'Blue-sky flood' waters in western Queensland reach outskirts of Longreach
The Thomson River at Longreach has reached 6.12 metres and is rising slowly, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. It is expected to peak near 6.5 metres, with a major flood warning currently in effect. The peak is anticipated to occur this afternoon or evening, although minor increases may continue overnight into early tomorrow.
Due to the gradual rise of the river, residents are experiencing what has been described as a “blue-sky flood,” characterized by sunny weather and temperatures reaching up to 31°C.
Residents are advised to stay informed with the latest flood warnings through the Bureau of Meteorology.
What we learned, Sunday 15 March
Here is a summary of key developments from Sunday:
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that only three squad members remain on specially granted protection visas.
- Households are expected to face significant additional cost-of-living pressures due to the war in the Middle East, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers indicating inflation could rise beyond 4.5% in Australia.
- The New South Wales government plans to require property sellers to publish a price guide on all advertising and will impose a fivefold increase in fines for real estate agents who underquote prices.
- Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary concluded the first leg of their Australian visit with a sunrise trek to the Muṯitjulu waterhole at Uluru.
- Queensland Premier David Crisafulli defended his government’s decision to disregard recommendations to name the state’s new theatre after Indigenous poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
- Crisafulli also defended the government’s stance on the “from the river to the sea” protest slogan.
Albury councillor named as Liberal candidate for Farrer byelection
Albury city councillor Raissa Butkowski has secured Liberal preselection for the Farrer byelection. She won a ballot held on Sunday against former Sussan Ley staffer Lachlan McIntyre. Butkowski will contest the byelection on 9 May against One Nation’s David Farley, teal independent Michelle Milthrope, and the Nationals’ Brad Robertson.
Butkowski is a lawyer with experience representing community interests and disadvantaged individuals and is a local resident of Albury.
The byelection was triggered by Sussan Ley’s resignation following her loss of the Liberal leadership to Angus Taylor. This election is considered a significant test for both Taylor and One Nation. Taylor is scheduled to visit the electorate this week to campaign alongside Butkowski.
Body found after helicopter crash in northern NSW
New South Wales police confirmed that a body has been found following a helicopter crash in the state’s north-west. Search crews located wreckage just before 2 pm on Saturday in dense bushland north of Drake, near Tenterfield.
The body, believed to be that of the 77-year-old pilot, was discovered at the crash site at 1 pm on Sunday. This follows a multi-day search after the helicopter, which departed the Gold Coast at 9 am on Friday bound for Mudgee, failed to arrive as scheduled.
A recovery operation is ongoing, involving PolAir and Police Rescue. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has taken the lead in investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Missing Burnett Heads man found
Queensland police confirmed that a 51-year-old man, who had been missing after disappearing from a houseboat, was found safe. He was located just after 9 am on Sunday at a property in Sharon, a rural locality in the Bundaberg region, and has been transported to Bundaberg hospital for assessment.
The man was reported missing from a houseboat on the coast of Burnett Heads around 1 am on Friday. A significant multi-agency operation involving emergency services and local volunteers lasted two days.
Katherine schools to reopen on Monday
All government schools in Katherine will reopen on Monday after closures due to flooding. MacFarlane Primary School, Casuarina Street Primary School, and Katherine High School, which served as evacuation shelters during the emergency, will all resume operations.
Katherine High School will operate in a hybrid mode, serving both as a high school and evacuation centre, according to a Northern Territory government statement.
Victoria to bring in new powers to shut down illicit tobacco shops
The Victorian government plans to introduce legislation aimed at dismantling the state’s illicit tobacco trade. Under the proposed laws, Tobacco Licensing Victoria will be empowered to close stores caught selling illegal tobacco.
New regulations would allow inspectors to destroy seized illegal tobacco before trial. Landlords would be permitted to evict businesses selling illicit tobacco and could face penalties if they are aware of such activities occurring on their premises.
The Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Enver Erdogan, stated the laws would be introduced this year:
"Illegal tobacco is not a victimless crime. Illicit tobacco fuels organised crime, and we’re shutting down the operators who think they can get away with it. Anyone caught selling illicit tobacco will face serious consequences."
Iran’s attacks ‘almost unhinged’, UAE minister says
Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister for International Cooperation, described Iran’s attacks on Gulf countries as “almost unhinged” in an interview with ABC News. Iran has launched over 1,800 missiles and drones at the Emirates, more than any other country targeted by Tehran in the conflict, disrupting the nation’s usual tranquility despite its air defence intercepting most projectiles.
Al Hashimy called the attacks “unprecedented” and said:
"We’ve borne the brunt of most of the missiles and drone attacks, and it’s really quite surprising for us that Iran has taken such an irrational path to fight the Gulf states and act in this quite unlawful, quite unacceptable manner."
Crisafulli defends new laws banning 'from the river to the sea' phrase
On Wednesday, an 18-year-old woman was charged under new laws for wearing a shirt displaying the phrase “from the river to the sea.” An organiser was also charged for allegedly speaking the same phrase.
