Australia news live update: ex-Cyclone Jasper leaves 40,000 homes and businesses in far north Queensland without power – latest
Clifton Beach and Palm Cove north of Cairns in Queensland, seen on Wednesday during ex-Cyclone Jasper. Follow live news and the latest Qld weather updates today.
LIVE – Updated at 23:06
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23:06Jonathan Barrett
Petstock to sell 41 stores over competition concerns
Speciality pet supply company Petstock has agreed to sell 41 of its stores, after the competition regulator raised concerns it had bought out competitors without seeking approval.
The acquisitions came to the attention of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (Accc) when supermarket giant Woolworths sought permission to take a majority interest in Petstock, according to the regulator.
Petstock is one of the biggest companies in the pet supplies sector, alongside the owners of Petbarn.
Accc chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said:
Petstock’s acquisitions removed some of the few remaining chains of specialty pet retail stores that competed against Petstock and Petbarn.
After the regulator raised the competition concerns with Petstock and Woolworths, they each offered to provide court-enforceable undertakings to resolve the concerns.
This has resulted in the Accc allowing Woolworths to take a 55% controlling interest in Petstock, with the supermarket chain to support the sale of the 41 stores.
Petstock was contacted for comment.
The pet supplies industry is attracting increasing interest from major retailers amid a rising trend of pet ownership in Australia.
The Wesfarmers-owned Bunnings has greatly expanded its range of pet supplies to compete with supermarkets and specialty retailers.
23:05
In terms of the SES response, around 50 calls for assistance were made (as we flagged earlier in the blog here).
Emergency personnel said this is a credit to the communities preparation and “hunkering down through this event”.
Fire and Rescue had a number of storm related responses overnight, notably the Mosman support for that evacuation.
The key message is this threat has not passed. We are maintaining a posture across impacted areas. We have a lot of water moving through the systems, significant rainfall coming down.
Water crews and additional resources have been deployed, including 170 additional personnel.
23:04
Twelve people and a dog rescued from flood waters in Mossman
At the press conference, Queensland police provided more detail on the rescue operation conducted at Mossman last night: The officer said police received a 000 call indicating 12 people were on the roofs of houses – police later discovered they were not on the roof, but had gone to higher ground.
Police and emergency services turned up and found a metre of water on roadways and houses. One house and a number of vehicles were innundated.
We were able to walk the 12 people out and take them to the library, along with the dog, that’s very important. A family pet, we all understand that. And there were another 40 people in the surrounding areas that weren’t impacted directly, but chose to self-evacuate and stay with friends.
Bureau of Meteorlogy provides update on Tropical Cyclone Jasper
23:03
Lauren Boekel from the Bureau of Meteorology recounted what happened last night and the current situation on the ground following Tropical Cyclone Jasper:
Jasper crossed the coast as a category 2 system around 8pm local time.
The system has now been downgraded to a tropical low.
It will continue to track towards the Gulf of Carpentaria over the coming days.
The highest wind speeds recorded yesterday were just off the coast at 115km an hour.
There was widespread rain, with more than 20 gauges seeing over 200mm fall in the past 24 hours. The highest total currently is near the Daintree rainforest at 114mm.
A major flood warning remains in place for the Daintree River. The major flood level of 9m will be reached this morning, with further rises possible.
Mossman River reached 8.36m at 1am this morning, and the Bloomfield River reached 6.8m at 1am.
Boekel said:
This is an evolving situation and the rain hasn’t stopped yet and it’s likely to continue well into today and into this evening as well.
As well as the flooding risk, we have seen heavy to locally intense rainfall which can lead to flash flooding … we’re just encouraging people to stay across all of the forecasts and warning that the Bureau issues today.
22:58
Update on impact of Tropical Cyclone Jasper
Queensland emergency personnel are providing a post-Tropical Cyclone Jasper update to the media from Brisbane.
They said far north Queensland has seen 24-hour rainfall totals of about half a metre, with heavy rain continuing from Ingham down to Cooktown. As we flagged just earlier, more than 40,000 homes and businesses are without power, including around 25,000 in Cairns.
