North Queensland floods live updates: ADF helicopters and support personnel deployed to region as flooding eases at Cairns airport

Key events

New Zealand PM to meet Albanese in Australia this week with security in focus

New Zealand’s prime minister, Chris Luxon, is heading to Australia on Wednesday, meeting with Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese.

Luxon said in a statement:

Prime Minister Albanese was one of the first international leaders I spoke with after the election, and I’m looking forward to ongoing discussions throughout my term as Prime Minister.

The NZ leader said Australia was “New Zealand’s most important partner and only ally”.

We are deeply connected on every level and on every issue and have strong people-to-people ties. New Zealand is committed to working together with Australia to support a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region. I look forward to discussing our close security and defence relationship.

Luxon also commented on the Queensland flooding on a post on X today, saying his country’s “emergency services stand ready to help in Queensland, if needed. We’ve made that offer because that is what friends do.”

New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon. Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Updated at 23.35 EST

Bushfire warning in NSW’s north-west

Moving down to New South Wales, where the Rural Fire Service has issued an emergency warning for a bushfire at Narrabri in the Duck Creek Pilliga Forest:

Updated at 23.24 EST

Flooding likely to continue across parts of Cape York Peninsula

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology has warned that flooding is likely to continue across parts of the Cape York Peninsula into tomorrow.

A severe weather warning for rainfall remains in place. Elevated river and creek levels, and flooding, is causing disruption to transport routes and isolating communities.

Flood warnings, including several major flood warnings, are current for the following catchments: Daintree and Mossman Rivers; Barron River; Mulgrave and Russell Rivers; Tully and Murray Rivers; and Herbert River.

Updated at 23.23 EST

Flooding easing at Cairns airport and surrounding areas

The Bureau of Meteorology said that moderate flooding is easing at Cairns airport and across the wider Barron River catchment.

Rainfall totals up to 2,200mm have been recorded across the Barron river catchment during the last week. Further rainfall today is not expected to exacerbate the current flooding.

The river level is expected to be above the moderate flood level of 3 metres at Cairns Airport and falling, but it might stay above 3metres this afternoon, the BoM said.

Updated at 23.08 EST

Man arrested after woman found dead in Canberra zoo kitchen

A woman has been found dead at the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra.

Emergency services were called to the zoo at 12.50pm today where a woman was found dead in a commercial kitchen area, police said.

Police said a person of interest – a 29-year-old man – was taken into custody and has been transported to hospital under police guard.

The zoo has been closed and police do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the public, as investigations continue.

No charges have been laid.

A police vehicle at the entrance to the National Zoo and Aquarium in Canberra today. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated at 23.37 EST

Queensland rescue crews getting 40 requests for help each hour

The Queensland State Emergency Service is responding to about 40 requests for help each hour amid the Far North Queensland flooding.

In a post to X, QFES said that crews are working “around the clock”:

Updated at 22.53 EST

Euramo Hotel welcomes boats for drinks amid deluge

As we flagged earlier in the blog, the Euramo Hotel in far north Queensland temporarily “rebranded” as the Euramo Yacht Club, welcoming 18 boats up to its doors as flood waters rose.

We now have some photos:

Hotel Euramo welcomed 18 boats up to its doors. Photograph: Tori EnglandThe hotel was completely surrounded by flood waters yesterday. Photograph: Tori EnglandPublican Ozzie Muzic said this was ‘something that they do every time we have a flood’. Photograph: Tori England

Updated at 22.44 EST

Queensland premier wants ministers to focus on ‘listening first’ and then action

Q: What message do you have for your ministers?

Steven Miles:

I want them to listen to Queenslanders and deliver. What we are focused on is governing in the interests of Queenslanders, listening first to them, and then once we’ve listened, acted. That’s what I think you have seen from me, I hope you have seen from me, and I hope by that example our ministers can follow.

Updated at 22.52 EST

‘Fresh faces, new ideas’: Steven Miles says new cabinet offers mix of youth and experience

Queensland premier Steven Miles is speaking to the media after his cabinet was officially sworn in.

He is outlining the new ministry, which we detailed in full here or you can read more below:

Miles said:

What you have in our government is fresh faces, new ideas, the right mix of youth and experience. I’m very proud of them. And now everyone, it’s time to get to work.

Updated at 22.28 EST

Here’s some footage of the damage to homes across Far North Queensland amid the flooding:

Homes under water, residents evacuated as far north Queensland faces flooding – video