SA man charged over Qld stabbings

A man who allegedly stabbed a young couple at their central Queensland home and fled interstate has been charged with attempted murder.

Police say the 35-year-old South Australian attacked a man and woman, who was holding a baby, north of Mackay in the early hours of Boxing Day.

It is alleged he drove a hire car from Mackay airport to Kuttabul before stabbing a man, 23, in the backyard of a house.

He then stabbed a 21-year-old mother twice in the chest, forcing her to drop her baby.

The pair were taken to Mackay Base Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

"It wasn't a random act ... (but) we're yet to get to a full understanding of what sort of relationship there was," Detective Superintendent Rob Weir said on Tuesday.

The alleged attacker flew back to Adelaide, where he was arrested on Monday.

He is expected to be extradited to Queensland later this week.

He will face Mackay Magistrates Court in January charged with attempted murder, act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, entering a residence with intent and common assault.