That means a quarter of homes and businesses in the affected areas have no power this morning.
Emergency personnel said twelve people, and a dog, were rescued from Mossman last night and are all safe.
With the rain continuing, we want to remind all Queenslanders that flooding and its impact on individuals, and the risk and the danger that comes from flooding, remains.
People in the far north will be aware that an event like this is not over, because when they look outside they can see the rain bucketing down. But it will ease up and we want people to remain alert and safe at this time.
22:55
By comparison: AIC deaths in custody data for 2021-22
Following on from our last post, here is the AIC data on deaths in custody from the 2021-22 period, for comparison:
106 deaths in custody (2022-23: 110 deaths in custody)
24 Indigenous deaths, 81 non-Indigenous deaths and one death of a person whose Indigenous status was not known (2022-23: 31 Indigenous deaths and 79 non-Indigenous deaths in custody)
40,000 homes and businesses in far north Queensland without power
22:52Jordyn Beazley
Nearly 40,000 homes and businesses in far north Queensland are without power this morning in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, with no timeframe yet for when it will be restored.
A spokesperson for Ergon Energy said there is likely to be widespread network damage across several shires, including Cairns, Douglas, Cassowary Coast, Mareeba, Tablelands and Yarrabah.
Crews had started assessing the damage in areas where it is safe to do so – including in Cairns – but the spokesperson said the restoration of power across the affected regions would be complex:
There’s potentially a lot of damage over a widespread area and severe weather could hamper access to sites, so we need to set realistic community expectations.
The network will prioritise restoring power to essential services like water, sewerage, health services and shopping centres.
22:42
AIC reports 110 deaths in custody in 2022-23
The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has released its annual report on deaths in custody. The report found that from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023, there were 110 deaths in custody.
70 of these were in prison custody, and 40 in police custody or custody-related operations. There were 31 Indigenous deaths and 79 non-Indigenous deaths in custody.
AIC’s deputy director, Dr Rick Brown, said the Institute remains committed to providing accurate and policy-relevant research to assist in reducing the over-incarceration of First Nations people:
Having timely and in-depth data is a key step towards informed early intervention and prevention strategies to reduce First Nations deaths in custody and improve justice outcomes.
In June 2023, the AIC began reporting real-time deaths in custody online, to help focus attention and bring additional transparency and accountability to this serious issue.
Lifeline 13 11 14
US asks Australia to join international task force in Red Sea
22:40
The United States has asked Australia to send a warship to the Red Sea amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East where Israel is waging war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, resulting in civilian casualties.
The request, made recently, came from the US Navy which wants the vessel to join an international task force following rising attacks on ships by Iran-backed militia trying to disrupt supplies.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said the Australian government already contributed to maritime security in that “often dangerous part of the world”. He told the ABC:
When we get these kinds of requests from time to time, the usual practice would be for the defence minister to consider that, to recommend to colleagues whether [and] how we respond to that request.
As I understand it, there has been a request made and we’ll consider it in the usual way.
Chalmers later told Nine’s Today Show “some kind of request” had been conveyed to the government.
– from AAP
Have you got Australian politics questions? We have Australian politics answers
22:40
Our Australian politics podcast will end the year by answering your questions on federal politics.
If you have a question for Katharine Murphy, Amy Remeikis, Paul Karp or anyone else in the team please email it to [email protected] by 10am today.
You’ll be able to hear the episode this weekend.
Snowy Hydro tunnelling at Tantangara restarts
22:40
Snowy Hydro has confirmed that tunnelling of Snowy 2.0 at Tantangara has restarted following NSW government approval for the project’s planning modification.
A statement from Snowy Hydro said:
Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Florence’s initial advance commenced last week. Tunnelling is being conducted in closed (slurry) mode and progress is slow and steady. The project has engaged specialist experienced personnel to manage this process.
The group’s CEO, Dennis Barnes, welcomed the milestone, which follows a delay caused by “soft ground conditions and the emergence of a sinkhole above TBM Florence”, the statement said.
