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Queensland flood disaster live blog

Leo Shanahan

by Leo Shanahan

13 Jan 11:10am

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Filed under: Brisbane Floods, Queensland Floods

31 comments

AS the flood disaster in Brisbane and the rest of Queensland continues to unfold today, you can follow the latest news updates from news.com.au’s flood information centre, Brisbane’s Courier Mail as well The Australian.

Below is a live blog from the News network where you can share what you know, show your support and look for your loved ones.


Feel free to comment on The Punch with your thoughts about the Queensland floods today.

 

Most commented

31 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Daniel says:

      11:33am | 12/01/11

      My thoughts are with all those QLD folk in trouble with the floods. I wish them well they have my prayers.

      Reply

    • Geoffrey Chaucer says:

      11:10am | 13/01/11

      Thank god Gdubya isn’t in charge of assistance. Remember New Orleans?

    • john says:

      12:04pm | 12/01/11

      Seems the media is overwhelmed by disaster news, seems so far 10 dead in QLD floods,10 homes destroyed in WA fires, 100’s of thousands of homes and people flooded in 4 states in about a month, including gascoyne river floods, parts of Queensland destroyed, and millions of people affected directly or indirectly. and the disaster is still unfolding as flooded rivers consume everything in their paths. Furthermore seems the PM can’t keep up visiting disaster zones. Not to mention the cost will most likely be in the tens of billions. Might have to can the NBN now, might make more sense to rebuild.

      Reply

    • Adrienne says:

      09:19pm | 12/01/11

      Madame Julia had better change her mind quick about the NBN or I will go and throttle her myself if no one else will ...

    • Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

      10:16pm | 12/01/11

      Adrienne, get to the back of the line! ! ! Thousands are waiting in line for their turn to exactly that.

    • Richard M says:

      01:59pm | 13/01/11

      You people are just incredible.  Is there nothing you won’t stoop to in expressing your juvenile hatreds?  Contaminating a blog about an unfolding national disaster with your puerile political opinions is just about as low as you can go.  Get a life.  Get some decency.

    • Off topic in the tropic says:

      07:17am | 13/01/11

      Yes Adrienne
      Because the government always changes course when some angry luddite complains. and screams “more for me”

      Reply

    • Colmac says:

      01:03pm | 13/01/11

      Off topic, I think the tropics must be getting to you, the reason the huge spendfest should be re-evaluated is the amount of money (billions and billions) will be required to put things back together. I think the Nation can wait a bit longer for faster bandwidth. I suggest the “More for me” and the “Angry luddite” comments screams even louder to me you are a bit of a wanker. You can’t download your porn fast enough now?

    • Off topic in the tropic says:

      10:39am | 14/01/11

      Thanks Colmac, after your comment,
      I rest my case.

    • KH says:

      08:13am | 13/01/11

      Speaking of the government…...where exactly is Tony Abbott anyway?  Last night I saw Kevin R with his pants rolled up and sweat pouring off him as he lifted strangers suitcases out of a home.  I’ve seen Gillard out and about, offering support, and finally - the real Anna Bligh, who is way cooler than I thought she was….......but where is Tony?  Always so quick to stick his big head in when it isn’t wanted, but when it really matters, he has all but disappeared….....although I’m sure he will reappear when its time to start blaming someone - as if any government could be responsible for the rain.

      Anyway - I have family in QLD - Im very happy my relatives are safe and well - their house is quite high up and they have taken in some of their less fortunate neighbours…....Just when I thought people were getting more selfish and self absorbed, nature intervened and reminded us all of who we really are, and what we can be….....good luck to everyone up there in the sunshine state - it will be again beautiful one day, perfect the next…..........

      Reply

    • Roy says:

      10:24am | 13/01/11

      Tony Abbott has been very quiet, I guess he is thinking up something to say in support of Gerry Harvey! I had to laugh When Bligh said about cranking up the desal plant to supply fresh water as many water purification plants ar unusable, I think the Libs oppossed the desal plant as well.

    • Nil says:

      11:13am | 13/01/11

      KH if Tony Abbot was there I have a strange feeling you would comment that he shouldn’t be trying to score political points out of this disaster…. I think it’s time for even the most harden liberal or labor supporter to not worry about politics let the SES and the rest do their jobs. Those who are able volunteer and help without getting in the way (which politicians/celebrities seem to do too often with TV crews) should. There will be plenty of time to point the finger and get into the political side, however irrelevant it is, after the crisis.

    • Ben81 says:

      12:06pm | 13/01/11

      Well I can see him there in Brisbane on my TV right now, and i’ve seen him in other flooded areas before, I was just thinking the other day that he’ll be criticised no matter what he does, so there you go.
      Also you saw Rudd there doing that because it’s his electorate and he lives about 5 minutes walk up the road from where you saw him.

    • Hamish says:

      12:07pm | 13/01/11

      KH, trust the left to try and score political points out of a tragedy, just like Arizona. Even as a hardened right-winger I can admit that I have been very impressed with Anna Bligh and the QLD emergency response. And I can also admit that Kevin Rudd has definitely grown in my estimation. He certainly came across very well.

      The fact is that the opposition leader can’t do anything to help in this situation, so Abbott is quite rightly avoiding sticking his head in front of a camera. Maybe you could follow his lead and stop the ghoulish politicking.

    • Macca says:

      12:35pm | 13/01/11

      @KH, your comment is pretty disgusting

    • Leah says:

      01:01pm | 13/01/11

      Hamish - KRudd has refused international aid because it’s too much effort, in his eyes, to coordinate the incoming aid. He hasn’t grown in my estimation at all.

