Newsroom
North West Queensland Floods – Counting the Cost While Bracing for What’s Next: Katter
January 5, 2026
North Queenslanders are a stoic breed, but when communities are cut off for days and weeks, families and employees are stranded away from home, and businesses are inundated, it’s when we need to band together, along with government, the Katter’s Australian Party Leader, and Member for Traeger has said.
“While the rain had mostly cleared for now, the true impact of the rain between Christmas and New Year is really yet to be revealed,” Mr Katter said.
River systems across North West Queensland are sodden, with water slowly moving towards to Gulf Country and out to sea.
“Landholders, and local businesses are only starting to assess the damage, and understand the impact that isolation will have,” the KAP Leader said.
“We know there will be some big livestock losses, but it seems at this stage to be isolated to a smaller area than the catastrophic 2019 event.
“Before the rain, some systems were already 80-90% full, which has meant the impact of hundreds of millimetres of rain in some areas has pushed water right across the vast landscape we have here,” Mr Katter said.
The KAP Leader was quick to point out that the impact of the flooding went beyond the clear effects on graziers and cropping farmers.
“We can’t forget that isolation, and the flow on effect of a hit on the agriculture sector, takes a clear toll on the local businesses and support services in our local communities,” he said.
“The grocery stores, unable to restock, the transport companies with trucks stranded, and service businesses who will undoubtedly have less demand from the agriculture sector, all will feel the pinch.
“Livestock losses and fencing will be clear in time, but the impact on other businesses will be less obvious.
“Flooding events often have an impact long after the TV cameras and State and Federal Leaders head back to their city offices.
“We’re grateful for the support announced so far, and I will continue to monitor the situation and impact felt by graziers and townspeople alike.
“I’m in constant contact with emergency agencies, our community leaders, relevant ministers, and industry groups like AgForce to ensure the assistance needed will flow to those who need it.
“As the true impact from this event is revealed, we are also acutely aware of the early start to the wet season, and the likelihood of more rain in the coming weeks and months.
“This is not over, but together we will recover, as strong North Queenslanders do,” Mr Katter said.