaller banks, and will discuss submission ideas with the likes of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.

"What we'll be pushing ... will be the removal of some of these inequities that prevent regional banks from competing on a more equal footing," Mr Grimshaw told shareholders.

"There's a lot of similarities across all the regional banks which makes sense to get together.

"It's probably easier for them to hear one voice rather than three."

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WA Fisheries won't research culling yet

SHARK culling has not been researched by WA's Fisheries Department because it is not part of the state government's shark policy.

Fisheries Shark Response Unit spokesman Tony Cappelluti said the department is committed to shark research and has tagged 338 sharks - 140 of which were great whites.

But the Department has not investigated the possibility of whether culling sharks could reduce attacks.

"We continue to do a lot in terms of trying to learn about shark behaviour, where they go, why they stay there and what keeps them there," Mr Cappelluti told reporters on Tuesday.

"We haven't done any of the population work around a cull because that's not government policy."

On Saturday, Chris Boyd, 35, was surfing at the popular surf break Umbies off Gracetown when a suspected great white shark bounced off another surfer's board and killed him.

Mr Cappelluti said issues surrounding culling sharks and over-fishing were always raised after a shark attack.

"People bring forward all sorts of theories," he said.

"We're very focused on our research, and through that research trying to present factual information that people can use not only to plan their water activities but also so that we can put out more community safety messages."

Mr Cappelluti said great whites are migratory and research is aimed at learning more about their movements.

He hopes the department will have some new data available in January.

Some surfers have called for sharks larger than three metres or those that swim close to shore to be culled.

The state government has indicated it will consider stronger protective options for water users but culling sharks is unlikely.

The matter was discussed in cabinet on Monday.

Since great white sharks are a protected species, the state government would have to seek approval from the federal government to cull sharks.

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NSW to hold Bowraville murders inquiry

AN inquiry will be held into the murders of three young Aboriginal people who disappeared from northern NSW more than 20 years ago.

The NSW upper house voted unanimously on Tuesday to hold the inquiry into the deaths of Colleen Walker, 16, Clinton Speedy, 16, and Evelyn Greenup, 4.

The trio disappeared from the Bowraville community over several months from 1990 to 1991.

In 1991, local man Jay Hart was charged with the murder of Clinton and Evelyn, but was acquitted of murdering Clinton in 1994.

Shortly afterwards prosecutors also dropped the charges relating to Evelyn.

After an inquest into her death in 2004, Mr Hart was once more charged with Evelyn's murder and then acquitted.

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, who put forward the motion calling for the inquiry, said it should go some way to acknowledging the pain and trauma the community of Bowraville and the families of the three young people have endured for the past 23 years.

"No inquiry and no court can bring these children back or end the hurt, but I do hope that this inquiry can show respect, and will listen to the families and make recommendations to help the community deal with their longstanding pain," he said on Tuesday.

The parliamentary standing committee on law and justice inquiry, expected to be held next year, will hear from the families of the three children and investigate the impact of the deaths on the community.

The committee would call for public submissions soon, Mr Shoebridge said.

It comes after members of the children's families rallied outside parliament last week calling on Attorney-General Greg Smith to reopen the cases and for a judicial inquiry.

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Drugs arrests kick off WA schoolies week

SCHOOLIES week in Western Australia has started with arrests of several teenagers allegedly caught with cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis at a holiday house in Busselton.

Police carried out a search warrant at a holiday village in the town, seized the drugs and paraphernalia, and arrested a group of 17-year-old school leavers.

They will appear in court next month, a WA police spokeswoman said.

Official leavers' celebrations began in WA on Monday, with up to 10,000 expected to descend on Leavers' Zones in Dunsborough and Rottnest Island.

Police have already warned leavers they will be in force during the week, with a large police operation being conducted including traffic operations, drug detection dogs and water police.

Police confirmed later that 12 youths, all aged 17 and all from Perth's northern suburbs, have been charged.

Regional WA Commander Murray Smalpage cited the arrests as a timely warning to any leavers considering selling or supplying prohibited drugs.

"We want to ensure that all leavers have a fantastic time; however we make no apology for taking appropriate actions against leavers, if required; and we will do so swiftly," Commander Smalpage said.

"Parents and guardians can expect a call at any time of the day or night if their leaver breaks the law."

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Vaccination sceptic forced to change name

THE Australian medical community has welcomed a decision to force a sceptical vaccination organisation to change its "misleading" name.

The Administrative Decisions Tribunal on Monday upheld a decision by Fair Trading, which called on the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) to change its name as it was misleading.

In handing down her decision on the network's appeal, Magistrate Nancy Hennessy said that while the network couldn't be classified as strictly "anti" vaccination, its main objective was to highlight the risks of vaccinations.

