Flood-hit regions of Australia told ‘be prepared’ as months of intense rainfall predicted

Federal government to legislate $200m disaster fund as more flooding expected due to already soaked soil

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Flood-devastated regions in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland have been warned to brace for even more severe storms in coming months, with bleak forecasts of damaging rain to return through summer.

Federal emergency management minister, Murray Watt, has told people to be prepared" for further inundation, as the Albanese government investigates reforms to disaster relief payments and rushes to complete new mitigation projects by year's end.