Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has apologised to parents for ‘confusing’ messages over school closures and pick-ups after a severe weather warning.
Many parents and school staff across the state’s south-east expressed confusion after Ms Palaszczuk yesterday handed down an edict for students to be collected from schools between the northern suburbs of Brisbane up to Bundaberg to avoid coming storms.
All south-east Queensland schools were then closed on Friday as a precaution ahead of a forecast of more severe weather, despite Queenslanders waking up to partly cloudy skies.
The mea culpa came as a tenth victim of the flooding in Queensland was confirmed.
In a press conference on Friday a contrite Ms Palaszczuk said she was acting on the weather advice she was given when she closed schools, but acknowledges the decision was an ‘inconvenience’ for parents.
‘Can I say from the outset to all the parents on the south-east, that I apologise for the inconvenience,’ she said.
‘But I think everybody would realise that if you were in my shoes… everyone would have made exactly the same decision.’
15,000 homes in Queensland are still without power, and up to 17,000 homes and businesses have been damaged.
‘Safety has to come first. At the end of the day you can only act on the advice you were given.’
The advice given to Ms Palaszczuk suggested the state would face severe hail and thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday, which failed to eventuate.
All schools are set to reopen from Monday, except for 64 state and 76 non-state schools damaged by floodwaters.
All schools are set to reopen from Monday, except for 64 state and 76 non-state schools damaged by floodwaters. Pictured: A woman walks through a flooded street at the Queensland-NSW border
Ms Palaszczuk also reminded Queenslanders that from 6pm Friday night, the mask mandate in the state will be lifted.
‘The masks can come off. If you’re in crowded situations please think about whether or not you want to use it [the mask], but it is completely up to you.’
Ms Palaszczuk says harsh weather conditions around the state are easing and the Brisbane River level had reduced to 2.25 metres.
Queensland’s mask mandate will be lifted at 6pm on Friday night, but Queenslanders are encouraged to keep wearing them in busy places
Around $559 million in disaster grants and loans are being offered to individuals and businesses from the state and federal government.
Missing man’s body found under wharf
On Thursday night, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services conducted two water rescue operations and the body of a 53-year-old man who was last seen on a boat in the flooded Brisbane River was also recovered.
‘Any loss of life during these events is gut wrenching not only for the families but for their friends as well,’ Ms Palaszczuk said about the incident.
Queensland’s death toll is now at 10, with another man still missing.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the 53-year-old’s body was found under a wharf at the Port of Brisbane on Thursday night, four days after he was last seen in a small aluminium boat on the Brisbane River at Murrarie.
‘All of these deaths are flood-related, some completely unexpected, where water has risen very, very quickly in areas that we’re not used to,’ Commissioner Carroll told reporters on Friday.
Queensland authorities performed two water rescues overnight before Friday morning as many floodwaters continue to present a danger to many
‘So over the next few days as the showers, and storms, and rain continues, please be aware of that flash flooding, be aware of your circumstances.’
An elderly man was also still missing after he was seen falling from a boat on the Brisbane River near Breakfast Creek on Saturday.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services made two more swift water rescues overnight and responded to almost 200 calls for help.
QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said there had been 650 swift water rescues and emergency services had received almost 12,000 calls for help in the last 11 days.
‘We still have around 900 tasks outstanding, so it will take us another two to three days to get to you,’ he said, addressing those who had sought help.
‘So if you are waiting for SES assistance, please be patient, we will get to you.’
Whole communities remain cut off by floodwaters, 15,000 properties are without power and up to 17,000 homes and businesses have been damaged.
Queensland’s emergency services have more than 900 tasks still to complete, the SES has asked people to ‘be patient’
Police and Defence Force troops are air-dropping food, water and medical supplies to those stranded, while 260 people are staying in evacuation centres.
Conditions have eased on Friday, but Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Laura Boekel said a flood watch remains in force over the saturated catchments of Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, and the Sunshine and Gold coasts.
‘They have no ability to take on and absorb any water, so any water that does fall from showers or storms today could lead still to flash flooding,’ she said.
There are 260 people still in evacuation centres in Queensland as Brisbane River drops to 2.25 metres in height
Maryborough (pictured) sits in the region between Brisbane and Bundaberg where Premier Palaszczuk ordered schools to close.
About $559 million in disaster grants and loans are also being offered to individuals and businesses from the state and federal government.
The premier said the total cost of the ‘unprecedented’ disaster was unclear as severe weather forecasts were hampering damage assessments on homes, businesses, roads and railways.
‘Let’s face it, it’s climate change. I mean, I’ve never seen so many natural disasters,’ Ms Palaszczuk said.
‘We seem to be dealing with more and more, more cyclones, more floods, you know, a couple of years ago … we had the catastrophic fire events in central Queensland, Queensland had never seen anything so catastrophic before.’
However, she said the disaster hadn’t diminished her own support for fossil fuel and Queensland was ‘lucky’ to have coal and gas, with renewable energy investment also ramping up.
original source: Palaszczuk apologises to parents for precautionary school closures, missing man’s body found
