It's hoped that the ADF, emergency crews and volunteers will rescue more residents, cut off by floodwaters in far north Queensland.

Elsewhere in the region, clean-up efforts are underway, but Queensland Premier, Steven Miles says the recovery will take "months if not years". And while it's hard to determine the exact costs of the disaster at the moment, he says the price-tag will be in the "billions not millions." 

Guest: Steven Miles, Queensland Premier