Australian news and politics live: Marles backs sending troops to Ukraine, PM in Qld ahead of Cyclone Alfred

One of the Gold Coast’s most experienced lifesavers and surf sports coaches has described the impending arrival of Cyclone Alfred as “a once in a lifetime event”, while surf lifesaving clubs warn their members to stay away.

Prolific surf sports-winning surf club, BMD Northcliffe on the Gold Coast, has had to take extraordinary measures to keep their members and the public safe amid the potential carnage ahead of the cyclone’s landfall at around 2am on Friday.

Some of the world’s best ironmen and ironwomen who are also patrolling surf lifesavers have been told to stay away as the massive waves surge toward beach-side frontage — making competition at the Queensland Surf Lifesaving titles impossible this weekend.

The surf club has been closed and all non-essential members and staff have been told to steer clear of the facility.

“This is a great unknown really,” said Northcliffe Surf Sports manager Paul Wotherspoon.

“I have been living on the Gold Coast for 44 years, have been at the beach for most of that time and never seen a storm move from a Category One to a Category Two cyclone that will hit this strip.”

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Anthony Albanese was supposed to be headed to WA at the end of this week for Saturday’s State election.

But right at the end of his lengthy press conference in Brisbane he said he now expects he will stay on the east coast to keep across the cyclone and recovery efforts after it passes through.

“I was due to travel to Western Australia on Friday and Saturday, but chances are I intend to stay on the east coast,” he said.

“NEMA (the National Emergency Management Agency) is based in Canberra, that is a good place to monitor what is happening nationally there.”

The latest GDP figures are in and it’s good news for Australia’s economy.

GDP best expectations to grow by 0.6 per cent in the final quarter of 2024, bringing the annual rate of growth to 1.3 per cent.

The surprise results were thanks to a surprise lift in business inventory data released earlier this week.

Quarterly GDP growth of 0.6 per cent is the strongest showing in more than two years and suggests that the economy is recovering from a low point experienced in the third quarter of last year.

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The Prime Minister is asked whether he will rule out calling an election in the next couple of days.

He says his “focus is on governing”.

“That’s what I’m here for. I’ve been asked everyday for the last year about election timing. I am focused on governing, that is the sole focus that I have,” he said.

The PM said his team are working out whether he can get to northern NSW later today, where Premier Chris Minns is travelling to.

Matthew Collopy from the Bureau of Meteorology is next up to provide an update.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently a category 2 system, sitting 400km east of Brisbane and moving west at around 11 km/h towards southeast Queensland.

It’s forecast to cross somewhere between Brisbane and the Gold Coast overnight Thursday into Friday morning.

Winds near the centre will be up to 95 km/h, with gusts up to 130 km/h.

Daily rainfall totals are forecast of between 200-400mm for southeast Queensland between Thursday and Saturday, but there could be totals over 800mm.

That rainfall could trigger life-threatening flash flooding.

Coastal warnings are also in place for high tides and large waves.

He said: “The coastal crossing of Tropical Cyclone Alfred presents a very rare and hazardous event for southeast Queensland. The wave, wind, rainfall and particularly the storm surge present significant risks. This situation is still evolving and the Bureau will update our warnings for all of these hazards as the system approaches the coast”.

More than 500 Queensland schools in the cyclone warning zone will be closed on Thursday and Friday.

The Queensland Government has put together a full list here

Brisbane suburbs Nudgee Beach, Brighton, Windsor, Ashgrove, Morningside and Roclea are at this time facing the highest risk.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said about 20,000 propoerties have the potential to be impacted by some form of innundation or flooding.

“We are advising people to make a plan in those areas,” he said.

The RNA showgrounds will be set up as an evacuation centre, which Cr Schrinner said should be a last resort of people who have nowhere else to go.

The PM has praised the hard work of the ADF, the national emergency management agency, state agencies, and the “wonderful volunteers” of the SES and others.

“At the worst of times, from Australia we see the best of the Australian character,” he said.

“We see it time after time. And I pay tribute to all those people who are showing their care for others at this difficult time.”

The Government has receieved a formal request and the ADF is now engaged to help out with response to TC Alfred, Mr Albanese has confirmed.

Heavy lift helicopters from the national aerial firefighting fleet have also been positioned in preparation for the days ahead.

The Commonwealth has also declared a period of emergency for childcare, meaning families who keep their children home during the cyclone won’t be punished.

The PM has also reiterated the Government will provide an additional 250,000 sandbags to Queensland.

Anthony Albanese is speaking now, he arrived in Brisbane last night.

He said his Government was working with its state and local counterparts to keep Queenslanders and northern NSW residents safe.

“I’d urge (people) to listen carefully to the words that Premier Crisafulli has just said,” he said.

“Prepare, take this seriously, this is a rare event.”