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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Caitlin Cassidy and Matilda Boseley (earlier)

Death toll rises to 10 as bodies found in Lismore and Glen Esk – as it happened

New South Wales Queensland Lismore Australia Bureau of Meteorology Ukraine SES Sydney Scott Morrison Ballina

What we learned today, Tuesday 1 March

With that, we will bid adieu for this evening. Wherever you are, I hope you are safe.

Here were today’s major developments, which were, again, predominantly devoted to floods.

  • The national flood death toll stands at 10 after the bodies of two people were discovered today – a 76-year-old man at Glen Esk, Queensland and an 80-year-old woman in Lismore, New South Wales.
  • Queensland and NSW have broken a string of rain records, the Bureau of Meteorology revealed this afternoon. In the six days from 23 to 28 February, at least 33 places in Queensland recorded more than one metre of rain, parts of south-east Queensland and north-east NSW had at least 2.5 times their average rainfall for the month, and in Brisbane, for the first time ever, the city had three consecutive days when more than 200mm fell.
  • An evacuation order was listed for the Ballina CBD this afternoon as flood waters continued to rise. It followed another evacuation order listed for South Ballina this morning.
  • The prime minister, Scott Morrison, says there have already been 80,000 claims for disaster support in 35 active local government areas. A number of people remain unaccounted for as evacuations continue.
  • Meanwhile, a statewide internet outage hit Tasmania for seven hours today after two Telstra cables carrying mobile and fixed data traffic were taken out. Services have now been fully restored.
  • The PM has announced $70m in Ukraine defence support, the majority of which will be lethal weapons, and $35m in aid in the wake of the ongoing crisis.
  • And in an updated forecast, the BoM is predicting Sydney can expect 150-200mm of rain tomorrow, up from the earlier prediction of 60-90mm.

Updated

All internet services in Tasmania restored

After a marathon seven-hour statewide internet outage, services in Tasmania have been restored.

Read our story here:

Updated

Body of man found in Queensland flood waters

From Queensland police:

Police are investigating the death of a man, believed to be a 76-year-old reported missing in flood waters at Glen Esk on Sunday.

Around 9pm on Sunday a report was received of a vehicle in flood waters on the Brisbane Valley Highway. Police, PolAir, SES and swift water rescue crews conducted searches of the area.

This morning police divers located the submerged vehicle and the deceased man in flood waters at Paddy Gully Creek. Investigations are ongoing, and police will prepare a report for the coroner.

The man is the ninth person to die in the Queensland floods.

The national death toll now stands at 10.

Updated

Here is the latest from Victoria police on the baby who went missing:

A baby boy has been reunited with his family following a search for an alleged stolen vehicle in Keysborough this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to reports a white 2013 Toyota RAV4 was allegedly stolen on Putt Grove about 2.10pm.

Investigators have been told an adult had just exited the still running Toyota when an unknown man allegedly entered the driver’s seat and drove away from the scene with the 11-month-old baby still inside the vehicle.

The baby and the Toyota were located in Cranbourne around 5.40pm and a man was taken into custody.

A 46-year-old Frankston man in assisting police with their enquiries, and investigations are ongoing.

Updated

Back in Melbourne, the City of Melbourne’s council has unanimously voted to suspend its sister city relationship with St Petersburg in the wake of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine for an “indefinite period”.

It says:

The City of Melbourne stands with the people of Ukraine, the people of St Petersburg, and victims of war everywhere. We condemn the acts of violent aggression by the Russian Government.

Good news – the baby boy in Melbourne who was missing for several hours after a car was stolen has been found safe and well in Cranbourne.

A 46-year-old man has been arrested.

Updated

In Tasmania, there is still no update on when the internet and mobile outage will be fixed.

A Telstra spokesperson says the company is working urgently to fix the issue, and has identified that two cables carrying mobile and fixed data traffic to the state have been taken out.

One was cut during civil works, while the cause of the problem with the other cable was under investigation.

“Our network across the Bass Strait is configured with multiple redundancies, with the two main links providing back up for each other, and a third, smaller link being available for priority traffic – such as triple zero and voice – on the very rare chance both main links go down,” the spokesperson says.

Unfortunately this is what has occurred. We have crews at the separate sites to repair the cable and get traffic back online. The issues at each site are unrelated.

Updated

Queensland and NSW break string of rain records, Bureau of Meteorology reveals

The Bureau of Meteorology has been checking the rainfall data from the floods in south-east Queensland, revealing a string of broken records and a stunning amount of rain.

In the six days from 23 to 28 February, at least 33 places recorded more than one metre of rain, including an astonishing 1.77 metres falling at Mount Glorious, just east of Wivenhoe Dam that helps reduce flooding in the city.

Parts of south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales had at least 2.5 times their average rainfall for the month, with some areas getting five times the average.

In Brisbane, 792.8mm fell into the city rain gauge over the six days to 9am on 28 February, which is above the previous six-day record of 655.8mm set in January 1974.

For the first time ever, the city had three consecutive days when more than 200mm fell. Before last month, there had only been eight previous days when the city had seen more than 200mm in one day.

The BoM national manager of climate services, Dr Karl Braganza, said this meant the city had received almost 80% of its annual average rainfall in only six days.

In northern New South Wales, several places in the northern rivers region had daily totals above 500mm up to 9am on 28 February.

Braganza said preliminary analysis of rainfall in Lismore, which is currently inundated, suggested more rain had fallen in the town than the previous record in March 2017 when the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Debbie passed through.

Flooding in Chinderah, northern NSW
Flooding in Chinderah, northern NSW. Photograph: Jason O’brien/AAP

Updated

We have an update on the Wickham fire near Newcastle.

As firefighters work to contain the blaze, multiple streets have been evacuated and those residents are unlikely to return home this evening.

Updated

The number of schools to be closed tomorrow in Queensland has been downgraded to 83, the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has confirmed, as emergency services and volunteers continue with clean-up efforts.

Updated

The latest in Ballina:

A good news story amid the gloom.

Evacuation order issued for Ballina CBD

An evacuation order has just been listed for the Ballina CBD.

People in low-lying areas are being told to evacuate now.

An evacuation centre will be established outside of the danger area.

Updated

Thank god.

Just days after backflipping and ruling in Tim Wilson’s favour in the Goldstein sign stoush, Bayside City council has started issuing threats to its residents for premature sign erection.

In a letter dated 28 February the council’s senior investigations officer, Steven Boyce, wrote:

A number of complaints have been received regarding a proliferation of political signage around the Bayside municipality such as the one displayed on your property.

Under state planning legislation community-based signs, which includes political signs, can only be displayed when an election has been called …

As no election has been called the political sign displayed on your property is unauthorised.

Although not the council’s preferred course of action fines may be issued for not complying with state legislation. Your cooperation therefore is requested in removing or completely covering the sign within two days of the date of this letter.

Independent Zoe Daniel has asked the council to revisit its interpretation of the rules but evidently the council is unmoved.

Updated

In Victoria, police are searching for a stolen car with a baby inside.

Emergency services were called with reports a white 2013 Toyota RAV 4 with registration 1HS 5OZ was stolen at Keysborough at about 2.10pm.

Investigators were told an adult had just exited the still running Toyota when an unknown man entered the driver’s seat and drove from the scene with the 11-month-old baby still inside.

The man was described as being between 50 and 60-years-old, about 178cm tall, with a skinny build and short hair.

He was last seen wearing black shorts and carrying a red item of clothing with no shirt on.

Updated

Up to 200mm of rain expected in Sydney

The Bureau of Meteorology has increased its forecast for rain in Sydney on Wednesday in an indication that the predicted east coast low is going to linger in a place that’s not great for the city.

In the updated forecast, Sydney can expect 150-200mm of rain on Wednesday, up from the earlier prediction of 60-90mm. Thursday can expect another 20-45mm, which may seem like the odd shower by comparison.

“The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe, with gusty winds in the evening,” is the not very promising prediction for Wednesday.

So far, the warning hasn’t been updated, but you can expect that will change before long.

As mentioned in an earlier post, Warragamba Dam sits at 99% full as of Tuesday, and has been releasing water to create one metre of “air space”. That space will disappear overnight, as the east coast low forms, and the dam – which accounts for 80% of Sydney’s reservoir totals – will start to spill.

