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Three people are dead as wild weather continues to batter south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, authorities say.
The region is struggling with an unfolding weather disaster as flood waters force more evacuations and fierce winds rip off roofs and cut power and phone lines.
Floodwaters are threatening communities in both states with over 200,000 people in south-east Queensland without power and floodwaters isolating 1300 people across the border in New South Wales.
Hundreds of homes have flooded in Bundaberg, while there is a major flood crisis developing in the Lockyer Valley, and thousands of Brisbane residents have been told their homes and businesses could go under.
The Queensland Premier says the flooding will not be as severe as it was in 2011, but is urging people at risk in Brisbane and Ipswich to take action.
The Brisbane river will peak tonight with 5000 homes and businesses expected to inundated by floodwaters.
Evacuations are continuing across the region including a dramatic rescue of a toddler who was put in a bag and winched to safety by a helicopter as raging floodwaters threatened to sweep him and two women from their vehicle in central Queensland.
The wild weather is being caused by ex tropical cyclone Oswald which is currently tracking south.
Rooftops rescues
Rescuers are working hard to rescue 30 people trapped on rooftops in the flood-hit city of Bundaberg, Queensland.
Premier Campbell Newman says it has been too dangerous to save
those stranded people up until now, but efforts are
continuing.
Newman described the situation as critical.