Federal government pledges $1,000 disaster payment for NSW flood victims as threat moves north

Deluge moves to Hunter and mid-north coast as Anthony Albanese announces one-off payment to people in 23 areas

• They shouldn't have built houses here': navigating disaster in the flood waters of Sydney's north-west
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The federal government will provide one-off $1,000 payments for people in 23 flood-affected areas across New South Wales, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announced on Wednesday, as the flood threat moved north.

Rain eased in areas of Sydney hit by flooding but concern remained for the state's Hunter and mid-north coast regions, with flooding expected to continue into Wednesday evening.