Just how much it spills, and what happens to other tributaries flowing into the Hawkesbury-Nepean floodplain remains to be seen. If BoM’s forecast for 100-150mm for Warragamba itself on Wednesday and another 30-50mm on Thursday play out, then you can expect some big spills.

Earlier today, WaterNSW was not expecting an event on par with last March’s big spill and floods, but east coast lows can be hard things to predict and this particular rain event has tended to surprise.

Updated

Here’s some more footage of the large fire that is currently raging at a storage facility in Wickham, near Newscastle.

More than 40 firefighters and senior officers are working to contain the blaze that is spreading to other units. Fire and rescue NSW says operations will be ongoing “for some time”.

Updated

The flood recovery effort in New South Wales will be getting assistance from 22 SES volunteers from Victoria.

Updated

In Wickham near Newcastle, police are working to contain a large blaze on Annie street. The public are being urged to avoid the area. From floods to fires.

Updated

Personal hardship assistance has been extended to more flood-affected residents in Brisbane, Logan and Noosa local government areas due to ongoing flood conditions.

The federal minister for emergency management, Bridget McKenzie, said the personal hardship grants would be available through the disaster recovery fund. Grants of up to $180 a person or $900 for a family of five or more will be available:

This is the worst flood to hit south-east Queensland since the summer of disasters in 2010-2011 with the full impacts yet to be completely understood, however, we know thousands of residents in these areas have been affected.

Grants are also available now to flood-impacted residents in these three council areas to assist with the safe reconnection for essential services once people can return to their homes. Recovery takes time and the process is tough enough without the extra burden of financial pressures.

The Australian and Queensland governments will continue to work together to identify what additional assistance is required as we start the road to recovery from this major event.

Updated

If you’re in flood-affected areas in NSW, police have established an online register.

Updated

The port of Brisbane will remain closed due to ongoing flooding risks.

If south-east Queenslanders didn’t have enough to deal with, severe weather is prompting authorities to warn residents to take precautions against mosquito-borne illnesses following the detection of Japanese encephalitis virus.

The health minister, Yvette D’Ath, said recent rainfall and flooding between the Gold Coast and Wide Bay meant people were at greater risk of contracting illnesses from mosquitoes:

Mosquitoes carry multiple and potentially dangerous illnesses, and people in rain-affected areas are particularly vulnerable right now given these conditions are ripe for mosquito activity. Some of the most common mosquito-borne illnesses are Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus ... though these are only some of what can be spread by a mosquito bite.

Recently, Japanese encephalitis virus was detected in samples taken from a commercial piggery in southern Queensland. There have also been detections in piggeries in New South Wales and Victoria. Disease caused by the virus occurs most commonly in pigs and horses but can be transmitted to humans from mosquito bites.

An expected rise in mosquito activity in south-east Queensland means there may be a higher chance of the virus being transmitted now, so people must protect themselves.

Updated

SA records two Covid deaths

South Australia’s Covid update is out. There have been 1,618 new cases detected.

There are 111 people being treated in hospital including nine requiring intensive care.

Disability advocates are raising the alarm that people with disability will be disproportionately impacted by this week’s floods.

The Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) is calling for urgent funding of disability organisations, as people are cut-off from regular support workers and moved to evacuation centres which are not fully accessible.

The PDCN chief executive, Serena Ovens, says the disability community will suffer significantly as purpose-built homes, fit with expensive hoists, beds and other mobility devices are destroyed:

For people with physical disability it is not as simple as packing up and moving elsewhere.

This is a dire situation and we are urgently calling for additional funding support to help advocacy organisations manage the load. Also needed is for the NDIS and aged care systems to cover the cost of vital replacement equipment, without long delays or expensive assessments.

This is a clear example of why we need people with disability included in disaster planning to ensure there are appropriate evacuation protocols in place, and for the Australian government to get serious on urgent climate action.

Updated

Guardian Australia photographer Mike Bowers is out and about getting shots of the thunderstorms.

He’s taken an incredible shot of the storm on the Hay Plains between Narrandera and Hay.

A Storm on the Hay Plains between Narrandera and Hay, Photograph by Mike Bowers. Monday 28th February 2022 Guardian Australia
A Storm on the Hay Plains between Narrandera and Hay. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated

Ninth flood death confirmed

Sadly, the body of an elderly woman has been found inside a home in Lismore.

New South Wales Police said the woman in her 80s was found inside a property that had been inundated with flood water.

At about 10.20am today, a member of the public attended a home on Ewing street, concerned for the welfare of a neighbour. Officers attended a short time later and set up a crime scene.

She is yet to be formally identified.

She is the ninth flood death nationally and the first death in northern NSW.

Updated

As expected the Reserve Bank has left its cash rate at the record 0.1% rate after its latest monthly board meeting.

There’s not a lot of shifting in the language, with the RBA governor, Philip Lowe, saying he plans to be “patient” about raising the rate. For one thing, the board hasn’t seen enough price increases or wage growth to be convinced Australia’s underlying inflation rate will be “sustainably” within the 2% to 3% annual range just yet.

There are uncertainties about how persistent the pick-up in inflation will be given recent developments in global energy markets and ongoing supply-side problems, Lowe said in a statement.

At the same time, wages growth remains modest and it is likely to be some time yet before growth in labour costs is at a rate consistent with inflation being sustainably at target. The board is prepared to be patient as it monitors how the various factors affecting inflation in Australia evolve.

Of course the Russian invasion of Ukraine is something new since the February RBA meeting:

The war in Ukraine is a major new source of uncertainty.

Inflation in parts of the world has increased sharply due to large increases in energy prices and disruptions to supply chains at a time of strong demand.

If anything, that sort of uncertainty sounds like it would prompt central bankers everywhere to be just a bit more hesitant when it comes to raising rates.

Some of that assessment is already showing up in the short-term markets that investors can bet on, when it comes to anticipating rate rises. Lately, those punters have pushed back the timing of the first RBA move to July, assuming that first rise is to 0.25%.

Updated

WA records 1,179 new Covid cases

Western Australia has just released its daily Covid update. There have been 1,179 new cases detected – numbers staying relatively stable compared to the past week.

It brings the number of active cases to 5,594.

There are 16 people currently being treated in hospital with the virus.

Stage two restrictions are due to come into effect from Thursday, with the Omicron wave anticipated to peak in the coming fortnight.

Updated

Telstra has confirmed that cuts in the cables to Tasmania are responsible for the entire internet and mobile outage in the state.

Internet services went down for the entire state in the early afternoon on Tuesday, amid reports that Tasmania was down to 30% of its usual internet traffic.


A spokesperson for Telstra confirmed the issue was under investigation:

We are urgently investigating an issue impacting Telstra mobile and fixed connectivity in Tasmania. We believe it is the result of two separate cable cuts on the main routes into Tasmania.

We are urgently working to resolve the issue. Further updates will be provided shortly.

Updated

Here’s the latest from Tasmania, where a sizeable internet outage has hit 4G data, TV stations and some phone networks.

Cows are continuing to emerge in bizarre places as they escape from the floods. This cow is believed to have travelled 33.9km to arrive at Point Danger.

It was later spotted on Duranbah beach.

Updated

National Covid summary

Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 39 deaths from Covid-19.

ACT

  • Deaths: 0
  • Cases: 692
  • In hospital: 45 (with 0 people in ICU)

NSW

  • Deaths: 9
  • Cases: 8,874
  • In hospital: 1,098 (with 49 people in ICU)

Northern Territory

  • Deaths: 0
  • Cases: 565
  • In hospital: 86 (with 4 people in ICU)

Queensland

  • Deaths: 10
  • Cases: 4,453
  • In hospital: 316 (with 26 people in ICU)

South Australia

  • Deaths: 2
  • Cases: 1,618
  • In hospital: 111 (with 9 people in ICU)

Victoria

  • Deaths: 18
  • Cases: 6,879
  • In hospital: 255 (with 41 people in ICU)

Western Australia

  • Deaths: 0
  • Cases: 1,179
  • In hospital: 16 (with 0 people in ICU)

Updated

Queensland records 10 Covid deaths

Amid floods, Queensland has, sadly, recorded 10 Covid-19 deaths overnight.

There are 4,453 new cases.

There are 316 people being treated in hospital, including 26 people requiring intensive care.

Updated

A reminder the Bruce Highway is now open, allowing those stuck in Gympie to evacuate. The Australian defence force is helping with the substantial clean up.