"Without any information, other than the name, an ordinary member of the public would be likely to be misled into thinking that one of AVN's objectives is to give a pro-vaccination message or, at least, to provide comprehensive information about vaccination," she found.

"That is not the case."

The network should consider using a name that included "risk" or "sceptic", she suggested.

President of the Australian Medical Association, AMA NSW Professor Brian Owler welcomed the decision, saying AVN's name incorrectly suggests to parents that they are accessing comprehensive, independent health advice.

"The importance of vaccination cannot be understated in helping to keep children free from harm. Ultimately, your family GP is your best source of advice about vaccination."

Minister for Fair Trading Anthony Roberts said it was about being "open and upfront about what you stand for, not hiding behind a name".

He said Fair Trading reserved the right to pursue costs associated with any ongoing legal action undertaken by AVN.

The network has hit back at the decision saying it "exemplified the current climate of government-sanctioned abuse and hatred of anyone who steps away from mainstream medical dogma".

In a statement released by the AVN, it said the case was not about its name but about a government wanting to waste millions in trying to close it down, but not researching the health effects of vaccination.

"It's about a government that would rather abuse its power to censor opposition and criticism by a legitimate health consumer group than to actually address the issues involved."

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Big crowds at WA gourmet festival

THOUSANDS of gourmands from Australia and around the world are about to waddle away from the scenic West Australian town of Margaret River a little heavier after an extravagant three-day food festival.

The Margaret River Gourmet Escape attracted well over the 10,000 foodies that came to last year's inaugural event, with the big drawcard being acclaimed British chef Heston Blumenthal, who received a rock-star reception.

He took to the main stage at the Gourmet Village at Leeuwin Estate winery on Saturday, shrugging off his title of the King of Molecular Gastronomy and instead driving home his aversion to food snobbery with talk of Chiko Rolls, Tim Tams and Vegemite.

Other big name chefs at the event included seafood guru Rick Stein, who demonstrated preparing a fish curry and dahl, Matt Stone of the Greenhouse in Perth and Brazil's Alex Atala, who both led "forager" sessions where wild produce, including marron were tracked down and served up.

The pair also appeared to be inseparable friends, with Stone frequently showing his admiration for Atala with big hugs.

Open-air cooking was a major part of the festival, a highlight being Sat Bains' beef back ribs at a beach barbecue.

And kids didn't miss out, with cooking classes teaching them fare such as chocolate quinoa balls.

Next year's event is expected to draw even more international attendees, with marketing underway in China, where Australian seafood is revered.

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Hailstorm pounds the Gabba

NT residents are being urged to make final preparations as tropical Cyclone Alessia heads for the coast.

STORMS are hitting Brisbane, bringing hail and damaging winds.

Places in the firing line are Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Somerset and the Redlands.

The Weather Bureau warns that storms have built up in the Lake Manchester area, west of Brisbane.

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They are forecast to affect Wacol and Archerfield by 2.05 pm and Slacks Creek, Tingalpa Reservoir and Camp Hill by 2.35pm.

Hail at the Gabba as a storm hits day four of the first Ashes test. Picture: Jono Searle.

Damaging winds and large hailstones are likely.

Storms have stopped play at the Gabba about 2pm.

Residents in the Wide Bay and Burnett, southeast coast and parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Capricornia, Maranoa and Warrego and Darling Downs and Granite Belt also should prepare.

Places likely to see some activity include Maroochydore, Gympie, Kingaroy, Noosa and Biloela.

At least one home has been destroyed by a tornado that whipped through northern NSW.

Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported sunny conditions are forecast for the first cricket Test at the Gabba on Monday while in the north graziers are bracing for storms and showers as the first cyclone of the season pushes moisture inland over the drought-hit Gulf of Carpentaria.

It follows a weekend of storms that started in the Maranoa and Warrego yesterday before sweeping southeast, roughing up the Inglewood, Warwick, Lockyer Valley, Laidley, Rosewood and Ipswich districts.

Weather Bureau forecaster Michael Knepp said there would be little chance of rain saving England at the Gabba.

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Storms roll over Brisbane, as seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Pic: Adam Smith

"Of course we still might get a storm or showers today,'' he said. "But after that, the whole week should be okay," he said.

"The next round of activity won't be until late Friday or Saturday when a trough comes through.

"There's very little chance of any interruptions with the cricket tomorrow.''

Mr Knepp said Cyclone Alessia was moving east towards Queensland at 20km/hr and - despite being a long way away - its moisture-laden winds were expected to bring showers and storms to the Gulf and northern parts.

Storms roll over Brisbane, as seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Pic: Adam Smith

The cyclone was 100km off the coast at 9am and flood warnings had been issued for the NT.

