Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced more than $100 million in new funding for flood-affected communities in Western Queensland.
Combined with the state government, $7 million will be allocated for new fodder for livestock, and $105 million will be allocated to new fencing to protect livestock from feral pigs and dogs.
“The vision coming out of western Queensland is truly distressing,” Albanese said today.
“There are some smaller communities that are still inaccessible.
“Our thoughts are with people who have been displaced from their homes.”
Albanese said he had been working with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli closely amid the once-in-a-generation flooding.
Some communities in the area are still cut off by floodwaters.
More than 140,000 head of livestock have been lost or killed.
Rainfall totals have dropped from the triple digits into the double digits in most affected towns but despite the decrease, creeks and rivers are still rising and flowing.
The small town of Adavale was swamped suddenly last week and had to evacuate to the nearby town of Quilpie.
They will have to continue to wait to return as authorities work to clear the damage.
The Bureau of Meteorology says a weak trough will linger across central and northern Queensland today before contracting northward over the weekend.
During the coming weeks and months, the floodwaters will drain towards Lake Eyre, also known as Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, about 600km south-west of Windorah. The lake sits at the lowest natural point in Australia and is dry most of the year.