Updated

The severe floods in northern NSW have days before the river levels drop back to more normal levels.

At Lismore, for instance, the Wilsons River may be two metres before its recent peak, but that would have roughly matched any previous record for that town:

As we reported here, Lismore Shire recently reviewed its flood mitigation efforts, and had decided to raise the town levee from protecting Lismore from a flood with a return period in the order of one in 10 years to one in 20. Well, that’s going to have to be reviewed now, of course.

The big rain event is heading southwards and likely to develop into that “beast of the near east”, an east coast low.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Dean Narramore told a media conference this morning that the low was likely to be “compact” but could dump as much as 200mm on various places near Sydney if not on top of it.

More of that here:

Interestingly, that media conference heard Warragamba Dam near Sydney was at 94% ... with the official misspeaking. It’s actually at 99% today and expected to spill tomorrow but – so far – at a lot smaller rate than in March when large areas of the Hawkesbury-Nepean floodplain lived up to its name.

Just for a bit of context, though. The past year has been very wet for parts of eastern Australia, particularly most of NSW. As the following shows, over the past four years, many areas remain seriously dry ... underscoring how severe that big drought was.

Updated

Tasmania is seeing an internet and phone outage.

Unsure at this stage if it’s weather related.

Updated

We have footage of the Lagoon Grass region, just outside of Lismore in north-eastern NSW, from early this morning.

Logan Madeley rode out this morning in a kayak to her neighbour’s home that went under yesterday to check on them. She was driven back home by the motorised tinnie.

The flood water in the video is taking up where roads between the houses used to be.

Simon Clough, former deputy mayor of Lismore, says his house is safely out of the flood waters but his wife’s business, on a second storey in the Lismore CBD, is flooded.

Thousands of people in Lismore and surrounding areas have lost everything. Their homes will take weeks to clean and many businesses have been destroyed.

This flood is at least two metres higher than we’ve previously experienced. This can only be explained by the increase in sea temperatures and the increase in moisture in the air. These are both factors directly related to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In other words: climate change.

Updated

Ballina’s mayor has called on her community not to panic as Lismore’s record flood waters inundate rural properties in the shire.

Sharon Cadwallader said there has been about half a dozen rescues from homes and people trapped in vehicles that had entered flood waters. She says a number of rural properties have been inundated and the shire is effectively cut off, with the Ballina airport closed to all but emergency aircraft.

About 100km of the Pacific Highway south of Ballina has also been closed due to rising flood waters, and there are reports on social media of motorists camping by the road.

According to the NSW Live Traffic website, the highway is cut from West Ballina to Glenugie in the south, near the Big River highway. Further north, the Pacific motorway (M1) is cut between the Cudgera Creek Road and the Gold Coast highway.

Cadwallader said Ballina was certainly in a “terrible situation” facing a “one in 500-year flood”.

But we are holding our own. We are seeing flood levels we’ve never seen before. It is higher that the 1974 and ’54 floods.

An evacuation order was issued just before 6am for anyone living in the low-lying areas of Ballina, West Ballina, North Ballina and south towards Wardell.

Cadwallader said she wasn’t sure where the blockages on the Pacific highway were, but pleaded with people not to drive through flood waters. The mayor is also asking Ballina residents to limit their use of household water.

Updated

Last question before the rain comes and Morrison and Dutton head for shelter.

Reporter:

How quickly can the money can be spent on weapons and deployed? How do you get into Ukraine ... will it use the same roads the refugees use, is part of the airbase going to be carved out for allies to send weaponry?

Morrison:

Our support for Ukraine will get there fast – and I won’t give Putin a heads up on how it gets there but it’s coming.

Updated

Back to those who have expressed an interest in fighting for Ukraine. There is still a grey area as to whether this is legal.

Morrison says it would be difficult for Border Force to intercept anyone heading to Ukraine for the above purpose without clear intent and any intelligence, but says two things:

One, don’t do it. Don’t do it. Secondly, the legal position, at best, is unclear; at best is unclear. And as a result, we would not encourage people to join in those efforts.

From a legal view, it’s a different thing. I know you are saying ... legally they couldn’t counter, that was [an] illegal act. They could not assume that. That’s my very clear message. Don’t assume it is – on the evidence we have it is unlikely.

Updated

On to China. A reporter asks if the relationship between Russia and China poses a threat to the Pacific.

“Of course I’m concerned,” Morrison replies. “I have been calling this out for many years”.

When you get the close corporation of autocratic, authoritarian states of that scale and with that capability, of course that presents real risk to global stability and particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. It’s why I’ve been so forward-leaning in insisting that countries in our own region, particularly China, wouldn’t offer a lifeline to Russia but be shutting that off ...

The impact of the world’s response to impose a price on president Putin needs to be reinforced by countries like China. If they extend the lifeline to them, as they have in taking their wheat exports, by easing trade restrictions on Russian wheat into China, that undermines the principle, stances being taken by so many other countries around the world.

Updated

Morrison is asked about Russia’s removal from the G8, and whether the country should be removed from the G20.

Using strong language here, Morrison says Russia (Putin) has “self-selected themselves as a pariah state”, and nobody should have anything to do with them.

That’s how they should be known, all around the world. No one should have anything to do with them, frankly, right around the world. The issues you raise around the G20 are real issues we are looking into with Indonesia, who have the G20 chair this year. We want to support them in how they are managing the sensitive issue.

The G20 has a lot of members and that’s a lot of interest to manage and we want to support Indonesia in successfully chairing the G20 this year, but I think there has been a very clear view expressed particular by countries like Australia ... about how this will need to be managed.

Updated

Dutton chimes in:

The situation with Russia and Ukraine at the moment really is sending out a very strong message to every free-loving country across the world. This is an incredibly important point in history and not a time for weakness but strength, and those countries like Australia, like Nato countries, like European countries, need to stand together and stare down this active aggression.

The situation in Ukraine today, there are genuine concerns in Europe that they don’t know what is next. There is great uncertainty here in the Indo-Pacific as well, and that is why it is incredibly important for countries to stand up for the rule of law, for democracy, human rights, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We are in good company.

For all those reasons Australia has long been a target of cyber attacks, state-sponsored cyber attacks, out of Iran, North Korea, out of China, Russia, elsewhere, those countries with crime groups and syndicates. Sophisticated hackers is the reality of it so we have long been a target for that reason.

Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison today in Canberr
Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison today in Canberra. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Morrison is asked if, in moving to lethal support for Ukraine, Australia is being made an “enemy of Russia” and a potential target for reprisals or cyber attacks.

He says “Australia will always stand up to bullies”.

We stand up to bullies here in our own region. In standing up to bullies in our own region, we have been targeted, Australian economic interests [have been] targeted, so my government will never be back down ... For Australia’s interests and a liberal democracy in today’s world, demarcating between autocrats and authoritarian regimes ... we can’t be absent. That is directly in Australia’s national interest.

Now I can report that to date, we have not seen that state-sponsored cyber activity to Australia, but we should remain on the ready. We have been acting in concert with countries all around the world when it comes to the support that we have been providing.

Updated

Defence minister Peter Dutton is up.

He echoes Morrison’s thanks to the Australian defence force, and says latest figures show personnel have been involved in the rescue of 74 people.

I send a strong and clear message to Australians, particularly those in New South Wales who are watching these scenes unfold: take additional precautions to evacuate earlier than what you otherwise would have been.

Updated

Turning to visas, the PM says outstanding applications for visas to Australia to be processed have been granted “in one form or another”.

We are receiving around 100 applications a day which are being processed as the top priority. They’re visa applications across the entire migration program so they offer temporary visas on skills, education visas, family reunion visas and getting the stamp. They can come to Australia. For some of those on temporary visas, their attention will be different, they want to come to Australia for a period of time and I have no doubt they will want to return to their home country.

We are preparing options to support the broader humanitarian effort to have programs like we had for Kosovo some years ago. We shouldn’t make the mistake to think every person who is seeking to leave Ukraine doesn’t want to return to their home country ... We want to ensure ... we can provide the temporary refuge and we will seek to do just that with many other countries around the world.

If that requires supplementing our existing program, like with the Afghanistan program we are currently working on, we will. We will meet the demand with our other partners, and Australia has a strong track record of doing all of those things.

