EDITORIAL: Australia holds its breath as Cyclone Alfred bears down

In these nervous hours before expected disaster, we do what we can to prepare.

We fill sandbags, prepare food, move valuables, tidy yards and check in with loved ones.

As Cyclone Alfred steams its way towards the Queensland coast it seems inevitable that it will bring with it significant destruction, despite careful preparation by residents and authorities.

As we wait to find out just how bad it will be, take reassurance in the fact that we have been here before and we have come through.

Australians are a resilient lot, and none more so than the battle-hardened storm veterans of Queensland and Northern NSW.

For those in the flood zones, this time will no doubt bring back painful memories of previous disasters that upended lives and destroyed homes and livelihoods.

These regions are still dealing with the aftereffects of the 2022 flooding event, which did billions in damage to property and killed more than 20 people.

Alfred, which is expected to become the first cyclone to visit South East Queensland in half a century, has the potential to be even worse.

These are anxious times. But these are also the times in which we see the very best of Australians, as we band together to help one another — friends and strangers.

These are times in which we hit pause on the normal rhythms and concerns of life. We muck in and do what needs to be done.

In this, our politicians are leading by example.

Anthony Albanese dropped his national pre-election campaign roadshow to travel to Queensland before the storm hits. There, he joined Queensland Premier David Crisafulli in receiving briefings on the storm’s expected trajectory and the State’s preparation efforts.

The cynics are focusing on the fact that a natural disaster could be good news for a flagging Prime Minister who desperately needs something else to take up the attention of voters.

But from the moment Alfred emerged as a serious issue, his leadership on this has been exemplary.

Of course the bigger test will come in the days and months after Alfred. Through that, the Prime Minister should be a visible presence, standing among Queenslanders as recovery efforts get underway.

For Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, it’s even more personal.

He doesn’t just stand among Queenslanders, he is one. His home in the electorate of Dickson is in Alfred’s projected path.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has travelled to Lismore, where residents have sadly become accustomed to flooding disasters in recent years. They are once again preparing for the worst, but are hoping for a miracle.

All of Australia joins them in that hope; that this won’t be as bad as the ones before. That damage to property is minimal and that lives are not lost.

Whatever comes to pass, those in the firing line can take comfort that the rest of the nation is behind them, ready to assist in picking up the pieces.