Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited flood-hit outback Queensland as swollen rivers isolated towns and destroyed hundreds of kilometres of fencing. Officials say more than 16,000 livestock are missing or dead, and helicopters are dropping fodder to surviving herds. Communities such as Winton remain cut off, while dramatic rescues continue; researchers warn climate change is increasing the intensity of such events.
PM Visits Flood-Ravaged Outback as Rivers Isolate Towns and 16,000+ Livestock Are Lost
Heavy downpours in recent days have flooded vast inland tracts of Queensland state, a farming region home to some of the country's largest cattle ranches (QUEENSLAND'S OFFICE OF THE PREMIER)(QUEENSLAND'S OFFICE OF THE PREMIER/None/AFP)
Swollen rivers and heavy downpours have cut off towns and swept away thousands of animals across outback Queensland, officials said, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew into the disaster zone on Tuesday to assess the damage.
Damage, Response and Rescue
State authorities reported that more than 16,000 livestock are missing or dead and that hundreds of kilometres of fencing have been destroyed. Albanese landed in the mining town of Cloncurry — about 1,500 kilometres (900 miles) inland from Brisbane — to meet local officials and emergency crews.
Images shared on social media showed surviving cattle clustered on small hilltops that rose above the floodwaters. Queensland emergency services deployed helicopters to drop bales of fodder close to stranded herds to sustain them until ground access is restored.
Communities Cut Off
Several communities, including the small town of Winton, have been completely isolated by floodwaters. Road and rail connections across large tracts of outback Queensland remain disrupted, complicating relief and recovery work.
LifeFlight reported a dramatic rescue after a man who became bogged down walked nearly 40 kilometres through knee-deep mud seeking help. Rescuers traced his footprints and airlifted him to safety.
Context and Climate Links
Researchers have repeatedly warned that climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as bushfires, floods and cyclones. Authorities noted that more than 100,000 cattle, sheep, goats and horses died in similar floods that swept parts of outback Queensland in March–April last year.
Outback Queensland is one of Australia’s largest cattle fattening regions. For much of the year its flat plains are dry and harsh, but when wet-season rains fill creek beds the pastures sprout quickly, providing rich feed that draws cattle into low-lying areas vulnerable to sudden flooding.
What Comes Next: Recovery teams are prioritising welfare checks for livestock, repairs to fencing and transport corridors, and support for isolated communities while authorities monitor river levels and weather forecasts.
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