Updated

Morrison says there has been “no change” in Russia’s “unlawful, violent and aggressive intent” in Ukraine:

The economic diplomatic and defence response has been far stronger than anticipated – and particularly, I believe, by the Russian government. It is having a very serious impact on their progress ... Every day that that resistance continues, every day that we impose a cost on the Russian government and all those who support them in their unlawful acts, makes it even harder for Russia to continue to pursue their objectives in Ukraine.

This is also likely to lead to an even more violent response from Russia. Anyone who thinks the Russian government is just going to sit there, I think doesn’t understand the intent and the outrageous objectives of president Putin. Our goal is to impose the most significant costs on Russia that we possibly can on the Russian government and all those who support them, as a clear warning to anyone else who would seek to engage in such unlawful acts of aggression and violence through an invasion of that nature.

Morrison says the additional support announced today is “answering the call from president Zelensky”.

He said ‘Don’t give me a ride, give me ammunition’ and that is exactly what the Australian government has agreed to do.

Updated

Australia commits $70m in Ukraine defence support, $35m in aid

Morrison turns to Ukraine.

He says the Australian government will commit US$50m to support both lethal and non-lethal defensive support for Ukraine.

The overwhelming majority of that – that is some AU$70m – will be in the lethal category. We are talking missiles, ammunition, we are talking supporting them in their defence of their own home land in Ukraine and we will do that in partnership with Nato.

I am not going to go into the specifics of that because I don’t plan to give the Russian government a heads up about what is coming their way, but I can assure them it is coming your way.

In addition, the government will commit an initial $35m in humanitarian support including some $35m to international organisations to support their efforts with shelter, food, medical care, water and education support.

This will be our opening contribution. We expect over time there will be further requests and we will be addressing those as time goes on and the needs.

Updated

Morrison assures those hit by floods across Queensland and New South Wales that “at the same time as we’re preparing the response to be there, we are already preparing, together with the state and local governments, the recovery and clean-up operation”.

He has asked the treasurer and assistant treasurer to contact all the banks and insurance companies today and “be clear to the insurance companies what our expectations are about their response”.

I look forward to that being a positive response.

80,000 claims for disaster support

Morrison says there have already been 80,000 claims for disaster support in the 35 active local government areas.

More than $3m has been distributed in payments through Services Australia.

In the case of the disaster recovery payment, which is a $1,000 payment for adults and $400 for each child, together with the disaster recovery allowance – which is an ongoing payment for up to 13 weeks for those whose income is interrupted – they are done 100% by the Australian government and they were initiated even before, in some cases, the request was made by states and territories.

Morrison says Emergency Management Australia and the national disaster recovery and resilience agency are holding a national coordinating mechanism meeting this afternoon with all states and territories.

Updated

Morrison says he rang NSW premier Dominic Perrottet yesterday and made further commonwealth offers - presumably related to ADF support. He says was pleased to see them taken up.

There are 600 ADF personnel currently assisting with the flood response.

I have been pleased with the way that state, local and commonwealth agencies, Australian government agencies have been working closely together, whether it is in Queensland, New South Wales, the agencies are experienced in dealing with these issues but the scale of these flood events and the weather events have come at a level which we haven’t seen for some time. They have adapted well to overcome the challenges that they are currently faced with. We are prepositioning further ADF support along the eastern coast of Australia.

Morrison says the flooding event in Lismore has been “without precedent, almost”.

It has broken all previous records.

They have always been used to floods but nothing like this in their lifetime. Breaching that levee bank and reaching into places that even long-time locals never expected it to occur or to see in their life time. We are now seeing the flooding events follow the waves down through Richmond and impacting on other settled areas.

This rather significant weather system we will continue to see moving down the east coast of Australia. We will see it come into the central coast of Sydney and we are already experiencing elements of that right now, and particularly over the next 24 hours. We will then see that extend further into the south coast of New South Wales. And we need to be continuing to be preparing ourselves for the impacts in those regions.

The advice from the Bureau of Meteorology has been that we should also be aware of potential impacts further south in East Gippsland and in the north of Tasmania.

Updated

Scott Morrison is speaking now. The prime minister thanks the Australian defence force for their bravery and courage enacting rescues across the north of New South Wales, and acknowledges the extreme weather is likely to last for some days.

This is one of many acts of heroism and courage that we have seen, not just from the defence force but from police, emergency services personnel and by civilians themselves as we have been encountering what has been an extraordinary weather event – a ‘weather bomb’ as it has been referred to in Queensland – as it makes its way down the Australian east coast.

There has been a series of extreme weather and flooding events which are continuing and will still continue for many days to come. Further storms, we have been advised by the BoM ... further flooding activity is expected throughout the week and the peaks that we have seen, in Brisbane and other places, are expected to continue for several days.

Despite the terrible impacts that these flooding events have demonstrated, what we have seen is extraordinary courage and response across all agencies.

Updated

Woman's body found in Lismore property – reports

There are reports a woman’s body has been found inside a property near the Lismore CBD. A number of people remained unaccounted for this morning.

A NSW police spokesperson said “we cannot confirm anything yet” with updates to come “as soon as possible”.

Updated

In Bungawalbin, south of Ballina in NSW, three people and their dog have been rescued from a rooftop.

Joining Victoria, South Australia emergency services crew are being stationed to provide additional rescues and support in New South Wales.

The situation is far from over in Lismore, where lucky animals have managed to rush to higher ground.

Here’s the latest from the weather bureau:

Thunderstorms and showers may result in heavy rainfall through parts of inland NSW.

A broad trough of low pressure over western NSW combines with a large high pressure system south-east of Tasmania, resulting in a humid easterly stream which will promote severe thunderstorm development today.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Condobolin, Deniliquin, Griffith, Narrandera, Jerilderie and Darlington Point.

Updated

Back in Queensland, the Warrego motorway eastbound lanes have been reopened. Highway traffic will no longer be diverted to the Ipswich city centre.

Updated

China’s complaint over Australian trade measures will proceed to next stage at WTO

As has been widely reported, Australia has gone to the World Trade Organisation to challenge Beijing’s decision to impose tariffs on Australian barley and wine, which the Australian government argues is part of a campaign of “economic coercion”.

But China has also lodged a complaint against Australia’s imposition of anti-dumping duties on imports of wind towers, stainless steel sinks and certain railway wheels from China.

This action by Beijing was first announced in June 2021.

The WTO has announced that members agreed at a meeting of the dispute settlement body (DSB) yesterday to establish a dispute panel to examine China’s complaint about Australia (the previous time this was considered, one was not established).

China had argued at the meeting that the trade remedy investigations and the decisions made by Australia against Chinese exporters “lacked factual bases, were opaquely explained and are legally undisciplined”, according to a summary issued by the WTO this morning.

Australia had maintained that it was confident it complied with its WTO obligations, and remained ready to resolve this matter with China through bilateral discussions.

Many other countries or economies are taking an interest in the case: the European Union, the United States, Russia, Canada, Brazil, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore, Korea, India, Taiwan and Japan reserved their third-party rights to take part in the proceedings – which doesn’t indicate what position they will take.

The trade minister, Dan Tehan, said in a statement this afternoon that Australia “respects the right of any WTO member to take its concerns to the WTO”, adding:

Australia will robustly defend this matter before a WTO panel.

Updated

150 state schools in Queensland to remain closed

Queensland minister for education Grace Grace says most state schools across south-east Queensland will reopen tomorrow following inspections carried out over the past two days, however more than 100 will remain shut.

The number of closed state schools is expected to drop from around 550 today to nearer 150 tomorrow.

Grace said:

Our teams have been working very hard to examine the damage to our schools and determine which are safe to open. In addition, as we move out of the most extreme part of this weather event, we expect travel to become easier and safer.

We expect the majority of staff and students to be able to safely travel to these sites, but please only head into school if it’s safe for you to do so.

Remote learning for the 150 schools to remain closed would be provided “where possible”.

These schools are shut either because inspections show they aren’t safe for students to attend, or because we haven’t even been able to access them to carry out an inspection.

Those schools that have had more significant damage may need to be closed for longer periods of time. They will be supported by the department to find local solutions that suit their school communities to ensure safety and continuity of learning. Individual management plans for each school are being developed, but options will include remote learning, temporary buildings and the use of other local schools.

Updated

Many thanks to Matilda Boseley. I’ll be with you for the rest of the afternoon from Sydney, where it is currently pouring and my bathroom is still leaking.