Barnes:
The conditions of approval were developed through the extensive review, public consultation and determination process, and will be strictly adhered to as we get back underway with excavation of the tunnel.
The Snowy 2.0 delivery team is acutely aware of its responsibilities working in the sensitive environment of Kosciuszko national park. We are focused on achieving excellent environmental outcomes throughout construction of this pumped-hydro expansion of the Snowy scheme and critical infrastructure for Australia’s transition to renewable energy.
22:39
Greenpeace Australia files lawsuit against Woodside Petroleum
Greenpeace Australia has filed a lawsuit against fossil fuel giant Woodside in the federal court overnight.
In a statement, Greenpeace said it was bringing the case forward over climate change concerns. Greenpeace alleges that Woodside has been misrepresenting its climate performance and plans.
Amongst other claims, Greenpeace alleges that Woodside said it had cut its climate pollution from extracting and processing its gas and oil by 11% in 2022, but it relied on “carbon offsets” and its actual emissions went up by more than 3%.
Woodside has been contacted for comment.
22:38Andrew Messenger
‘Massive cleanup’ expected in areas hit by Tropical Cyclone Jasper
Residents of Cow Bay, north of Port Douglas, say they expect a “massive cleanup” in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Jasper, which is expected to flood creeks and rivers and even uproot trees.
The cyclone hit an area of coastline dotted with small communities with limited access.
Residents report that the Daintree river has already reached 4 metres.
22:21
Police union to vote on stepping up industrial action
Police in Victoria will vote on whether to step up industrial action as a bitter pay dispute threatens to drag into the new year, AAP reports.
If the ballot is successful, officers would no longer penalise most speeding drivers, refuse to appear in court and stop taking on extra duties. That could impact policing arrangements at the Australian Open tennis as officers currently volunteer to take on extra shifts to cover major events.
The Police Association of Victoria has been pushing for a 4% pay rise and better conditions such as nine hour shifts during five months of negotiations. Up to 18,000 officers have already imposed work bans, which include attempts to slash state government revenue from lucrative speeding fines and writing messages on police vehicles.
The association’s secretary, Wayne Gatt, said his members did not want to escalate action but had no alternative as there had been no negotiations in December.
Under the proposed action, officers would stop issuing penalty notices except for drink or drug driving and serious offences that trigger an immediate loss or suspension of a licence. The further 18 proposed work bans include stopping extra duties, such as taking on extra shifts to police major events and refusing to to appear as informants or witnesses at the supreme and county courts.
21:53
Heatwave conditions predicted across Australia
Turning back to some more weather news, and large parts of the country are still experiencing heatwave conditions.
In NSW, a severe heatwave warning remains in place for the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Northern Tablelands and South Coast Districts. Maximum temperatures are expected to be in the mid to high 30s, with heatwave conditions moving north by the weekend and continuing into next week.
Meanwhile, the NSW Rural Fire Service has issued total fire ban’s for the Hunter and Greater Sydney. Sydney is forecast to reach a max of 37C today.
In Queensland, a heatwave is expected to develop in the southeast from today and continue through the weekend. Brisbane is forecast to reach a max of 34C today.
In Western Australia, there is an extreme heatwave warning for the Kimberly district, with mid 40 conditions expected to continue into next week.
And in the Northern Territory, a severe heatwave warning is in place for the Tiwi, Arnhem, Carpentaria, Gregory, Barkly and Tanami districts. Darwin is forecast to reach a max of 35C today, with a possible storm.
21:53
Burns on Israel-Gaza: ‘ceasefire cannot be one-sided’
Josh Burns was asked whether he believes prime minister Anthony Albanese is “trying to be all things to all people”, like members of the opposition have claimed.
Burns disagreed with this and said Albanese has a “deep sense of the region [and] the conflict”.
I know that [Labor frontbencher Ed Husic] is is deeply concerned about his [Muslim] community, as am I deeply concerned about my [Jewish] community. It’s a natural part of a conflict that there are going to be people concerned about the loss of life and the human cost of it.