The monsoon trough is expected to drift south through the week, allowing monsoon rain areas to extend from the Gulf Country to Queensland's east north coast and Tablelands.

It will see scattered showers and thunderstorms from the northern interior across to the central coast.

Rollingstone just north of Townsville had 120mm overnight, the highest falls recorded in the state in the 24 hours to 9am.

Storms roll over Brisbane, as seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Pic: Adam Smith

"There have been falls of 50mm to 60mm around Normanton, Kowanyama had 28mm, Miranda Downs 30mm but it's likely there were heavier falls around that that,'' he said.

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"We don't have a lot of rain gauges out there in the Gulf so we just don't know.

"How much we get up there is highly dependent on the movement of the tropical cyclone. If it moves towards the NT-Queensland border as a low, we could get quite a lot of rainfall.''

Storm clouds north of Moonie, Western Darling Downs, Saturday afternoon. Pic: Jeff Higgins. Higgins Storm Chasing

Some cumulative rainfall totals over the past week include Bowen 295.3mm, Georgetown 74mm, Richmond 44.8mm and Charters Towers 53.6mm.

Overnight in the southeast, Junction View, southeast of Toowoomba, had 69mm, Nanango 62mm, nearby Brooklands 72mm, Amberley 52mm, Churchill 55mm, Coolangatta 26mm, Currumbin Creek 42mm, North Stradbroke Island 37mm, O'Reilly's 36mm, Tallebudgera Creek Dam 41mm.

Goondiwindi had 31mm while in the north Mareeba had 79mm, Chillagoe 50mm, Ingham 58mm and Coen on Cape York 67mm. Falls around Brisbane were mostly in the teens.

By tomorrow, the monsoon trough should extend from the northwest, across the tropical interior and south to the Fraser Island area with showers and thunderstorms contracting to its north.

Top of Bunya Mountains looking west out over the Darling Downs. Things are really brewing up out here today! Picture courtesy: Jeff Higgins / Higgins Storm Chasing

A drier air mass should dominate to the south.

Last night, forecasters said the line of storms that barrelled through the southeast corner had started to weaken by 10.30pm and were likely to reach the Sunshine Coast by 1am.

"They have weakened over the past hour but we are still seeing some intense bursts of rainfall and the odd significant wind gust," said Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Brett Harrison.

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Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

Early reports suggested one house was completely demolished and up to 30 other homes were reportedly damaged in the Rosewood and Pine Mountain area near Ipswich, although this could not be confirmed by emergency services.

"We have dodged three big storms lately, but we really copped it tonight,'' said Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale late on Saturday.

"One has collapsed completely and 25 to 30 have got damage at various degrees.

"No-one has been injured so far as we know.''

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

On Saturday night, the heaviest falls were recorded at Junction View, south of Gatton, with up to 62mm of rain dumped in just over an hour.

Wind gusts of up to 92km/h were recorded at Amberley at the height of the storm.

Golf ball-size hail was dropped near Inglewood, Ipswich and Warwick, but senior forecaster Brett Harrison said there had been no reports since 5.30pm Saturday.

Energex reported more than 5000 homes across the southeast were without power at around 10pm.

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

More showers and thunderstorms are expected to brew on Sunday, with the activity likely to be closer to the southeast coast.

Mr Harrison said November had certainly made up for a late start to the storm season.

"This time of year is when we expect there to be a large number of severe thunderstorms," he said.

"The main trigger is the upper trough."

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A severe thunderstorm warning had been issued at 10.58pm for damaging wind and heavy rainfall in the Sunshine Coast and Cherbourg Shire areas and for parts of the Gympie, Moreton Bay, Somerset, South Burnett and Toowoomba areas.

Damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding were likely, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

The warning came after several thunderstorms rolled across southern Queensland throughout Saturday.

Residents reported seeing hail stones, lightning strikes, strong winds and heavy rain across the area.

By 9.15pm, the State Emergency Services had received 47 requests for help through the Rosewood, Hatton Vale, Marburg, Amberley, Ipswich and Brisbane CBD areas.

A spokeswoman said the requests related to structural damage to homes, fallen trees and general storm and flood damage.

"There was significant roof damage to houses in Lower Mt Walker, near Laidley," she said.

A 92 km/h wind gust was recorded at Amberley Airport at 7.45pm, an 87 km/h wind gust was recorded at Gold Coast Seaway at 8.30pm and a 79 km/h wind gust was recorded at Inner Beacon (Moreton Bay) at 8:55pm.

Wild weather also battered northern NSW on Saturday, with a twister destroying at least one home.

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- additional reporting by Kate McKenna

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