With that, I shall hand you over to the amazing Caitlin Cassidy, who will bring you updates throughout the afternoon.

Updated

By the way we are expecting to hear from the prime minister in about 15 minutes, when he will stand up to discuss the ongoing flooding situation.

Updated

Hundreds of cars stranded for more than 24 hours on flooded highway

Hundreds of vehicles remain stranded on the M1 highway between Ballina and Tweed Heads, after floodwaters cut the road in numerous places.

North-bound vehicles had to work together to rearrange themselves onto a series of little islands as floodwaters rose around them overnight.

Having been stranded more than 24 hours, how people are faring depends on how well-stocked the fellow travellers on their particular island have been.

Some stretches of road have trucks laden with food, which are being distributed among the masses. On others, rations are in shorter supply.

The road is a mix of truck drivers, surfers, holidaymakers, grey nomads and day trippers.

Jahron Ostrom and his father were driving a truck filled with the family’s possessions as they relocated from Melbourne to the Gold Coast when they got stuck.

He said on Tuesday he’d had a little bit of water but otherwise had been making do with the rushed protein bar he had for breakfast on Monday morning, more than 24 hours previously.

Everyone is so lovely. Everyone has been offering food, but there’s a lot of kids over there where we are. Kids go first.

Updated

An online threat directed to the wife of Australian all-rounder Ashton Agar has been investigated by government security agencies. Madeline Agar was sent a disturbing message on Instagram warning her about her husband’s safety during Australia’s first tour of Pakistan in 24 years.

The Australian team arrived in Rawalpindi on Sunday, with the first Test of the series starting this Friday. It has been suggested the message was sent from a fake account, most likely from someone outside of Pakistan, and authorities do not believe it is a credible threat.

The message warned Agar’s life would be at risk in Pakistan and also made threats against the couple’s children, which they do not have.

“Cricket Australia is aware of a social media post, of which the nature and content has been investigated by the PCB, CA and combined government security agencies,” a Cricket Australia statement read.

You can read the full report below:

Updated

Flash flooding warnings in Victoria.

Reporter:

What’s the situation with Wivenhoe [Dam] if more rain does come through tomorrow or the day after?

Palaszczuk:

Yes, so, look, that’s another good question too. The bureau advise us this morning that it should be clear today and tomorrow. They are expecting some severe thunderstorms with isolated rain scattered across the catchment areas over Thursday and Friday. So we’ll get more of a bureau update tomorrow and of course they’re available to brief during the day as well.

Sorry, I forgot to add earlier too that the rain event that we actually experienced here was actually larger than 1974. And for those of you who remember – I can just remember it – it was a really, really big event back then and a lot of people still have their memories from that time.

Updated

Queensland police 'disappointed' by flood burglaries

Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll says there have been three instances of people burglarizing homes or businesses that were forced to be abandoned due to the floods.

Disappointingly, though, I have just been briefed this morning that there have been three instances of burglary from yesterday afternoon and into the evening. That has occurred at Goodna, Blackstone and Bundamba, involving premises obviously that were inundated and evacuated through this event.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested yesterday afternoon, charged with burglary offences and detectives are currently investigating the two other matters ...

In relation to these three instances of burglary, two were businesses and one was a private home. I cannot overstate how disappointed and disgusted I am that that has occurred in areas where people have had to leave their houses.

Can I please ask again that the community be very mindful of this, any activity is reported.

The detectives will continue investigating this and to say that we will continue investigating with earnest is an understatement.

So this is the warning out there – if you think that you can break into these houses, we will investigate you, we will arrest you, and charge you, and put you before the courts, like you deserve.

Updated

Fears for two people still missing in Queensland

Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll says there are still grave concerns for two missing people.

As of last night, we still have eight flood-related deaths. Thankfully that number has not increased at all.

However, we do hold grave concerns for two missing people, a male person who fell off his vessel on the 26th and a second person who was swept up in the flood waters in his vehicle at the Brisbane Valley highway on the 27th.

We have put substantial additional patrols in all of the affected areas. So all of those areas that have been impacted by the floods – businesses as well as houses – and these additional patrols are coming from mostly our specialist areas – crime intelligence command and operations support command.

Updated

Palaszczuk:

The [Bureau of Meteorology] did some excellent work overnight to give some comparisons, but the rain event Brisbane had over that 2-to-3-day period in total is in equivalent to 80% of the rainfall we would receive in one year. That’s phenomenal. In two to three days, 80% of the rainfall that Brisbane would usually receive was during that period and we have over 30 suburbs across the south-east that received over 1,000mm.

And to give you an extent of those areas – Mount Glorious, Pomona, Upper Springbrook, Bracken Ridge, Murrumba Downs, Albany Creek, Everton Hills, Strathpine, Clontarf, Aspley, Normandy, Eatons Hill, Black Mountain, Kippa-ring, Brighton ... Cedar Creek Road, Samford valley, Mitchelton, Caboolture – that’s just to name a few.

That’s to put it into context for everyone the sheer amount of rainfall that was right across that south-east Queensland catchment area. In terms of our evacuation centres, we have 1,152 people in our evacuation centres.

In more good news, the barge has stabilised, if you remember that emergency we were told about – we were at Howard Smith Wharf yesterday when the commissioner took me aside at the SES depot and said we had an emergency on the Brisbane River and people had to be evacuated. My understanding is last night they were able to stabilise it, so fingers crossed that remains the case.

Updated

The Queensland premier says they are still struggling to get supplies into the region town of Gympie after flood cut off a number of roads to the town.

In Gympie, the flood levels are going down. We’re trying to get supplies into Gympie.

It’s a big issue everywhere in terms of supermarkets. They’ll experience a few shortages at the moment. I know the deputy premier is talking to Coles and Woolies about supply.

There’s also people without power and we’re trying to connect the power as quickly as possible as well. I want to make some comments about the amount of rainfall received.

Updated

Queensland premier: 200 to 300 homes set to be affected in Logan

Palaszczuk:

In good news today, the Brisbane peak did not get as high as yesterday. At last report, it was about 3.35 metres. It could get to 3.5 metres but it wasn’t at that 3.85 metre peak, so that’s very good news.

In Ipswich, the conditions are easing there, [it] reached a peak of 16.7 metre.

We just heard from the mayor of Logan and of course they’re now experiencing their peak at Logan. They’re expecting around 200 or 300 homes to be impacted there and once again, comparable to Tropical Cyclone Debby in 2017 ...

Maryborough is hitting its peek at 10.3 metres. From all reports, I’m hearing the levee is holding up well in Maryborough, but can I do a big shout-out to the residents of Maryborough? This is their second flood in two months so they’re doing it very tough, so we extend our best wishes to them as well.

Updated

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:

It’s down to about 8.7 metres and we also know that the Centenary Bridge is not accessible at the moment and they’re working around the clock to get that up. We’ve had a report from [Transport and Main Roads].

In the next couple of hours that should be happening. Can I mention to everyone there is a lot of traffic on the roads out there ...

During this time, we need to have our emergency services that can get through. Please, everyone, be safe on the roads and allow our emergency services vehicles to get through. A lot of roads are down at the moment and a lot of people are going through a lot as well.

Updated

The Queensland premier is speaking from Brisbane. Let’s go there now.

Oh no! There is a lost, washed up cow on the Gold Coast!

Updated

Reporter:

Would you support a private member’s bill that would see fines introduced for people who deliberately drive through flood waters with the revenue to go to the SES? It’s an idea one MP sort of suggested?

Perrottet:

I’ll seek advice on that. What is clear and we say this every single flood event – do not drive through flood waters. And every single flood event, people drive through flood waters. Do not do it. Do not take the risk. Do not risk your life or your family’s life.

That is clear. This is not the time to be having discussions in relation to bills of that sort, of issuing fines. This is the time to be saying very clearly, once again, to people across our state, whether you’re in the north or if floods come to the south, do not drive through flood waters. We say it every single time, yet we continue to see people taking that risk. That risk is not worth it.

Updated

Land slips and coastal erosion possible if weather system hit NSW central coast

Reporter:

Are we expecting this to move to the Central Coast and Sydney metropolitan area? How intense will that get? Is it a repeat of the 2016 Northern Beaches

Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology:

So this east coast low which has brought the heavy rain and the damage and the devastation across south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales is off the coast of New South Wales and going to move closer.

