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Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia news LIVE: Ley mulls Coalition front bench overhaul; Bradfield in the balance as amid informal vote surge; 3500 make insurance claims after wild weather
Latest posts Latest posts 7.03am Some NSW schools reopen after floods as cleanup continues By Christopher Harris NSW is cleaning up after major flooding which inundated about 10,000 homes last week. About 3500 have made claims across the mid north coast and the upper Hunter region, The Insurance Council of Australia says. About 32,000 people in 14 towns across the upper Hunter and mid north coast were isolated yesterday. Insurance Council of Australia chief executive Andrew Hall said as people returned to their properties, insurance claims were climbing at 1000 a day. 'This is our fourth flood for 2025... they're underscoring each and every month, we have 220,000 homes which have been built in high-risk flood zones,' he told the ABC's Radio National program. The frequency of floods across the East Coast coupled with the steep increase in building costs of about 40 per cent in recent years, was driving up insurance costs, he said. 'They're becoming a real challenge to provide affordable insurance to,' CEO said. He said Australia needed to have a flood defence plan which could help local governments deliver timely flood studies and reduce the devastation communities face. The Department of Education says 60 schools will remain closed while 120 will reopen this morning. 6.58am Russia and Ukraine swap hundreds of prisoners By Christopher Harris Russia and Ukraine swapped hundreds more prisoners on Sunday, the third and last part of a major exchange that reflected a rare moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire in the more than three years of war. Hours earlier, the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and other regions came under a massive Russian drone-and-missile attack that killed at least 12 people and injured dozens. Ukrainian officials described it as the largest aerial assault since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia's Defense Ministry said each side exchanged 303 soldiers, following the release of 307 combatants and civilians each on Saturday, and 390 on Friday — the biggest total swap of the war. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Sunday's exchange, saying on X that '303 Ukrainian defenders are home.' He noted that the troops returning to Ukraine were members of the 'Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service.' Nataliya Borovyk, the sister of released Ukrainian soldier Ihor Ulesov, was overwhelmed when she learned of her brother's return. 'My uncle had to calm me down and put me in a taxi so I could get here,' she told The Associated Press. 'A moment like that stays with you forever.' Borovyk said the family had been waiting anxiously for news, and that she had hoped her brother might be released in the first part of the exchange on Friday. 'We were worried about all the guys. He wasn't there on Friday, but I was here — I at least greeted them, I stood there until the very end and waited, (hoping) maybe he would appear after all.' In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month — the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks — Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each. The exchange has been the only tangible outcome from the talks. AP.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Australia Floods: 5 dead, 10,000+ homes lost, Sydney faces tough times as streets turn into rivers and rooftops into islands
New South Wales continues to battle severe floods, with the death toll rising to 5, over 10,000 properties damaged, and more than 50,000 residents still trapped. The Insurance Council of Australia reports over 1,600 claims, a number expected to rise Emergency services continue rescue and relief operations, while weather forecasts predict strong winds, complicating recovery efforts. Emergency warnings remain in place across multiple regions, including Bellingen, Kempsey, and the Hunter Valley, and residents are urged to stay informed and follow directives from emergency services. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo Also Read: Australia's deadliest floods in years kill 4, leave 50,000 stranded in crisis The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) continues to coordinate rescue and relief efforts, with assistance from interstate agencies. Live Events Situation in Sydney The situation remains dire in Sydney as suburbs such as Sydney Olympic Park and North Parramatta have recorded rainfall exceeding 100mm in the past 24 hours, leading to flash flooding and evacuation orders. The SES has urged residents in low-lying areas to prepare for potential evacuations, emphasizing the dangers of remaining in flood-prone zones. Transportation networks have been severely impacted. Floodwaters have inundated key roads, including parts of the Pacific Highway, and disrupted train services across multiple lines. Sydney Airport has also experienced delays due to the adverse weather conditions. Also read : Sydney streets turn rivers, flights cancelled, trains stranded as flood water plays havoc Insurance claims The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has reported over 1,600 claims related to the flooding, a number expected to increase as residents assess damage. ICA CEO Andrew Hall emphasized the importance of lodging claims promptly and advised those uncertain about their insurer to check banking records for payment details. Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg highlighted the risk of entire regions becoming uninsurable due to escalating premiums, urging insurers to consider flood-resilient rebuilding efforts in their assessments. Government Response and Support Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged federal assistance, confirming that applications for disaster recovery funding will open on Monday(May 26) through Services Australia. NSW Premier Chris Minns has not ruled out extending the Northern Rivers' home buyback scheme to other affected regions, pending detailed flood damage assessments. Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain commended the state's handling of the crisis and reiterated the availability of support for affected residents. The SES continues to provide essential services, including medical deliveries and evacuations for those unable to access healthcare facilities. The future While rainfall has subsided, the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts strong winds of 30 to 50 km/h, with gusts up to 90 km/h, particularly in coastal areas on Monday and Tuesday. These conditions may hinder recovery efforts and pose additional risks to already vulnerable communities. Residents are advised to remain vigilant, adhere to road closures, and avoid floodwaters, as conditions can change rapidly. The SES emphasizes that even if water has receded, closed roads are still deemed unsafe.
