A new warning has been issued for people in the Far North Queensland flood zone, while the Prime Minister has made a big financial announcement for victims.
The Prime Minister has announced a one-off payment for victims of the Far North Queensland floods and plans to visit the area this week.
Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Steven Miles toured the state disaster co-ordination centre in Brisbane on Tuesday afternoon, where they were updated with the latest information as evacuations are carried out in remote parts of the state.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Steven Miles (far left) at the Kedron Emergency Centre for a crisis meeting relating to Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire
In a post-briefing media conference, Mr Albanese announced applications for the Australian Government disaster recovery payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance would open from 2pm Wednesday for people who live and work in the Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Mareeba, Tablelands and Wujal Wujal council areas.
“It is a one-off payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child who suffered a significant loss as a result of the floods, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or a serious injury,” the Prime Minister said.
“The Disaster Recovery Allowance provides for up to 13 weeks of federal income support to assist eligible employees or sole
traders who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster.
“People will soon be able to check their eligibility and how to claim on the Services Australia website.”
QPS Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy briefing the Prime Minister on Tuesday. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire
The Prime Minister also said he would travel to flood-affected regions late on Thursday or early Friday.
“It will be some difficult days and weeks ahead. One of the things that I find though is at the worst of times brings out the best of the Australian character,” Mr Albanese said.
“We’re seeing that from the stories of Far North Queensland at the moment.
“I was speaking on radio in Cairns and heard about a helicopter pilot helping to fly people out on his little chopper, one by one, collecting them from roofs, taking them to safety. An extraordinary effort.”
Mr Albanese thanked emergency services workers, and announced applications would open on Wednesday for access to disaster relief payments. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire
Mr Miles said as the clean-up began, safety came first.
“We’re asking anyone who is cleaning up mud or damage from floodwaters, please make sure you wear enclosed shoes,” he said.
“Today is not the day to wear thongs.
“Some areas have seen over 2000mm of rainfall in just seven days. That means that all of these catchments are very wet.”
Mr Albanese said he will tour flooded regions in FNQ on Thursday or Friday. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire
The Wujal Wujal Aboriginal community is being evacuated, with authorities expecting to be able to move about 120 people per day to safety.
Mr Miles said damage assessments were now in their early stage.
“We know that one home has been totally destroyed,” he said.
“Fifteen have been damaged and moderately damaged, and the remaining 92 have been assessed as having minor damage.
“We’re working with the local disaster groups to ensure we get restock and resupply of food, essentials, and water and delivering bottled water where necessary and appropriate.”
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Laura Boekel said rain conditions were easing.
“We have seen continued decreased rainfall conditions, leading to an easing of flooding across the north tropical coast communities,” Ms Boekel said.
“However, we are still seeing showers and thunderstorms and the focus is now around that cape area.
“These showers and thunderstorms might bring significant rainfall and it could lead to localised flash flooding during (Tuesday) and into Wednesday.
“Significant level river level rises are occurring about several catchments across the cape and that will continue over the next few days, as these floodwaters move downstream.”
NEW ZEALAND OFFERS TO PITCH IN, AS WEATHER BUREAU DEFENDS WARNING SYSTEMS
Mr Albanese, who will hold his first bilateral talks with Christopher Luxon since he was elected New Zealand Prime Minister on Wednesday, indicated Australia may ask for a hand with the clean up effort.
“One of the things that occurs — whether it be disasters in New Zealand or here in Australia — is we always help each other out. We’re mates. In the truest sense,” he said.
“One of the things that always occurs with our agencies is co-operation.
“I’m sure that, if any assistance is required by the various agencies who are represented here, then I’m very confident that Prime Minister Luxon would provide support, just as Australia always provides support for New Zealand.”
Meanwhile, Ms Boekel was forced to defend her agency when questioned about why the bureau’s social media accounts failed to post rainfall warnings on Saturday, causing frustration among the affected communities.
Ms Boekel said the rain rates “evolved very quickly over the weekend,” causing them to make rapid changes to their warning strategy.
“We do advise on our social media that the most up-to-date information is always on the website. That’s where all of our warnings and all of our forecasts will be published,” she said.
A local stuck in floodwaters. Picture: ABC
“And when we use social media to try to back up and emphasise those messages to get out to the community. “
Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt insisted he had “full confidence” in the BOM — despite the intense criticism.
