What we learned: Monday, 18 December
With that, we will wrap the blog for the evening. Stay safe out there; we’ll be back first thing tomorrow with all the latest. Here were today’s major stories:
The worst of the rainfall has eased in Queensland, but the rescue effort is far from over, with an evacuation planned for Wujal Wujal tomorrow and major flooding in waterways continuing. The ADF is on the ground, with hopes Cairns airport will reopen tomorrow to ferry supplies.
Among the rescues was a crocodile, spotted in floodwaters in the centre of Ingham, a rural town about 110km north of Townsville in Queensland.
Amid the floods, Queensland’s new cabinet was sworn in today, unveiled days after Steven Miles officially took over as the state’s 40th premier. In what was considered the state government’s biggest frontbench shake-up in nine years, five new ministers were ushered in.
A man is under police guard in hospital after the alleged fatal stabbing of a 29-year-old woman at the National Zoo in Canberra. The body of the woman was found in a storeroom at a commercial kitchen at the venue. Police allege both worked at the zoo.
And New Zealand’s prime minister, Chris Luxon, is heading to Australia on Wednesday, meeting with Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese.
Updated
BoM releases Christmas Day forecast
Changing pace for a moment, and the Bureau of Meteorology has just published its initial forecasts for Christmas Day. It could be stormy for much of eastern Australia, including central and northern Queensland, while cloudy weather is expected for coastal New South Wales, including Sydney, and for Melbourne.
Here is a full breakdown.
Sydney: Cloudy, with a high chance of showers. A minimum temperature of 19 degrees celsius and maximum temperature of 26.
Canberra: Partly cloudy, with a medium chance of showers. A minimum temperature of 13 degrees celsius and a maximum temperature of 24.
Brisbane: Partly cloudy, with a high chance of showers and the chance of a thunderstorm. A minimum temperature of 22 degrees celsius and a maximum of 32.
Darwin: Partly cloudy, with a chance afternoon shower or thunderstorm. A minimum temperature of 28 degrees celsius and a maximum temperature of 36.
Perth: Partly cloudy, north-easterlies of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour. A minimum temperature of 21 degree celsius and a maximum temperature of 32.
Adelaide: Partly cloudy, southeasterlies of 20 to 30 kilometers per hour. A minimum temperature of 13 degrees celsius and maximum temperature of 24.
Melbourne: Partly cloudy, with the chance of a shower. A minimum temperature of 15 degrees celsius and a maximum temperature of 21.
Hobart: Cloudy, with the chance of a shower. A minimum temperature of 11 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature of 18.
Updated
