Brisbane City Council’s budget is no small fry – its $4 billion in spending last year was almost half that of the entire state of Tasmania.We’ll have reporters in the Brisbane City Council budget lock-up this morning, ready to give you all the roads, rates and rubbish news you need to know from 11am.A rate rise is on the cards, but Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has promised costs will remain the lowest in the region and there will be no levy to pay for Cyclone Alfred damage.The budget will include funding to redesign the 50-year-old tropical dome at the Mount Coot-tha botanic gardens, and there’s likely to be a few surprises in the 2025-26 annual plan and budget.We’ll have to wait and see how much Story Bridge restoration cash is in this budget, but council wants the state and federal government to provide funding, so ratepayers should not expect it to be a large factor.We’re also interested to see council’s plans for spending on roads, libraries, parks, public and active transport, and cost of living initiatives.Latest postsLatest postsIt’s not only council budget day today … it is State of Origin, round two. Kalyn Ponga will be fighting for State of Origin career tonight, as the Queensland Maroons fullback seeks to fend off a stern Reece Walsh challenge.Ponga came under the microscope of rugby league pundits following his side’s game one defeat, unable to ignite the attack and recapture the form which garnered man of the match honours in the 2023 decider. His reported desire to one day represent New Zealand has also been a talking point about his future in the Origin arena.Kalyn Ponga of the Maroons.Credit: Getty ImagesWalsh has been a favourite of Maroons coach Billy Slater, scoring two tries while setting up another in his return from a knee injury in the Broncos emphatic triumph over the Gold Coast Titans last week.A Queensland loss in Perth tonight would likely trigger team changes for what would be a dead-rubber game three to begin plotting a 2026 comeback, and Brisbane winger Jesse Arthars backed Walsh to force his way into the mix.“For sure, Walshy went through a tough period with his knee, and he’s another player we want to have out there as much as we can,” Arthars said.Reece Walsh in action for the Broncos.Credit: Getty Images“I’ve spent time away from the game with injuries, and I think that’s the time when a lot of players reflect on their journey so far and their approach to the season.“For him to reflect and see what he needs to work on or maintain, I think that the four to six week period he was out was a good refresher for him. He’s come back firing.”In the council’s last sitting before the budget is handed down, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has revealed Brisbane residents will not be charged levies for damage caused by Cyclone Alfred, infrastructure, or transport costs.Speaking in yesterday’s council meeting, Schrinner said he would honour his election commitment to keep Brisbane City Council rates the lowest in the south-east, and avoid adding additional charges.“I can confirm we will not be introducing a cyclone levy, we will not be introducing an infrastructure levy, and we will not be introducing a transport levy,” he said.“We will also make sure that residents keep their on-time payment discounts.”Schrinner said despite many local governments in Queensland facing budget issues, the council would also renew its pensioner rebate scheme – which he said was “hundreds and hundreds of dollars more than any other council provides” – and boost the payment by $50.“Residents can expect a responsible budget, a balanced budget, a budget that only spends what we can afford to spend,” he said. Brisbane City Council’s budget is no small fry – its $4 billion in spending last year was almost half that of the entire state of Tasmania.We’ll have reporters in the Brisbane City Council budget lock-up this morning, ready to give you all the roads, rates and rubbish news you need to know from 11am.A rate rise is on the cards, but Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has promised costs will remain the lowest in the region and there will be no levy to pay for Cyclone Alfred damage.The budget will include funding to redesign the 50-year-old tropical dome at the Mount Coot-tha botanic gardens, and there’s likely to be a few surprises in the 2025-26 annual plan and budget.We’ll have to wait and see how much Story Bridge restoration cash is in this budget, but council wants the state and federal government to provide funding, so ratepayers should not expect it to be a large factor.We’re also interested to see council’s plans for spending on roads, libraries, parks, public and active transport, and cost of living initiatives. Advertisement Another cool winter’s day is forecast for the River City today, with a maximum temperature of 20 degrees expected on an overcast day. Slightly warmer days are coming – by the weekend the days should be a few degrees higher.Here’s the seven-day outlook:Here’s what’s making news further afield this morning:The conflict between Israel and Iran is developing rapidly. Follow our live coverage here.Iran and Israel have ramped up their missile attacks as the world waits to see what action US President Donald Trump will take after leaving the G7 summit early.Trump posted on Truth Social that the US knew where Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hiding. “He is an easy target, but is safe there. We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now,” Trump wrote.President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while flying aboard Air Force One.Credit: APAnd the US president has signed a statement from G7 leaders calling for a de-escalation in hostilities. The statement condemned Iran as the “principal source of regional instability and terror” and reiterated G7 support for Israel’s right to defend itself.In other news, more homes are taking longer to sell than a year ago, and experts put it down to sellers who won’t meet the market, and fewer buyers.If you believe the weather bureau, Australia is expecting a warm, wet winter. So why is it so cold?Does your sunscreen really work? Several popular Australian sunscreen brands have been forced to defend their products after consumer group Choice released some contentious lab results.And after an eight-week trial, accused mushroom killer Erin Patterson’s legal team found something on which to agree with prosecutors – her lunch guests were lovely – as they asked the jury: “Who would kill these kind people?”Good morning, welcome to Brisbane Times’ live news coverage for Wednesday, June 18. Today we can expect a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 20 degrees.In this morning’s local headlines:Premier David Crisafulli says he is “sublimely confident” he can reach an Olympic funding deal with the federal government, as he flagged a record infrastructure spend in next week’s state budget.A makeshift homeless encampment under the Riverside Expressway in Brisbane’s CBD.Credit: Courtney KrukQueensland has announced it will invest hundreds of millions of dollars into crisis accommodation and homelessness services, amid cries the state is whittling down support for rough sleepers.Police say they are still searching for “multiple items of interest” after human remains found in bushland were formally identified as those of Pheobe Bishop.One of three men accused of murdering two drug dealers by drowning them in a toolbox was party to punishing them but never intended to kill, a jury has heard.Billy Slater did not hold back when asked about being called a “grub” by Aaron Woods.Credit: Getty ImagesA Maroons defeat in the State of Origin in Perth is expected to trigger team changes before game three, with two men vying to force their way into an under-fire squad.An emotional Billy Slater has lashed out at former NSW forward Aaron Woods for labelling him a “grub”, insisting that while he could cope with public insults, not everybody could – referencing the late former Queensland coach Paul Green, who took his own life in 2022.And more in sport: Dolphins star Jeremy Marshall-King has revealed the extent of a leg gash that derailed his season for five weeks before he returned to help salvage a year threatened by team injuries.