The next Brisbane City Council election is still 18 months away but the ALP has gone early by naming its candidate for Lord Mayor.

Rod Harding stood in 2016 and was soundly thrashed by Graham Quirk by a margin of around 20%.

Rod tells Mark he realises it is a huge challenge but he believes voters are growing tired of Councillor Quirk.

Lawyers are putting together what could end up being the biggest class action lawsuit in Australian history.

It involves the way bank owned superannuation funds invested the cash components of customers with the claim being that the money was not placed where it could earn the most interest.

Senior Associate with Slater & Gordon Nathan Rapoport tells Mark people could have lost thousands.

There is a small but growing chorus of people calling for the voting age in Australia to be lowered from 18 to 16 years old.

A Senate committee is currently examining a private members bill to make the change.

While the bill is all but certain to be defeated Political scientist Dr Paul Williams tells Mark it is a change that is virtually inevitable.

Sand mining has been an economic linchpin for North Stradbroke Island for almost 70 years but it is due to end in 2019.

$28 million has been allocated to 23 projects aimed at transitioning the island’s economy to be focussed on tourism but progress has stalled prompting the state government to replace the lead minister responsible.

The Redland City Council covers North Stradbroke and Mayor Karen Williams tells Mark the community really needs government to get on with the job.

Petrol prices in southeast Queensland have reached $1.62-a-litre, a four year high.

Service station operators blame international factors for driving up the price but motoring group the RACQ is far from convinced.

Spokesperson Lucinda Ross tells Mark the price is giving service stations a 23c margin which is gouging motorists.

House prices in Sydney and Melbourne may be going backwards but Brisbane is continuing to show steady growth.

According to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland Brisbane’s median house price has now hit a record high of $673,000.

Over the last five years the median price has grown 30% and the host of the 4BC Real Estate Show Kevin Turner tells Mark there is no reason to think it will not continue.

The Queensland Council of Unions has released the curriculum for a pilot schools program aimed at educating students about their rights in the workplace.

The World Of Work program will be trialed in non-government schools and students would have to opt in.

The State Opposition and the small business lobby group the CCIQ have raised concerns and spokesman Dan Petrie tells Mark there are already programs in schools covering the issue.

France has banned smartphones in all primary schools and now there are calls for schools here to follow suit.

Educational experts say allowing young children phones can make them distracted, socially isolated and even leave them open to bullying.

Darren Stevenson from Extend Before and After School Care tells Mark he can not see any reason why a primary school child would need a smartphone at school.

The National Australia Bank has announced it will not follow the other big banks by raising mortgage rates.

Westpac raised rates 0.14% almost two weeks citing increased borrowings costs and was quickly followed by the ANZ and the Commonwealth.

Rate City research director Sally Tindall tells Mark it may be a smart business play by the NAB.

There is outrage at the sentence handed to the killer of Caboolture toddler Mason Jet Lee, who died a slow painful death after being punched in the stomach.

William Andrew O'Sullivan was given nine years after pleading guilty to the toddler’s manslaughter but will be eligible for parole in July 2022.

The state government is considering an appeal.

Child safety campaigner Hetty Johnston from Bravehearts tells Mark it is time to tear up our child killing laws and start again.