What is our humanity if we can’t recognise that there is suffering on both sides? I think that I think that to make it too binary is unnecessary.
I’ve made my position clear about the fact that I completely understand that a state that is responding to a terror organisation is seeking to protect its citizens, and I completely reiterate the point that a ceasefire cannot be one-sided, and I will continue to do so, and I believe that that is unfortunately a very difficult, but the right position, to hold.
I also think that, I don’t want to see innocent lives lost. I don’t and I never will and I will never celebrate the loss of life.
21:49
Labor’s Josh Burns says Israel will not accept anything less than the return of hostages and the removal of Hamas from power
Circling back to the cross-party delegation to the Middle East which is being led by the shadow foreign affairs minister, Simon Birmingham: Labor backbencher Josh Burns is visiting Israel as part of the delegation and spoke to ABC RN earlier this morning about his experience.
Turning to the growing calls for a ceasefire – after the PM signed a joint letter urging one and Australia voted in favour of an immediate ceasefire at the UN – Burns said any ceasefire would need to be “an agreement between two parties”, and that Hamas “cannot be a part of the future governance of Gaza”.
Q: Do you support Australia voting yes for this UN resolution?
Burns:
I think that the United States amendment of including Hamas in the resolution was an important one, and we voted in favour of that.
(The US amendment designated Hamas as a terrorist group, and called for wording to “unequivocally” condemn the 7 October attack and the taking of hostages. It was not passed).
Burns said it was “ludicrous” not to include Hamas in the resolution, but he also said the resolution “couldn’t be less relevant to the people here on the ground” who are focusing on “whether or not its safe to return to their homes”:
Israel is still committed to removing from Hamas from power and Israel is still committed to the return of hostages. So the UN can pass resolutions but those two key factors haven’t changed on the ground and as much as I think that the UN resolution really would have been strengthened by the United States [amendment], what’s really important here is that there are meaningful steps towards towards the end of this violence and that can’t happen without Hamas releasing hostages, and it won’t happen without Hamas being removed from power.
The Israelis will not accept anything else and as much as we might want to pray and wish for a return to the situation prior to October 7, the reality is is that those two key aspects are still in the way of a peaceful future.
21:25
Union welcomes ban on engineered stone
The Australian Workers Union welcomed the ban on engineered stone products, announced yesterday, but argued the move would “sadly not end the scourge of silicosis among Australian workers”.
The union’s national secretary, Paul Farrow, said much more reform is needed to stop workers being exposed to deadly silica dust:
It’s fantastic that engineered stone has been banned, but also vital to maintain perspective. There are some 4,000 stonemasons in Australia, but around 600,000 workers who are exposed to silica dust.
Unfortunately, for most of this 600,000, there can be no ban on the materials that expose them to silica in industries such as construction, tunnelling, quarrying, mining, road work and more. So reform is more complex, but no less important.
Primarily we need to strengthen the Work Health and Safety Act to provide a clear definition for high-risk silica work and introduce strong provisions for working around the hazard. This will require the state governments to follow through with the necessary changes and adopt the changes in their jurisdictions.
21:09
Chalmers says Usman Khawaja should be able to wear shoes with human rights message while cricketing
Chalmers was also asked about another story: Cricket player Usman Khawaja had pledged to fight a decision by the ICC to bar him from displaying human rights messages on his shoes while representing Australia this summer in support of people in Gaza.
Khawaja was pictured at training on Tuesday with the words “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” written across his Nike-branded footwear.
Chalmers said Khawaja should be allowed to wear the shoes during the match:
I don’t think it’s an especially controversial statement … the lives on one side of a conflict are not worth any more or any less than the lives on the other side of the conflict.
The treasurer said Khawaja is a friend of his, who is a champion for people of all faiths:
He is an absolute champion and he’s got a big heart and I think that they should let him wear the shoes. It’s not a controversial statement, it’s not an especially political statement, and I think it would be a good outcome if the relevant authorities let him wear the shoes when he walks out to bat for Australia.
