Queensland floods: More federal support on the way as storms continue to batter the state

Andrew Brown and Keira Jenkins
AAP
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts more severe storms for southeast Queensland. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts more severe storms for southeast Queensland. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

Further financial assistance will be rolled out to parts of Queensland battered by storms and flooding, the prime minister has confirmed.

Anthony Albanese said a $50 million support package will be made available to those affected by recent wild weather in the state’s far north and southeast.

The new support package will include measures for tourism recovery and clean-up programs for areas hardest hit.

Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.

Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.

Email Us
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.

“We will be making grants for local resilience and recovery ... for the three councils in southeast Queensland,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

“In addition to that, we’ll be announcing a cyclone industry recovery and resilience officers program.”

Linda Applbee sits on flood damaged furniture at her home in Cairns.
Damage from storms in areas such as far north Queensland are expected to hit the federal budget. (Brian Cassey/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

Funding will also be provided to the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire and Douglas Shire councils in far north Queensland, along with the Scenic Rim Regional Council in the southeast.

The new amount comes on top of a $64 million package for Queensland announced in December following previous storms.

So far, $10.5 million has been paid in federal disaster relief payments to 60,000 people affected by storms and flooding in southeast Queensland.

A further $4.5 million has been paid to 26,000 people in the far north.

Eligible people are able to receive $1000 per adult and $400 per child.

“We realise that at a time of natural disasters, that some people will be doing it really tough,” Mr Albanese said.

“Tragically, in this beautiful country of ours, natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more intense.

“We were told that that would be an impact of climate change, and unfortunately, we are seeing that play out in practice.”

Storm damage in Oxenford on the Gold Coast
Some Queensland residents will need their houses to be certified before power can be reconnected. (JASON O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

More severe weather is forecast for Queensland’s southeast, with the Bureau of Meteorology indicating severe thunderstorms are possible inland of the Gold Coast from Tuesday.

“Severe storms again will bring rainfall as the most likely phenomenon but large hail and damaging winds will be possible through Tuesday as well,” meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.

Rain is predicted across Queensland’s southeast and northern NSW from Tuesday, but falls are expected to be much lower than the region experienced during recent wild weather.

A tornado hit the Gold Coast on Christmas Day, followed by storms and flash flooding that also wreaked havoc in the Logan and Scenic Rim regions.

In the aftermath SES reinforcements from NSW and Victoria joined their Queensland counterparts in recovery efforts.

The NSW contingent of about 120 storm and chainsaw specialists has since returned home.

“Our dedicated members worked tirelessly alongside Queensland emergency services and residents to clear debris, remove fallen trees, tarp rooftops and door knock to provide essential support to affected individuals and families,” NSW SES acting Commissioner Deb Platz said.

Damage at a home on the Gold Coast.
Queensland's worst-hit areas could take months to recover from damaging storms. (JASON O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

The storms initially left more than 130,000 homes without power in Queensland’s southeast, but work to restore electricity was finally completed on Sunday night.

The race is now on to get damage repaired at about 130 schools across the state before students return on January 22.

Gold Coast City Council launched Operation Clean Up to help clear storm debris and flood damage in the most severely impacted areas.

“We have a plan and we are coming to help,” Mayor Tom Tate said.

“The task ahead of us is mammoth, with an unprecedented amount of green waste to be removed - it is estimated it will take 75,000 truck loads to remove the waste.”

Latest Edition

The Nightly cover for 11-02-2025

Latest Edition

Edition Edition 11 February 202511 February 2025

PM steels an early win in tariff talks . . . but will it be enough?