“I’m here to say that we have full confidence in the ability of the Bureau of Meteorology in its prediction systems,” Senator Watt said.
“The reality is that we were dealing with a highly unpredictable weather system … As I said in some media outlets yesterday, meteorology is not a perfect science.
“The Bureau of Meteorology does the absolute best they can with the science they have available. I can’t think of another agency in the world that I’d rather be relying on to make decisions.”
LABOR SLAMS LOCAL MP’s MEME
After the Coalition hurled criticism on Mr Albanese for taking a week of leave last week during the cost of living crisis, Queensland senator Anthony Chisholm questioned why Opposition Leader Peter Dutton hasn’t left his own holidays early.
“Despite a once in a generation flood in Far North Queensland, Mr Dutton is nowhere to be seen while his home state is drenched with record rainfall and entire towns are evacuated,” Senator Chisholm said.
“Rather than offering support, or even acknowledging the unfolding natural disaster, Dutton’s most recent tweet from December 11 is more concerned with culture wars than the wellbeing of Queenslanders.”
Senator Chisholm also called out Leichardt MP Warren Entsch, who shared a meme on his Facebook page showing a drowning man.
“But we shouldn’t be surprised, this is the same political party that protected their former leader when he famously turned his back on Australians during the Black Summer Bushfires to go on a Hawaiian holiday. Queenslanders deserve better,” Senator Chisholm said.
AUSSIE WAY OF DEALING WITH FLOOD DISASTER
A community caught in the middle of a flood disaster have decided to make the most of the extraordinary circumstances and headed to the local pub for a cold beer.
Devastating floods have overwhelmed homes and businesses in the north of the country, leaving dozens stranded on roofs and isolated from essential items.
In Euramo, halfway between Townsville and Cairns, locals fed up with being stranded in floodwaters hopped in their tinnies and inflatable motorboats and headed to the pub.
Photographs shared to the Euramo Hotel Facebook page show a group of about 20 men sitting around a table drinking beers as floodwaters lap at their ankles.
A group of locals headed to the Euramo Hotel for beers in the middle of the Far North Queensland flood disaster. Picture: Facebook
Tinnies and inflatable boats docked at the pub entrance. Picture: Facebook
The Hotel Euramo is situated halfway between Cairns and Townsville. Picture: Google Maps
Eighteen boatloads of locals arrived at the pub, with the owners sharing a cheeky post to their Facebook page on Monday, renaming the venue the “Euramo Yacht Club”.
“Cheers to all of our patrons who turned up today!,” they said. “Bucket list item ticked off for so many of us!!”
“18 boats in total, beating 2018 flood by 6 boats!!”
The pub shared videos of boys playing a game of footy in the brown water and
people reacted to the hilarious scenes in the comments section, with many saying they wish they had a boat to get them there.
“You bloody beauty. Keeping the tradition alive,” one person wrote.
The pub was crowded with locals. Picture: Facebook
“FNQ best place to be!!!! The true Aussie spirit..!!,” another said.
“The Aussie way. Good luck to all,” a third wrote.
Further north in Rossville, local Gavin Dear said he didn’t have heroics on his mind when he, his son and his son’s fiancee jumped in their tinnie and sped towards the Lion’s Den Hotel, just north of Wujal Wujal.
“We heard a rumour there were people stranded on the Lion’s Den Hotel roof. Our house is down there too,” he told Today on Tuesday morning.
Gavin Dear saved locals from floodwaters near Rossville. Picture: ABC
“We launched the tinnie and we heard cries from the rainforest. We found one fella up a tree and we took him back to the bitumen road and went out again towards the pub.
“We could see the people on the roof there.
“Then we heard more cries coming out of the forest and we went back in and found a second fella and he was in a much worse state.
“He was nearly ready to drop, I think.”
Mr Dear said the second man had “uncontrollable shakes” and was “bloody cold and wet too”.
A man clinging to a tree in floodwaters near Rossville. Picture: ABC
Mr Dear, whose family have lost two homes in the floods, said he “never intentionally went in to rescue people”.
“But it was bloody lucky we did, honestly,” he said.
However, he said the “real hero” of the story was a helicopter pilot who made 16 trips to rescue people and drop them off at the pub.
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