Australia information reside: Kevin Rudd to talk on US-Australia alliance; summer time’s ‘tragic’ swimming loss of life toll

Bribie Island braces for Cyclone Alfred

Our reporter Joe Hinchliffe has been to Bribie Island to learn the way residents are feeling about being slap bang within the path of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. That is his report:

And right here’s what you have to find out about when and the place it’s forecast to hit.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has intensified right into a class two system because it strikes additional south off the Queensland coast.

The subtropical tour taken by the storm is forecast to take a pointy proper flip at present, with the Bureau of Meteorology anticipating Alfred to begin shifting in the direction of closely populated components of the coast after every week slowly progressing parallel to the coast down by the Coral Sea.

Alfred is at the moment about 560km east of Brisbane. Landfall is predicted on Thursday or Friday, and folks in two states – from Okay’gari to Grafton – are being requested to remain alert.

The BoM’s newest observe map has now been up to date and reveals the cyclone probably reaching the coast simply north of Brisbane. That scenario is among the many most probably damaging – forecasters count on essentially the most intense rainfall to the south of the system, and Brisbane is uniquely susceptible attributable to its bigger inhabitants and its propensity to flood.

The BoM’s replace this morning says:

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is at the moment shifting south-east, however it’s anticipated to gradual and switch west in the direction of the Queensland coast later at present.

Alfred’s depth might fluctuate between class one and two over the following few days, however it’s forecast to cross the south-east Queensland coast at class two power late on Thursday or early Friday morning.

Good morning and welcome to our reside information weblog. I’m Martin Farrer with the highest in a single day tales after which Emily Wind will probably be your information information.

The current rate of interest lower has not helped Anthony Albanese get well any floor in our newest Important ballot, with the prime minister’s approval ranking down. Greater than half of Australians imagine final month’s money fee lower gained’t assist them a lot and was an indication the Labor authorities’s financial plan isn’t working. However voters nonetheless assume Albanese is healthier positioned than Peter Dutton to ship cost-of-living reduction, increased wages and safeguard Medicare.

Cyclone Alfred is monitoring in the direction of the south-east Queensland coast and will make landfall on Thursday. Surging tides are already reported to be gushing proper over narrower and uninhabited components of the low-lying Bribie Island and we despatched a reporter to converse to individuals making ready for the onslaught.

Because the contours of geopolitics proceed to alter day-after-day, Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, will tackle a webinar held by the Australian Nationwide College this morning with regards to the US-Australian alliance. It’s actually an attention-grabbing time to be a diplomat in DC. We’ll carry you extra on what Rudd says later this morning.

Greater than 100 individuals died by drowning this summer time – considerably greater than within the common summer time – based on the nation’s peak physique for water security, in what the organisation has referred to as a “tragic” season. Extra on this developing.