What we learned: Monday 10 March
And that’s where we’ll leave you this Monday. A lot has happened today; here’s just some of it:
Flood emergency warnings were issued across NSW and Queensland as rain continued overnight.
The premiers of NSW and Queensland warned communities of Monday’s rain and the prospect of intensified flooding. It was Brisbane wettest day in 51 years.
Anthony Albanese announced that from Tuesday eligible workers and sole traders in south-east Queensland and NSW who have lost income as a direct result of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred will be able to access up to 13 weeks of income support.
As of this morning, there were about 230,000 people without power across the two states, with many telco towers and NBN connections also offline.
Queensland’s water authority warned that sewage was expected to overflow into flood water and reminded people to avoid coming into contact with it.
Federal police said a caravan found in Sydney filled with explosives was “never going to cause a mass casualty event” and was a “fake terrorism plot” that was orchestrated, along with other antisemitic incidents, for motives that were not driven by antisemitism.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton defended himself again criticism for attending a fundraiser hosted by billionaire Justin Hemmes in Sydney before the cyclone hit, saying “It wasn’t a party, it was a fundraising dinner”.
Thanks for your company today. Look after yourselves, stay safe and dry, and I’ll see you right back here tomorrow for another day of news.
Updated
Search for missing surfer after board recovered with bite marks off remote WA beach
Emergency services are scouring waters for a missing surfer feared taken by a shark after a surfboard with bite marks was recovered off a remote southern beach in Western Australia.
The “reported shark bite incident” was being investigated at Wharton Beach in the Duke of Orleans Bay area, about 60km east of Esperance, the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said on Monday.
Police said that at 12.10pm local time there was a report of a “possible surfer in distress”:
A surf board with evidence of bite marks has been recovered from the water … but no surfer has been sighted.
It is believed the surfer was the victim of a serious shark bite incident.
A shark was sighted in the area a short time prior, and beachgoers left the water.
Police, Marine Rescue WA and SES personnel are searching the coastline for the missing surfer. Two ambulances had been sent to the beach.
Surf Life Saving WA issued an alert warning for water users to take extra care in the Duke of Orleans Bay area in Condingup.
There have been three fatal shark attacks in the region since 2017.
– Australian Associated Press
Updated
