TRANSCRIPT
- Increased flood risk the main concern, as ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches the Australian mainland
- Police investigate the theft of a flag from a mosque in Western Sydney
- In the AFL, the Dockers welcome the club's newest Indigenous players with a smoking ceremony
Authorities in Queensland and New South Wales are warning residents to remain on alert to the risk of heavy rainfall and floods from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
The city of Lismore in northern New South Wales is an area of particular concern. Residents there are bracing for major flooding today, three years after the city was devastated by historic floods.
Alfred has weakened in strength to a tropical low pressure system, ahead of it crossing the Australian mainland later this evening.
The latest Bureau of Meteorology forecast says that expected arrival time is around 5pm AEDT.
Christie Johnson from the Bureau of Meteorology has told NITV Radio the downgraded rating for the weather system only refers to wind strength, but the risk from heavy rain and floods remain substantial over the weekend.
"In the last 24 hours, some of the heavy rainfall was around the scenic rim in southeast Queensland up in Springbrook up to 275 mm in 24 hours; and also down the Dorrigo plateau in New South Wales. Dorrigo having 246 mm in the last 24 hours. A lot of heavy rainfall to come over the weekend."
---
On Queensland's Gold Coast, in the suburb of Labrador, Gidhabal Bandjalang woman Melanie Lavell-Maloney says the strong winds meant the electricity went out overnight.
Almost 250,000 homes are without power in Queensland — it's being described as the single biggest energy blackout incident in the state in over a decade.
Ms Lavell-Maloney has told NITV Radio she prepared ahead of time and is safe.
"The wind was terrifying last night. So I have encouraged my neighbours to stay put until the wind dies down. The last thing that we want is to lose any lives. I think we have had enough warning to gather stocks and supplies and just sit tight."
---
In Western Australia, voters are casting their ballots in the state election where Labor is aiming to secure a third term in office.
The party is also hoping to replicate the 2021 election result, which analysts say is the state's - and probably Australia's - most one-sided election result.
Labor recorded 69.7 per cent of the two-party preferred vote, a two-party preferred swing of 14.2 percentage points.
In the Labor safe seat of Morley [[in Perth]], these voters have told SBS the issues that matter to them.
Male voxie 1: I don't really follow the news anyway, so I wish they do their job - and find a solution. Do it.
Male voxie 2: As a person in the construction industry, I want to know where the next jobs are. And I think Labor have got a good list of things that we want to do.
Male voxie 3: Education, schools would be the main thing. Housing and food.
Female voxie: I think we've had a Labor government for a while. I think they have done an okay job. But I think it is time to look for what else affects the community. So things like the environment, how we treat animals.
---
Police are investigating an incident at a mosque in western Sydney where a flag was slashed down from outside the premises on Monday.
A spokesperson for the Sefton Mosque and Ale Yassin community centre says the flag represents the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammed.
CCTV footage seen by SBS News shows a man standing on a ute and using a knife to cut down the flag, which he then carries away.
No worshippers were present during the incident, which follows a string of earlier alleged threats and attacks against Muslims.
Mosque spokesperson Sheikh Mohammad Hourani says recent events have left his community feeling unsafe.
"All of these coming together, and now this act of brandishing a knife at the mosque, has brought tremendous fear into the heart of the Muslim community. So there is a fear people do not want to attend these places. However, we also have people that now want to attend these places, even more to protect the individuals that are at the mosque."
---
International Women's Day is being marked in Australia and around the world.
This year, the theme is March Forward: For ALL Women and Girls.
In a panel marking International Women's Day with The Florey Institute in Melbourne, oncologist and author Dr Ranjana Srivastava says there is more work to be done to support women working in fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
"And so I very much didn't have it - what my male colleagues did back then. And it has been a slower progression. We can talk about my interesting career, which is also probably the consequence of feeling that I couldn't have the full bore career that I had perhaps imagined myself having when I was a medical student."
---
In the AFL, as the 2025 season gets underway this weekend, Fremantle have welcomed their three newest Indigenous recruits with a smoking ceremony.
Shai Bolton, Quinton Narkle and Isaiah Dudley are the latest Indigenous players to join the club.
In total, 38 men and 12 women from First Nations communities have been drafted to Fremantle over the years.
Fremantle's Indigenous and multicultural liaison officer Che Wyatt (a Wongatha, Yamatji, Noongar and Adnyamathanha man) says coming together to recognise this history is important.
"You know this is such a huge thing for this footy club. We spoke about it before... representation of Indigenous players is massive. Multicultural players as well."
