Australia news live: Crisafulli says evacuations have begun as Tropical Cyclone Alfred still on track to hit coast near Brisbane
Small number of people already evacuated – premier
David Crisafulli said it was a “very small number” of people who had been evacuated so far.
As modelling is released on the cyclone’s path, councils would begin doorknocking in affected areas, he said.
During the course of the day, the councils will stand up evacuation centres that give people the option and it is really important that if that happens, that you listen to the advice.
Key events
Dutton thinks Nato holds responsibility for putting troops on ground in Ukraine – Hume
The shadow finance minister, Jane Hume, was also on Sunrise and said it was Nato’s responsibility to provide boots on the ground in Ukraine if that’s what is requested.
The most important thing is Australia stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine against this aggressive and immoral invasion by Russia.
Would Peter Dutton support Australian peacekeepers in Ukraine? She responded:
I’m not sure exactly what it is the prime minister has committed us to, but Peter Dutton has been clear we think this is Nato’s responsibility to put troops on the ground, our responsibility is to support Ukraine anyway we can. We would urge the government to fast track those tanks that have been committed to but not yet delivered to Ukraine.
Here is some more detail’s on the government’s position:
O’Neil says war in Ukraine is not ‘remote and meaningless war to Australia’
The housing minister, Clare O’Neil, has also been asked about comments from the PM that he is “open to consideration” on sending Australian troops to Ukraine as part of peacekeeping efforts.
You can read more about this earlier in the blog, here, for the full context.
Speaking on Sunrise, O’Neil said Australia had been “steadfast in its support for Ukraine” because it’s in “Australia’s national interest to prevent incidents like what we’ve seen happen there.”
Just to remind viewers, it’s an absolutely brutal, almost totalitarian regime that has violently invaded a peaceful, democratic country and Australia doesn’t want to live in that world …
What the prime minister has said is that if a request is incoming [for] peacekeepers, he will consider that request, but I would say to your viewers at home – this is not a remote and meaningless war to our country, it’s actually very important to the way the world operates.
O’Neil said any discussion of how Australia would be involved in peacekeeping is “jumping the gun” because there has not been any formal request from Ukraine or Europe.
[Anthony Albanese] will consider a request if it comes to [it] and that’s where we are right now.
Government expects insurers to ‘step up’ in aftermath of Alfred
Jenny McAllister was asked to give a message to the insurance industry ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. She said:
We always expect the insurance sector to step up and work with their customers in the aftermath of any kind of natural disaster, and in the aftermath of the recent significant flooding in north Queensland, we’ve seen insurers move into those areas so that their customers have good information and can work with them to make those claims. We’d expect the same sort of focus on customer outcomes from the insurers in the aftermath of any impact.
She said that right now, however, “our focus is on keeping people safe, and that is where every effort is being directed”.
From a government perspective, there will be a big task to move through in recovery. I’m certain the Australian government will work with both NSW and Queensland and local people on that but for the moment, our real focus is just keeping people safe as we prepare ourselves for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
McAllister engaged with supermarket CEOs to ensure supplies remain on shelves
On the bare supermarket shelves that are being seen in some supermarkets, Jenny McAllister said she had spoken with the CEOs of both Coles and Woolworths to ensure “they can have the supplies that are necessary”.
This is a little bit different to the situation that we faced recently in north Queensland, where the road closures were making it difficult to resupply. In this case, we’re really just dealing with increased volumes of demand in supermarkets.
Local people are heeding the warnings and starting to prepare their homes in the event that they might have to stay home and manage for themselves for a few days. That’s creating additional volume, and the supermarkets are working really closely with authorities to make sure that they can restock.
She noted the Queensland government had exempted supermarkets from normal constraints that would prevent them from operating on a 24-hour basis for the restocking process.
ADF ready to step in if states make request
Jenny McAllister said the states would lead the cyclone response, but when it exceeds their capacity, the commonwealth can step in and assist – “sometimes that assistance is in the form of materials”.
We’ve been asked by Queensland to provide additional sandbags. They’re on their way and should arrive in Queensland today.
We’ve also obviously supported the Queensland government and the NSW government with their planning processes. We’re convening national meetings today of some of the big infrastructure and logistics firms who’ve got a private sector role to play in the response, and of course, the ADF are engaged in the national situation room.
McAllister said the Australian Defence Force was “aware of the kinds of supports” it might be asked to provide, but this is dependent on Queensland and NSW needing support beyond their capabilities and “making that request to us”.
Watch out for neighbours, emergency minister urges
The federal emergency management minister, Jenny McAllister, is speaking on ABC RN with the latest on Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
She acknowledged this would be a “stressful situation for communities who are uncertain about what to expect”, urging people to keep up to date with their local authorities.
A lot of work is going on, and what we’d like communities to do is just to stay connected to the information that’s been provided by their local authorities, do what they can to prepare their own home, and connect with the neighbours and people around them who might need a little bit of extra help in this period, where we do have a window to prepare.
Trade minister making ‘good progress’ with US on tariffs – Wells
Anika Wells also weighed in on international reports from Canada, where the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, directly addressed Donald Trump in a speech and said his decision to impose tariffs was “a very dumb thing to do”.
Wells said Australia’s trade minister, Don Farrell, had been “making good progress with his US counterparts” in relation to tariffs here.
This is obviously a high priority for us. As the Australian government, [we are] trying to do best by Australians and what’s in our best national interests, and will continue to do that.
Australia will consider ‘any offers’ from Ukraine – Wells
Let’s return to Anika Wells on the Today Show just earlier. The sports minister was asked about suggestions for Australia to have boots on the ground in Ukraine, and whether this was a serious pledge from the PM.
For context, here is what Anthony Albanese said yesterday:
There’s discussion at the moment about potential peacekeeping, and from my government’s perspective, we’re open to consideration of any proposals going forward …
Wells said today that “we will consider any offers that we are asked by the Ukrainian people”.
Any step that advances the cause of peace and eases the suffering of the Ukrainian people in this illegal and immoral invasion by Russia, we will consider.
‘If someone tells you to leave, leave’ – Crisafulli
The Queensland premier said if you are told to evacuate, “you should leave and I can’t be more blunt than that”. David Crisafulli:
Someone will be knocking at your door. They’re not there as an afterthought. They’re there because they care about you and they want to keep you safe.
Crisafulli said he has seen a lot of damage in disaster events but “in the end it runs a distant second to the heartache of losing people”.
So the idea about replacing property, well, that’s another story for another day. Your priority is you. So if somebody tells you to leave, you should heed that advice.
Small number of people already evacuated – premier
David Crisafulli said it was a “very small number” of people who had been evacuated so far.
As modelling is released on the cyclone’s path, councils would begin doorknocking in affected areas, he said.
During the course of the day, the councils will stand up evacuation centres that give people the option and it is really important that if that happens, that you listen to the advice.
Crisafulli says now is the time to prepare for cyclone
The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, says Tropical Cyclone Alfred has intensified and “all of the models” show it tracking to the coast.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, he said:
We’re telling Queenslanders that this is a serious event and it will cross the coast. That’s what all of the models show.
Crisafulli said the message had been that people have days to prepare; now, “we’re moving into that phase where it’s now about hours”.
So do all the little things now … We’ll continue to communicate what the system looks like, when it could cross, where, intensity. As that becomes clearer, we will share that with people in real time.
