2 h. ago Tropical Cyclone Alfred is slowing down – here’s why that makes it more dangerous

The storm may not reach the coast until early Saturday now, meaning millions in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales will endure damaging winds, torrential rain, and dangerous surf conditions for much longer

Politics

2 h. ago Cyclone Alfred latest: Brisbane Airport cancels all flights as Queensland and NSW residents told to evacuate

PM Anthony Albanese warns public to exercise caution as cyclone's delayed landfall is 'not all good news'

Politics

3 h. ago Cyclone Alfred latest: Brisbane Airport suspends operations as forecasters’ worst fears realised

PM Anthony Albanese warns public to exercise caution as cyclone's delayed landfall is 'not all good news'

Politics

4 h. ago BoM tracking map forecast shows category 2 storm hitting Brisbane and south

This blog is now closed Cyclone Alfred update: NSW and Queensland prepare for flooding as authorities urge ‘do not underestimate this storm’Why did Tropical Cyclone Alfred slow down on its path towards the east coast?What is melioidosis and why do cases spike after flooding and heavy rainfall?Brisbane flood map: suburbs at risk during Cyclone AlfredSpeaking of preparations, adjunct senior lecturer at the Centre for Disaster Studies at James Cook University Yetta Gurtner gives advice here:Chalmers confident insurance companies ‘know their responsibilities’I’m confident they know their responsibilities and obligations to people. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Cyclone Alfred latest: Forecasters’ worst fears realised as storm inches towards Australia coast

PM Anthony Albanese warns public to exercise caution as cyclone's delayed landfall is 'not all good news'

Events

5 h. ago Man detained after allegedly attempting to board Jetstar flight at Avalon airport with ‘large gun’

Victoria police called to airport outside Melbourne on Thursday afternoon after alleged incident on commercial flight Tropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE updates and latest newsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice are investigating after a man allegedly attempted to board a Jetstar flight with a gun, frightening passengers who have described a dramatic citizen’s arrest.Victoria police were called to the airport outside of Melbourne at 2.50pm on Thursday, after reports a man with a firearm attempted to board a commercial flight.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Transport

6 h. ago Send us your photographs and videos of Tropical Cyclone Alfred

Help in our coverage of the cyclone but please put your welfare and the welfare of others first – and follow all safety instructions from authorities How to prepare for a cycloneWhen and where is Cyclone Alfred likely to hit?Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGuardian Australia’s readers have provided thousands of images and videos to support our coverage of major news events over the past decade.Now, we’re asking for any pictures or videos you can provide to help in our reporting of Tropical Cyclone Alfred but your safety and security are most important.Try to upload the highest resolution possibleLandscape images and video are preferableTell us as much as you can about when and where the photo was taken as well as what was happeningWhen we publish an image we want to credit you so please ensure that we have contact information and your full nameDon’t upload images or videos that you have taken from social media or that don’t belong to you Continue reading...

Culture

6 h. ago Tropical Cyclone Alfred live updates: BoM tracking map forecast shows category 2 storm hitting Brisbane and south

BoM path track map predicts TC Alfred will cross coast on Saturday near Brisbane, the first storm of its size to do so in decades. Follow the latest updates todayWhy did Tropical Cyclone Alfred slow down on its path towards the east coast?What is melioidosis and why do cases spike after flooding and heavy rainfall?Brisbane flood map: suburbs at risk during Cyclone AlfredSpeaking of preparations, adjunct senior lecturer at the Centre for Disaster Studies at James Cook University Yetta Gurtner gives advice here:Chalmers confident insurance companies ‘know their responsibilities’I’m confident they know their responsibilities and obligations to people. Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Man detained after allegedly attempting to board Jetstar flight at Avalon airport with gun

Victoria police called to airport outside Melbourne on Thursday afternoon after alleged incident on commercial flight Tropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE updates and latest newsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice are investigating after a man allegedly attempted to board a Jetstar flight with a gun on Thursday afternoon, frightening passengers.Victoria police have confirmed they were called to the airport outside of Melbourne at 2.50pm, after reports a man with a firearm attempted to board a commercial flight.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Transport

9 h. ago Cyclone Alfred latest: Australia cancels more than 200 flights as rare Category 2 storm nears east coast

Queensland premier warns residents to prepare now for 'extremely rare event'

Events

9 h. ago Cyclone Alfred latest: More than 200 flights cancelled as ‘extremely rare’ Category 2 storm nears Australian coast

Queensland premier warns residents to prepare now for 'extremely rare event'

Events

20 h. ago Australia tourist hotspot prepares for rare cyclone as locals stack sandbags

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to hit major city Brisbane and the popular Gold Coast tourist strip over the next 24-48 hours.

Politics

30 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – multiple flights cancelled and airports to close as Crisafulli urges residents to prepare now

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Society

31 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – multiple flights cancelled and airports to close as storm approaches

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Society

32 h. ago Cyclone Alfred latest: Rare Category 2 storm nears Australian coast as millions face ‘worst

Alfred is now about 345 km east of Brisbane and 315km east of the Gold Coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)

Events

35 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – army deployed and boats ordered back to harbour as cyclone approaches coast

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – power cuts in NSW and Queensland as gale force winds and 10

Thousands without electricity in Byron Bay region and in Queensland as waves top 10m in Tweed area. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – gale force winds hit Byron Bay as NSW closes 122 schools and opens evacuation centres

Premier Chris Minns says the Northern Rivers schools have been shut for today and tomorrow; wind gusts over 100km/h recorded in Byron region. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Events

58 h. ago Calm before the storm: nervous Brisbane waits for Alfred’s arrival

Authorities have clearly grasped the scale of potential disaster, but the tropical cyclone won’t feel real to many in the city until the weather starts to turnWhen and where is Tropical Cyclone Alfred likely to hit?Bribie Island braces for AlfredFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBrisbane residents who lived through the devastating 2011 floods recall an “eerie calm” that set upon the city.Back then, the city woke to sun and blue sky, but knowing the severe threat from rising flood waters was on its way. The driving rain had stopped, but the looming river peaks would cause most of the widespread damage.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

60 h. ago Threatened species: court asked to compel Australian ministers to create recovery plans

The Wilderness Society launches legal action in hope of helping animals on brink of extinctionFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne of Australia’s largest conservation organisations has launched legal action alleging that successive federal environment ministers failed to meet their obligation to create recovery plans for native species threatened with extinction.The Wilderness Society (TWS) filed the proceedings in the federal court on Monday.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics