Treasurer Jim Chalmers urges 4.5 million Queenslanders to fill up their bathtubs now - here’s why

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has urged the 4.5 million Aussies who stand to be impacted by Cyclone Alfred to fill up their bathtubs now - here’s why.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has explained why every Queenslander is being urged to “fill up their bathtub” and have their insurance details handy before Cyclone Alfred strikes on Friday.

Speaking this morning on breakfast television, the Treasurer said like all Queenslanders he was following the official advice to bring in the bins and fill up the bathtub.

“Yeah, we’ve been doing all the things that have been part of the advice, you know, bringing everything in,’’ he said.

“Obviously we’ll fill up the bathtub, we’ll do all of that. Make sure that everything’s in order.”

Why Queenslanders are urged to fill up bathtub

The official advice from the Queensland government explains why this is the case.

“Our mates up in North Queensland have been doing this for years,’’ the Queensland Get Ready website advice says.

“Filling up the bathtub now while the tap water is still safe to drink and running is what we are recommending.

“That way, you can keep the essentials going, like flushing the toilet, boiling water for a cuppa, or even having a bird bath if the water gets cut off.

“If you don’t have a bathtub, or it’s unsafe to fill up the tub when you have kids - fill up sinks and buckets instead.”

The 4.5 million Aussies expected to be impacted by Cyclone Alfred have been urged to fill up their bathtubs. Picture: Reddit

Treasurer Jim Chalmers stressed it was important to have a stockpile of clean water to prepare for the possibility of water being turned off when the cyclone strikes. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Explain to your kids what happens when cyclone hits

The Treasurer said it was important that families speak to their children to explain what is going on.

“One of the things I noticed talking to a lot of people around the neighbourhood, around my local community here, is because the schools are closed, you know, that’s one of the things where, you know, you have to talk to your kids about it,” he said.

“You have to prepare your kids.”

Insurance claims will run into “billions”

The Treasurer said he was talking to insurance companies about how to brace for the claims.

“People getting ready, making the most of this opportunity,’’ he said.

“This notice that we’ve had to get ready.

“And I really encourage people to do that. Don’t leave it any later. Don’t procrastinate. It’ll be here before we know it and you’ll be you’ll be grateful you did the preparation. When it comes.”

The Albanese Government expects the damage bill will run to billions of dollars and the Treasurer has urged Queenslanders not to be complacent.

Asked if the damage bill could be $2 billion, the Treasurer said he wouldn’t be surprised if it was more than that.

“I spoke to the CEOS of the major insurers last night,” he said on Sky News.

“The insurance companies are putting together a big team if people to process the claims.”

Aussies are also being urged to tape their windows to strengthen them before the cyclone hits. Brisbane salon worker Mikayla Gusha pictured above. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Cyclone to hit later

“I think the main conclusion of the updated advice is that we expect the cyclone to cross a little bit later, more like Friday in the day rather than overnight Thursday - Friday,’’ the Treasurer told ABC TV.

“My advice to people is make the most of that time. If you haven’t already cleaned up the yard and secured things in your yard, brought the bins in, done all of those sorts of things.

“Also make sure you got everything sorted in terms of being able to make an insurance claim, also make sure your myGov details and log-ins are sorted as well in case you need to access the sorts of payments that usually kick in after natural disasters.

“There’s a lot of people in harm’s way here. We’re talking about something like 4.5 million Australians potentially in harm’s way. 1.8 million homes, and we expect there’ll be billions of dollars of damage done by Cyclone Alfred and so the best we can do is prepare and stay informed, make sure that people are accessing all of the relevant information and getting it from trusted sources.”

“Unfortunately Queenslanders and Australians, more broadly, are no stranger to natural disasters. It’s rare for a cyclone to be this far south and to threaten such a huge population area, but we do learn from previous natural disasters.

“We are very grateful to the Australian Defence Force for being in position, to be ready, to help where that’s necessary.”

The Treasurer said he was not focused on the election timing.

“I think you’ll understand. And hopefully your viewers understand as well,” he said.

“I haven’t been thinking about election timing. I’ve been thinking about the likely impacts of this cyclone. My focus is, is close to home right now, helping people get ready for the next few days.

Get ready Queensland official advice

Queenslanders have urged to follow an official checklist to stay safe as the tropical cyclone approaches:

- Stay informed and follow official warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology and local authorities.

- Have an emergency plan, pack an emergency kit, and know your evacuation routes.

- Trust only reliable sources for updates and avoid rumours.

- For official weather updates, visit the Bureau of Meteorology’s Severe Weather Warnings page.

- You can also check your local council’s disaster dashboard through the Get Ready Queensland website for local alerts and information.

- Move valuable and electrical items to higher ground to protect them from potential flooding.

- Use sandbags to protect entry points prone to flooding, and store extra sandbags in a sheltered spot.

- Apply plastic sheeting to the inside of windows and seal the edges with tape to help reduce wind-driven rain entering your home.

- Fill your bathtub or a bucket with water to keep essentials running, like flushing the toilet if the water supply is disrupted.

Should I tape my windows?

“When preparing your windows for a cyclone, avoid taping an “X” across them,’’ the official advice states.

“While this may seem like a protective measure, it can actually create larger shards of glass if the window breaks, making it more dangerous.

“Instead, tape plastic sheeting or strong adhesive tape along the edges of the window, securing it to the frame. This can help minimise the impact of wind-driven rain. To reduce the chances of the glass shattering - if possible, board up windows, close your curtains or shutters for better protection.

“Always prioritise safety by staying indoors and taking shelter away from windows.

Emergency kit for severe weather events?

- Stock up on water, non-perishable food, and essential medications.

- Use what you have

- Check your pantry and freezer for meals you can put together with existing supplies.

- Long-life options – UHT milk, powdered milk, and canned proteins (tuna, chicken, beans) are great backups.

- Frozen meals – Cook and freeze meals in advance to have ready-to-go options if stores are inaccessible.

- Medication planning – Ensure you have at least a week’s supply of essential medications in case of delays.

- Pack a first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, and a battery-powered radio.

- Include personal hygiene items like toiletries, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer.

- Download and print the Emergency Kit Checklist for a full list of essentials.

Car Park Flooding

- Ensure residents know if the car park floods. If so, ask them to move vehicles to higher ground or another location.

- Balcony Items: Remind residents to bring in or secure items from balconies to prevent them from becoming hazards.

- Queensland Health advises that hospitals and emergency departments are operating as usual.

What happens if the power goes out -

-Store medications that require refrigeration in cold bags if power is lost. - Discard perishable food left above 5°C for more than four hours. - Avoid contact with floodwater—it can cause infections. Wear waterproof boots and gloves, especially if you have cuts or wounds. significant structural damage to older homes that haven’t been upgraded and maintained