Economic Times
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Economic Times
Australia Floods: 5 dead, 10,000+ homes lost, Sydney faces tough times as streets turn into rivers and rooftops into islands
NSW Floods: Devastating floods in New South Wales have claimed five lives and damaged over 10,000 properties, turning entire neighborhoods into isolated islands as residents face a massive cleanup and recovery effort Synopsis New South Wales faces devastating floods. The death toll rises. Thousands of properties are damaged. Many residents remain trapped. Rescue and relief operations are underway. Weather forecasts predict strong winds. Emergency warnings are in place. The government pledges assistance. Insurance claims are increasing. Residents are urged to stay vigilant. Recovery efforts face challenges. The situation remains critical in Sydney. New South Wales continues to battle severe floods, with the death toll rising to 5, over 10,000 properties damaged, and more than 50,000 residents still trapped. The Insurance Council of Australia reports over 1,600 claims, a number expected to rise ADVERTISEMENT Emergency services continue rescue and relief operations, while weather forecasts predict strong winds, complicating recovery efforts. Emergency warnings remain in place across multiple regions, including Bellingen, Kempsey, and the Hunter Valley, and residents are urged to stay informed and follow directives from emergency services. Also Read: Australia's deadliest floods in years kill 4, leave 50,000 stranded in crisisThe NSW State Emergency Service (SES) continues to coordinate rescue and relief efforts, with assistance from interstate agencies. ADVERTISEMENT The situation remains dire in Sydney as suburbs such as Sydney Olympic Park and North Parramatta have recorded rainfall exceeding 100mm in the past 24 hours, leading to flash flooding and evacuation orders. The SES has urged residents in low-lying areas to prepare for potential evacuations, emphasizing the dangers of remaining in flood-prone networks have been severely impacted. Floodwaters have inundated key roads, including parts of the Pacific Highway, and disrupted train services across multiple lines. Sydney Airport has also experienced delays due to the adverse weather conditions. ADVERTISEMENT Also read: Sydney streets turn rivers, flights cancelled, trains stranded as flood water plays havocThe Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has reported over 1,600 claims related to the flooding, a number expected to increase as residents assess damage. ICA CEO Andrew Hall emphasized the importance of lodging claims promptly and advised those uncertain about their insurer to check banking records for payment details. ADVERTISEMENT Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg highlighted the risk of entire regions becoming uninsurable due to escalating premiums, urging insurers to consider flood-resilient rebuilding efforts in their assessments. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged federal assistance, confirming that applications for disaster recovery funding will open on Monday(May 26) through Services Australia. NSW Premier Chris Minns has not ruled out extending the Northern Rivers' home buyback scheme to other affected regions, pending detailed flood damage assessments. ADVERTISEMENT Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain commended the state's handling of the crisis and reiterated the availability of support for affected residents. The SES continues to provide essential services, including medical deliveries and evacuations for those unable to access healthcare rainfall has subsided, the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts strong winds of 30 to 50 km/h, with gusts up to 90 km/h, particularly in coastal areas on Monday and Tuesday. These conditions may hinder recovery efforts and pose additional risks to already vulnerable communities. Residents are advised to remain vigilant, adhere to road closures, and avoid floodwaters, as conditions can change rapidly. The SES emphasizes that even if water has receded, closed roads are still deemed unsafe. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
NSW floods: Property damage causes insurance claims to skyrocket
Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall says roughly 1,600 insurance claims have been lodged due to New South Wales' heavy rain and floods. 'At this stage, we've got about 1,600 claims that have been lodged,' Mr Hall told Sky News Business Reporter Ed Boyd. 'We're expecting that number to increase significantly over the weekend as people are allowed to return to their properties.'
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Mid Coast Council's flooding study led to abandonment of flood levee
Insurance Council of Australia CEO Andrew Hall says Mid Coast Council spent considerable resources on a flood study to protect the CBD in the event of flooding, before abandoning it last year due to feasibility concerns. 'It would be really good to have a conversation with the council to understand how they got to that decision,' Mr Hall told Sky News host Ed Boyd. 'They spent a lot of money on a flood study, the flood study recommended a levee that would protect the CBD. 'This has been a record flood level for Taree.'