When asked about the purpose of the arrests, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli responded:
"The laws have been implemented, and police will police them in a fair way. And I think the fact that you can have something like that where people are able to express their views and they can do so, I think, shows that the laws can work."
When a journalist suggested that people were unable to express their views without being arrested, Crisafulli said:
"People are able to express their passion about Palestine, about the freedom of that – there’s two things and they’re directly around the eradication of a race of people."
Earlier in the press conference, a journalist noted that the organiser’s speech did not “menace, harass or offend,” as required under the act, and asked what training police had received regarding the laws. Crisafulli replied:
"Governments make laws and police implement them, and I have faith in police implementing laws in a calm and measured way."
Greens urge Chalmers to overrule RBA on interest rates
The Greens have called on the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to maintain current interest rates at its upcoming meeting, urging Treasurer Jim Chalmers to intervene if another hike is announced.
Greens leader Larissa Waters attributed inflation to an “illegal war that Labor is supporting” and said:
"If the RBA decides to lift rates on Tuesday, the Treasurer must overrule the decision."
Greens Senator Nick McKim stated that Chalmers has the authority under section 11 of the Reserve Bank Act to overrule the central bank if it opts to increase rates:
"Higher mortgages and higher rents will only punish people who had nothing to do with causing this inflation and have no power to fix it … If the government is serious about easing pressure on households, it should stop supporting this war instead of forcing Australians to pay the price for it."
Queensland premier defends rejecting recommendation to name state’s new theatre after Indigenous poet
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli defended his government’s decision to reject recommendations to name the state’s new theatre after Indigenous poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Instead, the venue was named the Glasshouse Theatre. Crisafulli stated the name would enhance its marketability:
"The name is fitting of what that facility is. It’s clearly able to be marketed across the globe. In years to come, when people say the Glasshouse theatre, they will know where it is, what it looks like and its key attributes. There couldn’t be a more appropriate name, which is why Queenslanders backed it."
Australia revealed that Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek approved the name change months before a vote was held, which did not include Oodgeroo’s name as an option.
Crisafulli added that the government is considering other ways to honour the Indigenous poet from Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island:
"Regarding honouring that individual, we should find ways to do that; she’s significant and we should."
How is the disruption in Iran’s strait of Hormuz affecting Australia?
The Middle East conflict has caused significant disruptions to energy supplies, with effects extending beyond petrol prices. Australia’s Catie McLeod and Jonathan Barrett have outlined five ways the crisis in global oil markets is impacting Australia, including the cost of imported goods and consumer purchasing decisions.
Deadly South Australian algal bloom is still spreading one year on
The largest and most destructive algal bloom in Australian history continues to affect parts of the South Australian coastline a year after its detection. Unlike most harmful blooms that last only a few weeks, this bloom has persisted since its emergence, impacting 20,000 square kilometres of coast—twice the size of greater Sydney.
This event ranks among the worst marine mass mortality incidents globally, killing millions of sea creatures ranging from small shellfish to apex predators such as white sharks.
Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary end first leg of Australian visit with sunrise trek to Uluru
Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary concluded the first leg of their Australian tour with a sunrise visit to the Muṯitjulu waterhole in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, accompanied by traditional owners. The site is culturally significant and one of the few permanent water sources near the sandstone monolith, frequently visited by dignitaries.
Listen: Paul Daley on Australia’s appeasement of Trump and his war on Iran
Australia columnist Paul Daley discusses Australia’s potential involvement in the conflict between Trump and Netanyahu’s policies on Iran. He questions whether Australia’s appeasement of the United States is beneficial given the changing nature of the US-Australia relationship. This discussion is featured in the latest episode of Full Story’s Sunday read series.
‘Not a building’ in Daly River not under water, NT chief minister says
Authorities report that homes along the flooded Daly River in the Northern Territory are extensively inundated. All residents have been safely evacuated north to Darwin. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro stated:
"There is not a building in Daly River that is not under water, many of which are under water to the roof. We have to let that river go down before we can take any further steps."
Australia has highlighted the scale of northern Australia’s record-breaking floods through data and maps.
F1 cancels Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix
Formula One has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix due to the war in the Middle East. The races were scheduled for 12 April in Bahrain and 19 April in Saudi Arabia. The sport’s governing body, the FIA, and Formula One management stated that the decision was necessary to avoid further freight shipments to Bahrain and to ensure the safety of all involved.
Danish royals Frederik and Mary begin Australia tour in red centre
King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark have commenced their first trip to Australia since ascending the throne. The six-day state tour includes visits to Canberra, Melbourne, and Hobart, aiming to strengthen trade ties between Queen Mary’s adopted and home countries.
The royal couple met with Aṉangu traditional owners at the Uluru Kata Tjuṯa Cultural Centre after arriving late on Saturday. The usually arid desert region was lush and green due to recent heavy rains, with waterfalls cascading down the rock formations.
