The Albanese Government is activating financial support for communities directly affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred through the Disaster Recovery Allowance.

This allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders depending on their personal circumstances who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of the event.

It will be available in: 

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Let's bring in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese now live on the Grey Coast. PM, good morning to you. Look, Alfred certainly outstayed its welcome, hasn't it?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. I’m joined by the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, and the Head of Military Strategic Commitments, Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley this morning. Last night near Lismore, 7th Brigade soldiers who are based at the Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane as part of Joint Task Force 629 were involved in a serious vehicle accident. There were 32 soldiers across two vehicles involved in this incident. 13 soldiers were assessed on scene as having injuries. Six have serious injuries.

A short time ago there was a serious vehicle incident involving two Australian Defence Force vehicles near Lismore.

A number of ADF personnel have been injured, some seriously.

Medical assistance is on hand. We stress this is an ongoing incident.

Right now our focus is on the welfare of those involved and their families.

Our ADF heroes were on their way to help Australians in need.

DOM FAY, HOST: Zach and Dom on KIIS 97.3, we are with you all the way Brissie as we go through this weather event right now and now Zach, we are very excited to welcome to the show Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the latest. Prime Minister, thank you so much for making time.

PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you. It's a very tough time for people in South East Queensland at the moment so thank you for having me on the program.

MOYRA MAJOR, HOST: It is an absolute pleasure to be joined by the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, good afternoon, Sir, Your Majesty, whatever we're supposed to call you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Albo will do.

MAJOR: Albo is fine? Okay.

TREVOR BUTLER, HOST: G’day. How are you?

JOE BUFFONE, DEPUTY COORDINATOR-GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: Good morning everyone. I'm Joe Buffone from the National Emergency Management Agency. I'm one of the Deputy Coordinator Generals here. Welcome to the National Situation Room. We have just briefed the Prime Minister on the current situation from a national perspective. The Bureau has briefed him, ADF have briefed him, NEMA has briefed him and we've also briefed on recovery matters that we're preparing for.

SARAH FERGUSON, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome to 7.30.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good evening Sarah.

FERGUSON: Governments learnt stark lessons from previous disasters, including Lismore in 2022. Have you done everything you can to prepare communities for the impact of the cyclone?

SAMANTHA HEATHWOOD, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins me live from Canberra now. Prime Minister, thank you for your time. What's the message for Queenslanders right now?

MELISSA DOWNES, HOST: Welcome back to our special coverage as Cyclone Alfred heads towards the Queensland coastline. I have to admit this has probably been the strangest cyclone coverage I've ever done. This preamble of Cyclone Alfred is, as it drags on it, just is not what we're used to. But we do have to continue to take it seriously because we know it is sitting off our coast, it is coming our way, and even though it may be downgraded to a Category 1, it is still going to do an awful lot of damage.