‘Threat no longer there’: ALP president Wayne Swan’s cyclone prediction contradicted by BoM

The PM and Bureau of Meterology have disputed Wayne Swan’s claim the ‘immediate threat’ to Brisbane might ‘no longer be there’ now Alfred is tracking north.

Wayne Swan Picture: Tim Hunter.

Labor Party President Wayne Swan’s claims that Tropical Cyclone Alfred may no longer pose an immediate threat to millions of people in Brisbane has been contradicted by the Bureau of Meterology, as the weather bomb puts plans for an April 12 election at risk.

Anthony Albanese has so far refused to rule out calling an election on Sunday or Monday, and has said he is focused on “lives, not votes” as preparations for the cyclone continue.

The Australian understands the Prime Minister will not call the election if the cyclone is severe, but April 12 is still not ruled out as an option.

Mr Swan on Friday said the Prime Minister “had to wait” to see what would happen with the cyclone and “we’ll see how he goes.”

“As you know, we’ve got to have one in the next couple of months. So it’s not an option not to have one. So we’ll see how he goes,” the former treasurer told the Nine Network.

When asked what he would do in the Prime Minister’s shoes, Mr Swan said “I

think we’ve got to see what happens with the cyclone”.

“As you’ve seen this morning, it’s turned north now. So it could be a matter of days before we know how it goes. It could strengthen, although the forecasts this morning are suggesting that it’s weakening,” he said.

“I note that it’s changed course and is heading north now, so maybe the immediate threat to Brisbane is no longer there.”

“So we’ve just got to see what the weather does. We’re in the hands of a very unpredictable bunch of circumstances here.”

Anthony Albanese in the National Situation Room (NEMA) in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Albanese has contradicted his party president’s claims. Speaking hours later in Canberra, Mr Albanese, when asked about Mr Swan’s comments, said the slowing down of Alfred was not a sign it was improving.

“Look, this is a serious event. What we need to do is hope for the best but prepare for the worst. We absolutely need to prepare for the worst,” Mr Albanese said.

“This is already having an impact. And the impact with the slowing of the cyclone Alfred in its journey westward to the coast, we should not think that slower means better.

“It’s not clear that it could intensify as well as it is over warmer waters, it has the potential to increase the intensity of it.

“So, I - we are, as a government, I know that state governments as well, and local government and people need to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. That is what we need to do.”

The Bureau’s weather observer, Daniel Hayes, disputed Mr Swan’s claim that the “immediate threat” to Brisbane might “no longer be there” now that the system is tracking north of Redcliffe.

Mr Hayes said there is a significant chance rain will shift into Brisbane, with rainfall considered more dangerous than the cyclone’s winds by weather experts.

“We have seen the track shifting a little north; given he slow-moving nature of the system, we will probably see the track shift north or south,” Mr Hayes told 4BC.

“The one thing is, as it shifts a little further north, we see that rain shifting more into the Brisbane area.”

Peter Dutton. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

The Coalition has been heaping pressure on Mr Albanese to rule out an April election and take the nation to a federal budget on March 25 in the wake of the cyclone.

But Deputy Opposition Leader Susan Ley was forced defend Peter Dutton deciding to travel to Sydney for a fundraiser, declaring Mr Albanese had also left the region in recent days and that Labor had circulated invites to a budget fundraiser yesterday.

“No-one can doubt Peter Dutton’s commitment to his electorate,” she said.

“I won’t get into the mud slinging about what a politician said about the other politician and so on. This is a time we should be focusing on the safety of Queenslanders, doing everything we can to back them in.”

But Ms Ley slammed the distribution of an invite to a budget week fundraiser, when the government had not yet confirmed if the budget would definitely take place or whether an election would be called early.

“This is the Prime Minister and Labor Party raising money off the back of a budget that they’re refusing to commit to, not having serious economic meetings, spending more time (on) their budget fundraisers, than the budget itself,” she said.

“I think that is quite extraordinary. I think that is worthy of further investigation.”