Workers losing income in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred will be eligible for financial support, the federal government has announced. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement on Monday morning, following a weekend of flash flooding and extreme weather across the region.
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00:00Lismore locals woke to more good news. The swollen Wilsons River that had threatened
00:07to drown the city once again was continuing to fall. But danger still remained. One man
00:13who drove into floodwaters became one of at least 18 rescues in the state over the past
00:1724 hours.
00:18Once you stop, unfortunately you usually can't get going again.
00:22With all of Lismore now advised to return with caution, businesses wasted no time moving
00:27stock back in. The owners of the local skate rink are counting their blessings. The 2022
00:33flood nearly reached the roof, but it could still take over a week to hose down and wipe
00:37out a thick layer of mud.
00:39If we get a start on it now and it doesn't come back up, well then we're a day ahead
00:44of ourselves or even a couple of days ahead and so it makes it a lot easier to get back
00:48skating.
00:49The Prime Minister arrived as the city's last evacuation advice was lifted, announcing new
00:53assistance for residents of 31 local government areas.
00:57Eligible workers and sole traders in South East Queensland and New South Wales who've
01:02lost income as a direct result of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred will be able to access up to
01:1013 weeks of income support.
01:12At nearby Tregeagle, a delicate operation was underway to remove two army vehicles that
01:17rolled over on Saturday night. While they might be out of action, the Defence Force
01:21was hard at work delivering essentials, with their injured mates still front of mind.
01:25We've all been in contact with them and making sure they're alright.
01:29Further north in Mewillumbah, the Tweed swallowed up low-lying areas. It's still hard to see
01:34where the river ends and the land begins. While in Grafton, locals were keeping a watchful
01:39eye on the Clarence River.
01:41It's very worrying when you've got water up this high and it's still hanging up there.
01:46There is anticipated to be some more rainfall in the day ahead.
01:50While most built-up areas have avoided inundation, there could still be days of inconvenience
01:54for some locals who are forced to navigate around flooded roads.
01:59But most will find a way to cope, hoping the worst of this disaster is now behind them.