At this stage it’s not looking as intense or strong as we saw in previous events such as in June 2016 and more recently as well through the March 2020 and 2021 floods. This is more of a compact system, so that’s why it is highly dependent on where exactly that low tracks, because the worst of the weather, the strongest winds, the heaviest rainfall and the worst of the beach erosion, will occur near and just south of where that low pressure system crosses, if it does, or when it comes close to the coast.

At this stage we’re thinking around the Newcastle area down to around the Wollongong area. Obviously, that includes Sydney but how that develops tonight and into tomorrow will depend on the impacts.

Severe weather warnings remain current. Heavy rainfall remains likely with isolated totals up to 200mm possible. Coastal erosion is possible, particularly south of the low, where strong onshore winds will lead to coastal erosion and damaging and hazardous surf and damaging winds could bring down trees and power lines and land slips and mudslides are possible.

We’ve already seen that in north-eastern parts of New South Wales and they’re also possible particularly in hilly terrain where heavy falls occur. Dangerous and hazardous driving conditions as well. Travel will be dangerous. Please be careful.

Updated

Perrottet has hit back at NSW Labor for “playing politics” during an emergency following those helicopter questions.

What we shouldn’t be doing right now is playing politics in the middle of a 1-in-1,000-year natural disaster.

We’ll take advice from the SES in relation to what resources they need. When resources are required through to those premiers reaching out and providing that support, we’ll utilise that resource.

But we won’t endanger other areas of the public service without following the advice of our experts and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

Updated

The SES commissioner, Carlene York, has given a more decisive answer as to why those helicopters are not being used.

We have not called on the National Parks and Wildlife. It’s naive to think that a helicopter pilot, because they can pilot a helicopter, can do a rescue. It is a highly technical, well-trained skill to land on a roof.

I’ve seen some amazing pictures of what helicopter pilots have done to land on the hip of a roof in the middle of a storm, where it’s wet, to let their officers get out of the helicopter and save lives of community members. I’m absolutely in awe of them.

National Parks and Wildlife are not trained for the purposes of our rescues to go and rescue community members. We would love it if we could have more helicopters but I’m also not going to put the lives of helicopter operators at risk, as well as the community that may be under that helicopter.

So we have got every resource that we can have spread across the Northern Rivers and into now the Mid North Coast to help the community get to safety and with well-trained people who have trained for many years to do this and have done many flood rescues before or bushfire rescues or any natural disaster, to bring that community member or family to safety at another location.

Updated

I mentioned before the environment minister was being grilled in budget estimates this morning as to why the wildlife service helicopters were not being used in flood rescues.

Perrottet has been asked about this at the press conference.

Reporter:

Premier, just talking about resources, budget estimates this morning heard that Parks and Wildlife have five helicopters on the ground not called on. People need rescues. Shouldn’t they be in the sky? Why haven’t they been called on?

Perrottet:

That’s not the advice I’ve received and Shane will speak to that ...

I’ve received contrary advice in relation to that point and I’ll have Shane speak to it. I want to make this point. Through the standing-up of the state emergency operations centre and the experience that we’ve had right across government with natural disaster after natural disaster from bushfires and floods and floods again, the coordination that I have witnessed, both as Premier and in my previous role, is that it is second to none in terms of all agencies working together and my commitment is to ensure that every single person, every single community, gets back on their feet as we move through this difficult period of time.

This situation is distressing for many and it will affect more. The ultimate focus now is saving lives and getting people to safety. But as we move through this period of time, as Shane has indicated, the clean up and getting communities back on their feet will take weeks, months and years, and we’ve seen that in the past. We’re talking to the councils about it today.

Updated

Minor to moderate flooding expected in metropolitan Sydney

Reporter:

Are you able to give us an insight into which parts of metropolitan Sydney are likely to see flooding if the rainfall event [continues] ?

Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology:

That’s right. It’s going to be a wet couple of days in pretty much all of the Sydney metropolitan and right up into the far western parts of the area.

In the far western suburbs we’re looking at rain continuing as well. At this stage, minor to moderate flooding but it’s highly dependent on that low.

The low crosses just to the north of the area, and that means the heaviest rain and strongest winds would cross through the metropolitan area.

If it shifts south of our area, it would keep the rain offshore and we’re probably talking minor flooding expected for many communities on the Hawkesbury-Nepean.

If that heavy rain event continues, we’re talking moderate flood warnings into Richmond and Windsor.

Updated

NSW SES commissioner Carlene York has urged people not to enter or play in floodwater, or return to homes or businesses while evacuation orders are still in place.

There is still danger to those who might want to go around the community. We ask people not to go and sightsee in these dangerous areas, not to go into areas subject to evacuation orders.

I know homeowners and business owners will want to get back in and see. I ask you please don’t do it while the evacuation orders are still current.

We will be going into those areas to assess the damage and when we can, lift that evacuation order so you can go in. We’ll then hand over to recovery and that will be done seamlessly, and I know Shane and his team from [Resilience NSW] are already working with their plans in relation to that community.

Please, as community members, don’t put your life in danger again by going into those areas when it’s not safe. The waters are polluted. There’s a lot of debris, a lot of roads are still cut. It’s not safe to go back. Please remain patient.

Updated

ACT records 692 new Covid cases

National parks helicopter fleet sitting on runway instead of helping in floods

A fleet of NSW government helicopters has remained “on the tarmac” when they could have been deployed to help in the unprecedented flood crisis in the state’s north, reports AAP.

Environment minister James Griffin was asked at a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday about the absence of five NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service helicopters from the unfolding crisis.

None of the aircraft had been deployed to help in the unparalleled flood disaster gripping the Northern Rivers region.

Some 34,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes and another 310,000 have been warned to be ready to flee as the crisis worsens on Tuesday.

NPWS officials said they did not know what the helicopter fleet was being used for, with the hearing told the aircraft could be “sitting on the tarmac”.

“There are clearly government assets that are available and I am a little bit bemused about why they’re they haven’t been asked to assist,” Labor’s Penny Sharp put to Griffin.

Griffin:

Any and all resources available if requested, we’ll do what we humanly can to make them available to support the efforts of flood recovery, and the issues that are unfolding there right now ...

It goes without saying that any opportunity for my particular portfolio to assist with the challenges the northern rivers community are facing, we will happily do so.

Labor’s Walt Secord urged a more proactive approach from government, saying it should be “all hands on deck”.

You have five helicopters. Wouldn’t it have been a good idea to fly them to the north coast to rescue people?

Griffin, in response, said a “co-ordinated approach” to the rescue effort was needed and that if he was asked to help he would “absolutely do that”.

The hearing was also told the NPWS had 125 staff with firefighting training who could be sent to help in rescue efforts in the state’s north.

“Their skills, I think, are valuable,” Sharp said.

As the flood emergency worsens, State Emergency Services commissioner Carlene York is co-ordinating a multi-agency response that includes the ADF, NSW Fire and Rescue, police and ambulance.

Updated

Cook has urged people across the state to prepare for a possibility of an evacuation order.

As this event moves south, people in Sydney and on the south coast have time. We have seen what is unfolded in the northern parts of the state over the past few days. The time to prepare is now.

If you are the subject of an evacuation order or warning in the north, please heed the advice of the emergency services organisations. We don’t make these decisions lightly. They are based on the good information, the best information we have available at the time.

So I would implore people to prepare. And that extends to people in Sydney and also to people now on the south coast.

It's 'unrealistic' to think no one has died, NSW emergency services minister says

The NSW minister for emergency services, Steph Cook, says the Wilsons River, near Lismore, has peaked at 14.37 metres but will remain at a major flood level “at least until tomorrow”.

She said people must prepare for the possibility that there have been lives lost.

Unfortunately, things are not going to get much better up there for a little while.

While the Wilsons River at Lismore has peaked at 14.37 metres, that river will remain at a major flood level at least until tomorrow. As those waters come down, the emergency will continue. We’ll ensure that our emergency services operations remain up there, working around the clock, until every single person has been rescued.

The priority remains on saving lives and keeping people safe. That is our priority, whether it’s currently under way in Lismore, or as it moves south with this event.

We must all prepare ourselves for the possibility that lives have been lost. Whilst I would love to think and I truly hope that we will not see any deaths from this event, I think that it is unrealistic that a disaster of this magnitude will mean that there are no lives lost.