21:08
Jim Chalmers refuses to comment on reports senior ministers did not know Australia would vote for ceasefire at UN
Moving to yesterday’s UN motion calling for an immediate ceasefire, which Australia voted for, Jim Chalmers was asked about reports that many senior ministers did not know Australia was planning to take this position. He told ABC RN:
I don’t talk about cabinet process or discussions at cabinet. These sorts of votes at the UN have not traditionally been matters for the cabinet agenda. Beyond that, I don’t really want to get into the sorts of consultation that happens at our end of discussions.
Chalmers said he had been consulted, and there were a “range of views” about the position Australia took.
21:01
Treasurer says tax relief for low and median income people not ‘something that we have been working up’
Chalmers was asked whether the government is considering tax relief for people on low and median income, separate to the state-three tax cuts?
He said:
It’s not something that I’m prepared to flag or … something that we have been working up.
If we can do more for people, whether it’s in the tax system or more broadly, you know, with some of these other initiatives, which are working to put downward pressure on inflation, obviously, we consider that from budget to budget.
21:00
Chalmers says stage-three tax cuts will provide ‘some relief’ to people during cost-of-living pressures
The treasurer Jim Chalmers just spoke to ABC RN, following the release of the mid-year economic outlook (Myefo) yesterday.
In case you missed it, the myefo showed that Australia’s federal budget is on track for a wafer-thin $1.1bn deficit this year, with a strong labour market and commodity prices fuelling expectations the eventual result will be a second Labor surplus:
Asked about the stage-three tax cuts, host Patricia Karvelas asked whether he views these as providing cost of living relief? Chalmers:
If people are getting tax cuts, if people are keeping more of what they earn, that will make it easier for them to make ends meet. That’s one of the motivations, but there are other motivations as well. I think governments of either political persuasion, when they can afford to, should be looking to return some of this bracket creep when they can.
These tax cuts, as you know, were legislated some years ago and they’re in the budget … and they will provide some relief to people, they will also return some of this bracket creep.
20:49
Simon Birmingham says Israel-Gaza ceasefire a ‘risk’ as it would give Hamas time to rearm
The shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham spoke to ABC News Breakfast just earlier from Jerusalem, where he is leading a cross-party delegation to the Middle East.
He said the group, which includes Labor backbenchers Josh Burns and Michelle Ananda-Rajah, has visited sites where Hamas attacked on 7 October.
He was asked about two steps the Australian government took yesterday to urge a ceasefire in Gaza – first, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, signed a joint letter with his NZ and Canadian counterparts to urge a ceasefire, and Australia voted for a UN motion calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Birmingham acknowledged “every loss of innocent life is of course a tragedy”, but he argued a ceasefire would be a “risk” because Hamas would “ use that time to rearm, to regroup and repeat those horrors all over again, and the cycle of violence simply continues as a result of that”.
The only ceasefire that really is a sustainable one where Hamas releases the hostages they continue to hold …
20:48
Liberals say Australia should not have backed ceasefire motion as it was
ABC News Breakfast host Lisa Millar said the phrase “sustainable ceasefire” is the same phrasing Albanese used in his joint statement, and asked Birmingham if he agreed with it.
Birmingham didn’t object to the letter but said he objected to Australia voting for the UN motion, because it didn’t mention Hamas. Millar pushed that Australia backed the amendment mentioning Hamas, which didn’t pass, but Birmingham argued that Australia ultimately shouldn’t have voted for the motion as it was.
Millar: Do you agree with comments from your colleague Andrew Hastie there should be no ceasefire until “the job is done”?
Birmingham:
Removing Hamas requires Israel to be able to continue to wage a campaign. They should wage that campaign absolutely recognising international law, but that law doesn’t mean that civilians don’t lose their lives … The limit is one judged under international law on the basis of the military application you’re applying, and how carefully you’re applying that …
So yes, we do need to see the job finished. It needs to be done in as careful and targeted a way as possible, and that is certainly part of the discussions that we have had with the Israeli government, to seek to understand how the Israeli Defence Force do target and to make sure that a message around regard for international law and the need for humanitarian supplies is heard from an Australian perspective conveyed to Israel.
