What we learned today, Sunday 27 February
Major rain and flooding events are continuing across Queensland, and moving into New South Wales. Hundreds of homes and businesses have been flooded or are still at risk, six people have died and one is missing.
Many Queensland schools will close to keep people safe and off the roads. The “rain bomb” and its unpredictability have caught Brisbane residents off-guard.
The Queensland government has been repeatedly questioned about the decisions on the timing of water releases from Wivenhoe Dam, and defence minister Peter Dutton has been criticised for launching a GoFundMe page for disaster relief.
A further 27 Australians with Covid died and 18,670 new cases were recorded, with 6,014 in NSW, 5,052 in Victoria, 3,571 in Queensland, 1,467 in South Australia, 495 in the Australian Capital Territory, 676 in Tasmania, 368 in the Northern Territory and 1,027 in Western Australia.
Australia will provide “lethal aid” to Ukraine as Russia’s invasion continues. Prime minister Scott Morrison said nothing was off the table.
And fabulous mullet hairstyles have been all business in the front and party in the back at the Mulletfest in NSW.
As Morrison said earlier, it’s sure to be an anxious night for many as floods continue. Stay safe, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow.
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“We want people to stay safe tonight,” Scott Morrison says, adding it’s likely to be an “anxious night” for many.
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