Updated

NSW premier says wild weather is moving south, closer to Sydney

Perrottet has warned that the wild weather up north could soon move closer to Sydney.

I also want to say as well, we know that at the moment this is focused on the north. But very quickly, as we’re seeing in metropolitan Sydney now, severe and heavy rainfall and then it will move to the south.

So, to all people, particularly across the east coast of our state, these issues may come your way. And for everyone across our state, we’re seeing what is happening in the north, we’re seeing that collective community spirit, but ultimately as well, as this progresses, we need to continue to follow those instructions from the SES.

So if those evacuation orders are made, if those evacuation warnings are made, we need to get ready, we need to work together to get through this as a state.

Updated

Perrottet:

This morning we have made, along with the commonwealth, national disaster declarations for 17 council areas.

They will provide immediate financial support for those people who need it, and in addition, it ensures that financial support with the state and federal government is there to help our communities get back on their feet, as the rivers subside. We know today we’re focused on rescue.

That is our number one focus from a state government level, from a council level and a commonwealth level, and providing care and support for those people who have been isolated and that are currently in one of our evacuation centres.

But this will very quickly move to recovery. And we’ll be doing everything we can, working around the clock, to ensure that no-one is left behind, that every person is back on their feet and every community continues to stand strong following this.

Updated

The NSW premier has urged people to follow SES evacuation orders regardless of if their houses were usually safe from other floods in the past.

We’ve seen, as you have seen, as we have all seen, the flood rivers in Lismore last night, reaching 2m above a record high. These images are devastating and distressing.

And we’ve seen 1,000 flood rescues so far. 6,000 calls for assistance. Today, currently, there are 26 evacuation orders in the place.

26 evacuation orders affecting 40,000 people. If there’s an evacuation order in place, please follow the instructions and leave. Unless it’s not safe to do so, if you’re unsure, please contact the SES on 132500.

In addition to that, we have five evacuation warnings in place. These evacuation warnings affect over 300,000 people in the north. 300,000 people are currently impacted by an evacuation warning.

If an evacuation warning has been issued, please follow the instructions. If you can leave safely, please do so. Please do not wait. Please gather your belongings and please follow the instructions from the SES.

Perrottet:

We’ve all seen the devastating images of people in the flood zones, in the northern rivers. We’ve seen people stranded on roofs for hours, we’ve seen children being rescued, we’re seeing people stranded on bridges. But importantly as well, we’re also seeing a community come together.

In supporting one another, to get everyone through. And that’s the spirit of the people in the northern rivers and right across our state. We’ll be doing everything, continue to do everything that we can, to get everyone to safety, and get these communities right across our state, back on their feet as quickly as possible.

We’ve done that in the past, we’ve done that as a state, together, and we’ll do it again.

The NSW premier Dominic Perrottet is speaking now.

Updated

Albanese also addressed the emergency services minister, Bridget McKenzie’s, comments this morning suggesting that the emergency response fund was designed to be stored and saved as a last resort.

Updated

Albanese also addressed the ongoing violence in Ukraine:

We continue to be dismayed by the scenes from Ukraine. The people of Ukraine are doing it so tough but they’re fighting for their national sovereignty.

They’re fighting against this aggression from Russia, totally unwarranted, totally unprovoked. And the bombing of Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine needs to stop and needs to stop now.

Vladimir Putin’s extraordinary comments about nuclear weapons potentially is just completely over the top. This guy just needs to back off and needs to get the message, he is isolated in the world.

And that’s why we support the strongest possible action by Australia in partnership with the United States, with the United Kingdom, and with Nato, to make sure that we hold Vladimir Putin to account and that we express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine at this difficult time.

Updated

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is speaking now from Melbourne, urging people affected by the Queensland and NSW floods to follow the SES guidelines.

We’ve seen in northern New South Wales, where Janelle Saffin, a good friend of mine, the member for Lismore, had to swim to safety, it highlights exactly how tough they’re doing it in the northern rivers. We know that Ballina is being evacuated.

We know that places like Logan, Ipswich, and Maryborough in Queensland are really doing it tough. I have spoken to the Queensland state government today, I have spoken to federal members, including Justine Elliott, this morning as well. They’re looking after their communities. I want to say to people, stay safe. Follow the advice which is out there.

I’ll be visiting Queensland this afternoon, going to the emergency response centre tomorrow morning in Queensland. And I just also want to say that for those people who are continuing to put their own lives on the line and take risks themselves for their fellow Australians, we’re seeing the best of Australia at the worst of times. As we always do.

When times are really tough, Australians show their compassion and their care for each other and we’re seeing that in South East Queensland, we’re seeing that on the northern rivers as well. So, a big thank you and shout-out to those people in emergency services, the SES, to volunteers, who are helping at this time.

The government needs to do more. We think that Services Australia needs to be on the ground in these communities.

Updated

More footage from the Woodburn bridge.

Judging by aerial footage from the 7 Network, it appears a number of cars have become trapped on the bridge leading into Murwillumbah after floodwater rose up to block off either end.

I’ll bring you more updates when I can.

Updated

Record flooding across northern New South Wales will force Lismore shire council to rework its new flood management strategy even before it is implemented, and other regions will probably follow suit as insurers tally the cost of worsening climate extremes.

Lismore mayor Steve Krieg, just 10 weeks into the role, says his town is struggling to cope with hundreds of emergency calls. He says the council will need to revisit plans to lift the area’s levee banks after the Wilsons River peaked on Monday afternoon at 14.4 metres, topping the previous records by two metres.

“I think we’re going to have to redo a lot of things,” Krieg said. “There were a lot of decisions made in the past that probably weren’t in the best interest of the city as a whole.

“In the coming weeks and months, we will be definitely implementing a much stronger and a much sturdier floodplain management strategy,” he said, adding that the priority for the moment was “all about saving lives”.

You can read the full report below:

Updated

Here is that full chat with the Queensland premier that I mentioned before if anyone was curious.

Updated

If you are trying to get your head around the whole floods situation I highly recommend this great explainer by Graham Readfearn, Nick Evershed and Josh Nicholas.

Give it a read below:

Here’s a look at the situation in Ballina at the moment, where people in the south of the city are advised to find higher ground.

Updated

Stay safe all you Sydney blog readers!

NSW records nine Covid deaths and 8,874 new cases

Victoria records 18 Covid deaths and 6,879 new cases

Victoria has recorded another deadly day of Covid-19 with 18 lives lost.

Anyone in Sydney will know it’s bucketing down just now.

Turns out that it could be a taste of things to come in the next day or two – although it’s been pretty damp for a while in the Harbour City.

What you need to know is that east coast lows are tricky systems to model, and it is likely that the models will shift a bit in the next day.

Apparently, there are three main models the bureau uses, and they update four times a day.

So emergency services are going to get frequent updates about what is a literally a moving target.

Stay tuned, as they say in the classics...

Updated

Catastrophic flooding on the scale of the disaster hitting Queensland and New South Wales is becoming more likely as the planet heats due to greenhouse gas emissions, climate scientists have warned.

The latest major assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found global warming caused by humans was causing dangerous and widespread disruption, with many effects expected to be more severe than predicted.

In Australia, it said extreme events exacerbated by emissions – heatwaves, droughts, floods, storms and fires – were causing death, injury and financial and emotional stress. Their impacts were “cascading and compounding” across nature, society and the economy.

You can read the full report below:

Those in Brisbane who want to help with the flood clean up can sign up to be part of the “mud army” below.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has told the Today show that there will be a review of dam management in Brisbane, but is confident it was managed correctly this time around during the flooding.

Unbelievable. Everyone has gone through two years of Covid, and the pandemic, and now we are faced with floods. I had it confirmed, it is actually bigger than the ‘74 rainfall ... Over 30 locations across the south-east had rainfall in excess of 1,000mm. It is off the charts.

Reporter:

I saw yesterday ... you were also under the pump from journalists about how the water was released from the Wivenhoe Dam. Are you comfortable that everything was done right?

Palaszczuk:

Oh, at this stage yes. Now let me make one key point here. In 2011 it was uncontrolled releases. These releases are controlled, but the rainfall is phenomenal. Like I said, 31 locations across the south-east, flooding from the Mary River into Gympie and Maryborough. Look at what is happening in Lismore down there as well. This is a phenomenal event. It was a rain bomb over the south-east.

