In my tired state this morning, I posted this in the wrong thread.
Point is, shipping in a out of state reporter, despite having local ties (look hard enough and everyone does to some extent) to the area is an interesting approach - Nine seem to have it well covered with their existing Queensland reporters + the Today presenting team.
You just have to look at their 10 way live cross last night and Today bringing in Kendall Gilding in addition to regular reporter Andrea Crothers in Qld etc.