Australia live news update: Albanese speaks at campaign rally; Victoria and NSW won’t close border over Omicron Covid variant; Qld flood warning | Australia news

And here’s Justine Landis-Hanley back to take care of you for a bit. Happy Sunday!

AAP report that Queensland authorities are warning of flash flooding in already inundated parts of the state, with storms and hail predicted.

Heavy rainfall, hail and strong winds are forecast for Sunday in southern parts of the state that have already been flooded, QFES commissioner Greg Leach told reporters on Sunday.

Any of that rainfall coming down today could result in flash flooding events.

Authorities have conducted seven swift water rescues, including saving a stranded motorist in Cecil Plains, while the State Emergency Service has responded to 27 calls for help in the last 24 hours.

The Macintyre River reached 10.43 metres at Goondiwindi in the state’s south-west on Saturday before starting to recede overnight, and was at about 10.27 metres Sunday morning.

It’s the biggest flood in a decade for the town, but has not reached the 2011 flood peak of 10.64 metres.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Andy Barnes said the Macintyre River would remain above the major flood level throughout Sunday and Monday.

Emergency services are now turning their attention to the towns of Cecil Plains, Surat, Condamine and Talwood, with the Goondiwindi mayor warning some properties downstream of the town could be cut off for a month.

Mayor Lawrence Springborg said residents downstream of Goondiwindi towards Mungindi, will likely be isolated for a month.

Resilience is being cut off by floodwaters for two weeks or more than a month, and these people survive that.

Our friends over at AAP report that the ACT has confirmed a second case of the Omicron variant, a close contact of the previous reported individual.

ACT Health reported six new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, bringing its total active caseload to 110.

Of these, six are in hospital, two of which are in intensive care. ACT Health said:

ACT Health can confirm that, based on whole genome sequencing in ACT residents, there are now two cases of the Omicron variant.

The second Omicron case is a close contact of the previously reported individual.

The Bureau of Meteorology plan to provide an update later this afternoon on the eruption of Mount Semeru in Indonesia, and the possible impact on flights. We will bring you news about that as it comes in.

You can read more about the eruption in East Java here:

In the interests of being NEUTRAL (check the spelling on the flyer), I should also point out that the Guardian has published the odd typo in our 200 years.

Melbourne Demons fans, who missed their side break a 57-year AFL premiership drought in September when the grand final was relocated to Perth because of the Delta outbreak in Victoria, have flocked to the MCG to watch a replay of the game and see the cup.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has returned a negative Covid test, after a staff member tested positive earlier this week.

The Greens said in a statement:

Aside from the staff member who has tested positive, the test results that have been returned for staff members who were in Canberra last week are also negative.

NSW Health have just sent out the daily Covid bulletin. It confirms earlier news about 286 new cases of Covid-19, with 15 of those linked to the Omicron variant.

Results on “further likely cases” are due later today.

A man in his 60s from south-eastern Sydney has died, taking the NSW toll to 632. The man was fully vaccinated and had underlying health conditions.

There are currently 148 Covid cases admitted to hospital, with 26 people in intensive care, five of whom require ventilation.

The vaccination rate has climbed to 92.8% of people aged 16 and over, with 77.2% of those aged 12 to 15 fully vaccinated.

Omicron variant outbreaks have been linked to Regents Park Christian School, Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym Villawood, and St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School in Regents Park.

All travellers arriving in NSW who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.

Anthony Albanese has invited voters to draw a comparison with Scott Morrison in a speech ticking off some of his lowest moments as prime minister, including the statements “I don’t hold a hose” and “it’s not a race”.

Albanese said:

I also want to share with you the kind of prime minister I will be. To serve as prime minister of Australia is a rare privilege – but it is also a great responsibility. And that’s what I am determined to restore to our politics – a sense of responsibility, decency, and integrity.

Of course, I can’t stand here today and promise you that I’ll get everything right. But I can promise you if I get something wrong – I’ll own up to it. I may not always be the smoothest talker – but I can promise you I’ll always tell it straight.

I won’t run and hide from responsibility. I won’t go missing when the going gets tough. I think leadership is about facing up to problems and looking for solutions. Actually, I don’t think. I know.

Andrews is being asked a few questions about his appearance on a somewhat obscure podcast.

He says of the Victorian federal MPs (who he did not name) he criticised in the podcast because of how they responded to the pandemic that “some people are from Victoria but not for Victoria”.