Reporter:

Will you look at the pre-emptive releases of water coming from Wivenhoe again, will you relook at that and ...

Palaszczuk:

There is always a review afterwards that happens. But, look, let me say this was absolutely unprecedented, the amount of rainfall that came across the south-east. In all the catchments and rivers. So they were saturated and they all run into the rivers and the streams.

Updated

Janelle Saffin, the state member for Lismore, has told ABC radio that she doesn’t want to believe that more people have died overnight but has to be “realistic” about it.

There’s deep concern, because we’ve still got people unaccounted for. There are people on their roofs awaiting rescue ... there’s livestock on the streets ... so many boats out yesterday, so many people helping ...

I really don’t want to say that [more people may have died], but I’m realistic ... I just hope everybody makes it ... it’s traumatic for everybody, we’ll hope for the best.

Saffin was forced to swim out of her own home as flood waters rose.

The water was coming up fast ... I said we’re sitting ducks here ... at some point it was swim or go under ... there was a tire wedged under a tree and we held onto that.

Updated

Nine people 'unaccounted for' in Lismore, mayor says

Lismore mayor Steve Krieg has told Sunrise there are still nine people unaccounted for after yesterday’s historic flooding, with 400 rescues yet to be carried out.

We’ve still got nine people unaccounted for at this stage, so our number one priority is to make sure we get all of those people accounted for and safe, there’s about 400 people to be rescued and as you can see behind me, the police have launched their boats to go out and start that, we also have three army helicopters in the area assisting with winch rescues, so our number one priority today is to make sure every citizen is accounted for, safe and well.

Host Natalie Barr:

That’s an amazing number, 400 people stuck in houses or new roofs. Tell us about those people.

Krieg:

I can’t give you too much more, I’ve only come down here from the emergency control centre this morning to get a few stats for you.

I know there was 4,000 rescues performed yesterday by emergency service and civilians which is an incredible community effort, we’ll leave the rescues to the professionals today, so our highways was a boat ramp this today, but we are leaving the emergency services to finish off with the evacuation.

Updated

'Too late to leave': Ballina South residents told to find higher ground

An emergency evacuation order is in place in South Ballina, with some residents being told it is now “too late to leave” and are being directed to find higher ground.

Here is NSW SES’s warning:

Rising flood water is beginning to make it unsafe to evacuate the area. Burns Point Ferry is closed and Wardell Bridge is inundated. You should immediately move to the highest safe place now, such as higher ground or inside a sturdy multi-storey building to upper levels as high above water levels as possible. Do not leave your location unless it is safe to do so.

You may now be trapped without power, water, and other essential services. It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you.

For emergency help in floods and storms, you can call the NSW SES on 132 500, however, in life-threatening situations call triple zero (000) immediately.

Updated

The Victorian opposition leader, Matthew Guy, has published a message his second cousin has sent him from Kharkiv in Ukraine.

Kharkiv has been the site of some of the worst street fighting and warfare over the last several days.

Updated

Millar:

But you know, I do think that people want to talk about it now because I know from personal experience from Gympie having lived through floods there, that they still wonder why decades on, things haven’t been done to try to improve the situation.

In Lismore, it was reported last year, [they were] left off a commonwealth scheme as a priority location for natural disaster resilience funding, where they could have been open to a grant and they were all amazed by it.

So yes, there are lots of rescues going on. Yes, we are paying attention to that. But it’s always a good time to say – is enough being done? Does the government need to reassess how it is approaching this?

McKenzie:

So, I can absolutely assure you and your viewers that the emergency response fund is being used as it was legislated, as Labor supported it to be legislated.

$50m is being put forward annually for flood mitigation projects to support local councils and state governments who are responsible for flood levees and they’re very expensive and it’s why we’re happy to partner with them. And the funding for disasters has not been exhausted. And won’t be.

And until it is, that future fund will stay in place for generations to come. We’re seeing a once-in-a-lifetime event at the moment so we know, given the impacts of climate change over the coming decades, that we need to prepare for more intense events. And that’s exactly what this fund is for.

It’s not to be spent yesterday. It’s not to be spent today when we haven’t even activated our category C and D arrangements with state governments. It’s there for the future for communities, long after I’m the minister, to be able to exercise and use.

Updated

News Breakfast host Lisa Millar:

You were very defensive yesterday about criticism of the government’s $3.9bn emergency response fund.

[Labor] Senator Murray Watt again raised it this morning, saying: what is the point of having this fund if it’s not being used to spend money at times like this?

Emergency management minister Bridget McKenzie:

The emergency response fund was set up as a future fund to be used when all other sources of funding have been exhausted.

And I can let you know for this disaster, we haven’t even instigated category C and D of the disaster funding arrangements with the state governments.

That will be coming in the next couple of weeks. So to suggest or give cause to concern to communities who are in very vulnerable situations at the moment, I think is pretty poor form.

We’re focused on getting people safe, making sure that they’re alive and have that immediate support. And then we have the long road to recovery.

Updated

Bridget McKenzie has been asked on ABC News Breakfast if the government is considering increasing the amount being offered for the disaster recovery payments:

Right now, in this emergency phase, we’ve got the disaster recovery allowance, which – if you’ve been cut off from being able to get to work or your work is inundated and isn’t open at the moment, we have an allowance that lasts up to 13 weeks to assist you to get through. We’ve got a one-off non-means tested payment, $1,000 for individuals and $400 for affected children, so that you can get a roof over your head.

You can get food and clothing, particularly if you’ve had to evacuate quickly and don’t have those sort of emergency provisions available. But as we see these flood waters recede over the coming days, there’s going to be assessment teams on the ground in these communities which will then advise state governments about what other supports we need and the long road to recovery.

So whilst we’ve got these immediate payments available in an emergency situation, people are able to get on to myGov and apply from those eligible local government areas.

But then we’re going to be rolling out in lock step with our state government partners, a raft of measures as the weeks, months and in some cases, years, it’s going to take us to actually get through and recover from this disaster.

Updated

900 rescues required in Lismore floods

Emergency management minister Bridget McKenzie says there were 900 rescues yesterday in Lismore alone:

I mean, we’ve all been quite affected by the magnitude of this event as it’s moved from Gympie, Hervey Bay area in Queensland, over Brisbane and now heading south towards Wollongong and Nowra and the devastating impact it’s had on communities like Lismore.

I had my briefing at about 5.30 this morning. 900 rescues yesterday in Lismore. The ADF helicopters were able to get there within a couple of hours of them being requested by the New South Wales government.

They were critical in that rescue effort because they actually have the capability to fly in this type of weather, so they were able to rescue 51 individuals. And we know that come first light this morning, rescue teams were on the water again getting to those isolated residents as quickly as possible.

Updated

Good morning

Good morning all, it’s Matilda Boseley here and rain and flood waters have continued to pummel Queensland and NSW overnight, here’s the situation this morning.

The NSW State Emergency Service says it’s now “too late to leave” south Ballina as flood waters rise. People in the area have now been urged to move to higher ground.

More rain is set to inundate south-east Queensland, likely prolonging flooding that has already impacted at least 15,000 homes across the state.

Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology said:

Severe thunderstorms are possible mid and late week over south eastern parts of Queensland ...

They can bring heavy rain and damaging winds and large hail that will continue to impact the recovery efforts ongoing through south-eastern parts of Queensland.

Logan and Gold Coast city councils are bracing themselves, with flooding expected to exceed record 2017 levels of 20.50 metres on Tuesday.

About 1,000 properties are already affected in the region before the 9am Tuesday predicted peak, prompting the council to open a 24-7 evacuation centre at Crestmead.

The weather system will continue to affect regions further and further south along the coast with NSW set to take another beating today.

Hundreds of people across the Lismore region were stranded for hours on rooftops amid the crisis as state and federal emergency services struggled to access impacted areas.

Rescuers in a flotilla of dinghies and inflatables plucked stranded Lismore residents from the rooftops and balconies of submerged homes on Monday.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of heavy rain, strong to damaging winds and waves looking likely to develop from Tuesday evening as a low moves towards central parts of the NSW coast.

It said a low will redevelop offshore then swing onshore on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing widespread heavy rain and coastal erosion from Newcastle, stretching all the way down to the Victoria border.

There is certainly lots to look out for, so why don’t we jump into the day now and I’ll bring you all the updates.

Updated

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