Albanese warns of long recovery after severe flooding in New South Wales

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned that recovery from devastating floods in New South Wales will take several months, as communities face widespread damage and disruption.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that the aftermath of severe flooding in the southeast of the country presents “massive challenges” and that the recovery process will extend over several months.

Torrential rainfall over a three-day period led to major flooding across rural areas in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state. Rising rivers cut off more than 50,000 people last week, severely impacting local communities.

Speaking from the flood-affected town of Taree, over 300 kilometres north of Sydney, Albanese said, “There are still massive challenges … this is not something that will go away in a matter of days or weeks or even months.” He emphasised that recovery efforts will take time but noted the resilience of Australians.

Official data indicated that Taree received over 600 mm of rain in four days from 20 May—approximately half of its annual average rainfall.

Australia has increasingly experienced extreme weather events, with experts attributing many of them to climate change. The nation has seen a pattern of droughts, devastating bushfires, and more recently, frequent and damaging floods since early 2021.

Albanese highlighted the impact on the dairy industry, noting that livestock losses and damaged farms could have broader economic effects. Dead and missing livestock have been found along the coast following floodwaters inundating homes and farmland.

To support affected residents, the government will roll out a one-off disaster recovery payment of A$1,000 (£513) for adults and A$400 (£205) for children starting Wednesday. The 13-week income support allowance will also be expanded to assist more people.

Insurance Australia Group, the country’s largest general insurer, reported around 2,500 claims so far, with most related to property damage. The New South Wales state emergency services added that almost 800 properties have been declared uninhabitable after over 7,300 damage assessments were conducted.