    • ZSRenn says:

      01:44pm | 13/01/11

      @KH and others
      Why do you people continue to politicise this tragic event. I find it disgusting and offensive. People have lost lives, Billions of damage has been done and Anna Bligh( I am not a fan) has looked like a leader for the first time since coming to office.

      Yet you use these events to claim political points in this discussion forum. Shame on You!

      All the good work that Anna Bligh has done for her party in my eyes is wiped out as I could not vote for a party that attracts such heartless bastards to its cause.

    • Richard M says:

      02:03pm | 13/01/11

      Really, Hamish?  The LEFT scoring political points?!  Please see Adrienne and Robert Smissen above!

    • Hamish says:

      03:01pm | 13/01/11

      RichardM, I take your point. They hadn’t yet posted when I wrote the above. I don’t think anyone should be trying to score points over this.

    • Bob says:

      06:54am | 14/01/11

      Let’s get rid of this political carryon…..the fact is, Tony Abbott is not in Government, Gillard is. My only comment is that Anna Bligh is doing such a fine job coordinating and keeping the public informed - she is accumulating “brownie points” at the rate of knots!!

    • The Badger says:

      10:41am | 14/01/11

      Ben81
      Could you please ask Tony to get down off your TV and help with the cleanup?

    • Intelligencer says:

      10:43am | 13/01/11

      I think the releases that were “necessary” to keep the dam wall integrity added to the problem and this is I’m afraid a symptom of greed.
      When the dams got over 60% the QLD government didnt abolish the water restrictions promptly. It was as if life had to be different. They were in miser mode. Keep all our water and not use hoses etc.
      They were wrong.
      They should have promptly allowed normal usage so that levels could have equilibrated rather than constantly risen. They thought it was some sort of feat to get to 100%.
      Well there you have it, 100%+ and now what are you going to do with it?
      Greed manifests in many systemic ways. They should abolish all restrictions promptly and allow us to go back to normal Australian way of life. Keep the level at 75-80% by releasing around that level during normal times.
      Greed that you can drown in.

      Reply

    • Maria C says:

      01:07pm | 13/01/11

      Are you for real? Greed that you can drown in? Please please GO AWAY.

      No one predicted this, what if they had let the water restriction go and there hadn’t been any more rain? You would have been the first person there critising them for not keeping the water restrictions.

      All my love and hope to my home town of Brisbane, stay safe and look after each other.

    • Richard says:

      02:29pm | 13/01/11

      Sorry Maria C, you are plain wrong. EVERY meteorologist predicted this weather pattern months in advance, EVERY weather watcher knew that we were going to experience La Nina conditions. The evidence was in months ago but the State government stuffed its water management.

    • Eno The Wonderdog says:

      02:16pm | 13/01/11

      So there’s this bloke right - let’s call him Tommy Abbot. He pops up in the disaster zone of Brisbane and start banging on about the need to keep on with surpluses (a furphy) and labour’s reckless spending. Please point to the disaster here.. remember Little Tommy’s going to need the (by then hopefully rebuilt) Queenslanders to get him into office.. and they’ve a long memory up there..

      Reply

    • Richard says:

      02:34pm | 13/01/11

      Your little parable apparently depicts a person with good sense. Nationally, we do need to keep on with surpluses: its not a furphy, and if you don’t believe me look at what happened in Ireland, Greece, England, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and even America when they didn’t run regular surpluses.

    • Soames says:

      02:41pm | 13/01/11

      The death toll as of this moment, is 15. One would expect it to rise,  by the scene at the Grantham bridge, see here, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/horror-at-mass-underwater-grave-in-grantham-lockyer-valley/story-fn7kabp3-1225986689616 . A gruesome and horrific scene.  I pray, as with others, for the souls of the dead, the comfort to grieving relatives and friends, the hope and strength for those anxious souls who don’t know the fate of their loved ones, the courage of volunteer organizations, the Police, who have huge responsibilities, the ADF, and one would particularly thank AM Angus Huston, CDF; and last but not least, one would encourage people with negative or self serving views, to look past their own relative position, in terms of importance.

      Reply

    • Mitchell says:

      02:59pm | 13/01/11

      The people who use this tragedy to score points for their “team” are sick and need help, seriously you all really need therapy, I’m not joking, I’m not speaking against any one side, I’m saying that those who use this for their own political advantage are twisted people who need serious therapy.
      People have died, people have listened to the screams of people dying, people have woken up to be told family members have died. Have some compassion, no matter what side of politics you follow these are real people with dozens if not hundreds of people distraught by their deaths. 10 people dying means at least 1000 people suffering.
      Is it really worth some pathetic point scoring that you hope to capture?
      No one gains from this whether the Gillard can look like like some sort of saviour or Abbott can show exactly what was screwed up about it all.
      I wish you would all get some perspective please because I am about to vomit.

      Reply

    • kerrie o'rourke says:

      05:55pm | 13/01/11

      Your comment:
      brazil and queensland both live in the tropics and both have severe floods.
      is that an environmental or an economic coincidence?

      Reply

    • Eno The Wonderdog says:

      07:00pm | 13/01/11

      Richard - think of the national debt as your credit card - as long as you can afford to pay it off you are quite rightly able to use that card when something but like a global financial trainwreck or heaven help us - a rainy day comes along. Eternal surpluses means they are taking more than they need of my money & I disagree with that strongly. Particularly in this situation.

      Mitchell if you’re going to go onto what is mainly a political blog and expect people not to be discussing the pollies you’ve lost it - perhaps the Salvos site would be more to your taste.

      Reply
 
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