But a simple ceasefire, a simple walking away, just gives Hamas the opportunity to repeat the horrors again and again into the future, as they have said they plan to do.
The Gaza health ministry said that since 7 October, more than 18,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 49,000 injured.
20:33
Jimmy Barnes recovering after open heart surgery
Jimmy Barnes has made it through his open heart surgery and is recovering in the ICU, supported by his wife Jane.
She has provided this update on social media:
I’m happy to let you know that our Jimmy has made it through his surgery and is now recovering in the ICU. We’re so grateful for the incredible medical team looking after him. Thank you all.
As Michael Sun reported, the surgery followed news Barnes had a bacterial infection he has been “battling for the last fortnight” that had spread to his heart.
The 67-year-old Cold Chisel frontman was hospitalised two weeks ago for pneumonia, and cancelled a show onboard a cruise to Noumea as part of Rock the Boat festival.
20:33
Victorian SES reports callouts after severe weather down south
As Queensland was lashed by Tropical Cyclone Jasper yesterday, Victoria was facing some severe weather of its own.
The Victorian SES said it received over 300 calls for assistance in the last 24 hours, to 6.30am today.
The busiest volunteer units were Wodonga (75 calls) and Wangaratta (30 calls). 204 calls related to a mix of fallen trees, 48 to building damage and 12 to the impacts of flash flooding.
The Victorian SES said:
Big thanks to our SES volunteers out assisting their communities. The severe weather warning is no longer in place.
20:33
QFES responded to 50 calls, rescued eight people from home
We just got the latest update from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service on its emergency response to Tropical Cyclone Jasper overnight.
It received 50 calls for assistance from 3pm yesterday to 5am this morning, relating to floods, trees down and structural damage.
One rescue was completed during this time: around 12.40am rescue crews were called to Mossman Street in Mossman, where eight people were rescued from a house.
Crews then went door-to-door in the area, and evacuated a further 10 people from that street – with 18 people in total evacuated from the area.
As we reported just earlier, the Daintree and Mossman River catchments received rainfall of up to 390mm in 24 hours. Residents close to the Mossman River were warned at 3am to leave immediately and evacuate to the nearby library.
20:04Emily Wind
Many thanks to Martin for kicking things off this morning. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll be with you on the live blog today.
See something that needs attention? You can contact me via X/Twitter @emilywindwrites or send me an email: [email protected].
Let’s get started.
Flood warning for Daintree and Mossman River
20:01
The BoM has issued a major flood warning for the Daintree and a flood warning for the Mossman river, saying major flooding is likely at Daintree Village this morning.
After rainfall of up to 390mm in the Daintree and Mossman River catchments in 24 hours – with 315mm in 12 hours – heavy rainfall is forecast to continue.
There have already been “significant” river level rises with moderate flooding at Daintree Village already, with river levels at 7.55m and rising. There is major flooding likely during the morning, the BoM says, with levels likely to surpass 9m.
The Douglas shire council issued an emergency alert for Mossman River at 3am, warning residents closest to the river to leave immediately to the Mossman library.
“Conditions are changing quickly,” the alert said.
19:59
Ex-Cyclone Jasper brings deluge to far north Queensland
Ex-Cyclone Jasper brought a LOT of rain with it (and it’s still falling).
Some of the rainfall totals from the BoM are huge:
470 mm of rainfall was recorded in the 24 hours to 3:00am at Yandill.
389 mm of rainfall was recorded in the 24 hours to 4:30am at Daintree Village.
370 mm of rainfall was recorded in the 24 hours to 4:38am at Myola.
Tense wait as NSW students prepare to receive Atar results today
19:45Caitlin Cassidy
Almost 70,000 students across New South Wales are waking today to discover their results in the end of year exams.
Yesterday, almost 130 students celebrated receiving First in Course honours – topping the state for their achievements in individual subjects.
Today, Atar results will be released, as well as final subject scores.
