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Three people are dead and a man is fighting for life after a mass shooting in rugged terrain in central Queensland.

The gunman remains on the run as police lockdown the area surrounding the scene of the shooting, a rural cattle property at Bogie, northwest of Mackay.

Police have not confirmed a motive for the tragedy, after the gunman opened fire on four people about 9am on Thursday.

Three people died at the scene, while a man survived after fleeing into remote bushland with a gunshot wound to his stomach.

The injured man staggered for several kilometres before raising the alarm. He has been airlifted to Mackay hospital where he remains in critical condition.

It is understood the victims are related to the injured man, but police have been unable to confirm their identities.

"We are actively searching the area and committing our investigations as to what the circumstances were and how tactically people have been shot," Mackay District Superintendent Tom Armitt told reporters.

"We do not know who was responsible. We haven't been able to get any other details from the male person who had been shot, as he was required emergency transport back to the hospital and he's currently undergoing emergency surgery."

Supt Armitt said the man was found in an "extremely critical situation" and had been unable to identify the shooter to police.

Police continue to methodically clear the property, ensuring the area is safe before the bodies can be retrieved and a forensic examination of the crime scene conducted.

"We believe that the person who shot them may still be in the area ... We haven't been able to get close enough at the present time to confirm anyone's identity."

A number of people were taken off the remote property before 6pm for questioning over whether they had any involvement in the shooting, police told AAP.

Police are urging members of the public to avoid the area as the incident unfolds.

An emergency declaration was made at 11.30am under the Public Safety Preservation Act, with boundaries encompassing Sutherland Rd, Normanby Rd, Mount Compton Rd and Starvation Creek.

Police later updated an the declaration to Shannonvale Road where the shooting took place.

Supt Armitt described the incident as a "very rare event", and said police would remain on the scene for as long as it takes to track down the gunman.

Whitsunday Regional Councillor Jan Clifford said it was the worst mass shooting incident in the region, and the tight-knit community would be devastated.

"To my knowledge, nothing like this has ever happened in the Whitsunday region before," Cr Clifford said.

"We are all deeply saddened by the tragedy."

Cr Clifford said the community of Bogie - with a population of 207, according to the latest census data - was more of a community than a township.

"It's a little village. Everyone will know everyone ... It's just awful."

One woman working in nearby Collinsville said the entire community was in shock.

"The whole town is a bit rattled that something like that could happen here," she told AAP.

"We don't know the full story, but we've definitely heard about it. It's a small town, everyone knows everyone.

"But out in the 'the boge'? Well, it's tiny."

An employee at the local petrol station admitted being scared to work the night shift as the gunman continued to evade authorities.

"I am here alone," she said.

"I'm a bit worried now.

"We heard something was going on, but three people killed? That's scary - it's not that far away."

Customers had been calling in at the service station all day, and the shooting was all people could talk about.

"There are a lot of rumours, but no one knows anything," she said.

© AAP 2022

Oodles of cavoodles are living across the country, with the dog breed named Australia's most popular pup.

Petbarn's new Pet Pulse report looked at the breeds of more than 750,000 puppies to determine which was most popular.

It found cavoodles, a cross between a poodle and a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, was the top choice for Australians between 2016 and 2021.

Labradoodles and groodles also made the top 20, with another five poodle crossbreeds listed in the top 100.

"All the data confirms it is a real thing because it's definitely the impression I've had as a practising vet," Michael Yazbeck of Greencross Vets told AAP.

"The obvious thing is they're really cute dogs. A lot of people are looking for something with that puppy look and a generally friendly demeanour."

With more people keeping their dogs inside during the pandemic, Dr Yazbeck said 'oodle' breeds proved to be a more allergy and family-friendly option.

People only started breeding oodles in the late 1980s but the Pet Pulse report found they now account for one in five dog births in Australia.

That's not expected to change any time soon, according to Dr Yazbeck.

"It's like a designer crossbreed. You've got a group of dogs but such variation in colour, size and look that really appeals to people," he said.

© AAP 2022

New laws to raise Australia's emissions reduction targets have cleared their first hurdle after passing the federal parliament's lower house.

Liberal MP Bridget Archer was the only opposition member to vote with the government to pass the laws 89 votes to 55.

The laws set a carbon emissions cut target of 43 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050.

The 2030 commitment is a step up from the former coalition government's unlegislated 26 to 28 per cent target, while there is bipartisan support for the 2050 target.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was pleased with the way the crossbench had collaborated with the government on the legislation.

But he criticised the opposition for not agreeing to the bills, and implored them to back the legislation when it moves to the upper house.

"They have an opportunity, when the legislation gets to the Senate, to change their mind and to bring themselves into the 21st century and make themselves relevant to the debate," he said.

"Australians who have been impacted by droughts, floods and bushfires know the impact of climate change is real (and) we need a response which is real."

The next step in Australia's response to climate change had to be phasing out oil, coal and gas, Independent MP Zali Steggall said.

She and other independents want to see greater co-operation with the government, but praised the approach Labor had taken.

"We're still seeing in question time old-style politics play out," Ms Steggall told reporters in Canberra.

"I don't think it impresses many of us, and it certainly doesn't impress the Australian public."

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen declared the passage of the bill "a good day for Australia".

"Renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy, renewable energy is the key to reducing emissions and seizing the jobs opportunity that is the climate emergency," he told parliament on Thursday.

Following consultations with the Greens, the government agreed to ensure the emissions reduction target could only go up in the future, with a mechanism in place to increase its ambition.

There will also be greater transparency and strengthened requirements on the Climate Change Authority, the body charged with advising on climate targets and policies.

The coalition did not support the amendment moved by independent MP Helen Haines to ensure the authority considers economic, employment and social benefits for rural and regional Australia.

The government also agreed to ensure the bill clearly states an intention to drive climate action, and is linked to science.

But the government and opposition voted against amendments to lift the emissions reduction target to 75 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2035, proposed by the Greens and independent MP Andrew Wilkie.

Greens leader Adam Bandt said the future focus would be to ensure public money does not go to support coal and gas projects.

"The fight now turns not only to ensuring the safeguard mechanism safeguards our future, but that we get a climate trigger in our environment laws so that new projects don't go ahead," he told reporters in Canberra.

Multiple amendments proposed by independent MPs were supported by the government, including for regional Australia to be explicitly considered in new laws.

The bill is being assessed by a Senate inquiry, which is due to report on August 31, after which it will be debated and is expected to pass with the help of the Greens and one upper house crossbencher.

© AAP 2022