While a tense time for students, the state’s education minister, Prue Car, said everyone had “tried their absolute best and studied their guts out”.
At a ceremony at Western Sydney University on Wednesday, Car assured students who didn’t receive the results they hoped for that there were “so many ways to achieve your future”.
“Whether that is further training, employment, whether you want to go on a gap year … enjoy and celebrate what you’ve done well … take it all in stride, you worked hard.”
As for Car’s Atar? It had a nine in front of it – 98.75 to be exact.
“But looking back, it’s quite a long time ago,” she added. “There are so many things that you’ll do in your future.”
19:36
Intense rainfall between Ingham and Cooktown
According to a severe weather warning issued by the BoM just before 5am, there are still risks of heavy, locally intense rainfall and damaging winds, for people across the north tropical coast, tablelands, gulf country and beyond – as the major storm that used to be Cyclone Jasper moves west across the peninsula to the gulf.
Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding was occurring between Ingham and Cooktown, the update said, with isolated falls up to 350mm possible.
Intense rainfall which may lead to “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” was developing between Cooktown and Cairns.
And damaging wind gusts peaking at 90km/h were still possible along the coast.
Emergency services advised people to keep their children close, park cars away from trees and close doors and windows.
“Go inside a strong building now,” the advice said. “Stay inside until the storm has passed.”
Flooding and wind damage in far north Queensland as Tropical Cyclone Jasper weakens to a tropical low
19:31
Heavy rains and damaging winds have hit Queensland’s tropical north coast as Tropical Cyclone Jasper weakened to a tropical low, reports Australian Associated Press.
Residents took shelter as the category 2 storm hit and winds of about 100km/h uprooted trees and brought down powerlines.
The intensity of the storm was reduced to a tropical low late on Wednesday night and it was due to continue to weaken as it moved inland.
But life-threatening flash flooding was still expected, with the state’s far north facing up to 300mm of rainfall over six hours and 500mm in 24 hours.
Emergency authorities initially said there had been “some damage” and flooding and there were power outages.
There was a risk the system could re-intensify into a tropical cyclone as it hits the Gulf of Carpentaria on Friday.
Prior to the system reaching the coast, more than 17,000 homes and businesses were already without power.
The deputy premier, Steven Miles, travelled to Townsville on Wednesday to monitor the emergency response.
The Australian defence force was also on standby to assist if necessary.
“We stand ready to support far north Queensland, the Queensland government and local governments in any way needed in the days ahead,” the federal emergency management minister, Murray Watt, said.
Welcome
19:25
Good morning and welcome to the live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be bringing you some of our top overnight stories before Emily Wind takes over.
Far north Queenslanders are counting the cost – and still facing damaging winds and life-threatening flooding – after Cyclone Jasper hit the coast as a category 2 storm before being downgraded overnight to a tropical low. The Bureau of Meteorology said: “Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper is no longer of tropical cyclone intensity; however, impacts from heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts are still likely.” A deluge of 500mm in 24 hours was expected along the coast and adjacent ranges between Cape Tribulation to Cairns, with up to 300mm of that falling in a six-hour peak.
A Guardian Australia investigation published today has found that thousands of investors have lost millions of dollars to the schemes set up by Australian blockchain entrepreneur Sam Lee and his business partner Ryan Xu, who were the founders of the collapsed Australian bitcoin company Blockchain Global. There is also anger at Australian authorities who have made no mention of the schemes that were flagged by the New Zealand regulator as a possible “scam” and by another overseas regulator as a “suspected pyramid scheme”, among many other overseas warnings.
After an eleventh-hour deal at Cop28 agreeing countries should “transition away” from fossil fuels, Australia’s climate change minister Chris Bowen says the text sent a clear message that “our future is in clean energy and the age of fossil fuels will end”. Read our analysis and find out what was good Cop and what was bad Cop.
Says Bowen:
The outcome does not go as far as many of us have asked for, starting with some of the most vulnerable countries, but the message it sends is clear – that all nations of the world have acknowledged the reality that our future is in clean energy, and the age of fossil fuels will end.