Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison says he will declare a national emergency over flooding in two states.

Morrison said the national emergency powers were established after Australia’s 2019-20 bushfires and aim to “cut through any red tape” to deliver services and support,

The prime minister said flood-hit locals and businesses would be able to access additional relief payments.

Australian defense force soldiers can also be more widely deployed to mop up towns.

To become official, the national emergency needs to be signed off by state premiers and the country’s governor general, which Mr Morrison said should happen by Friday.

The disaster in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland has killed 20 people and inundated thousands of homes in the past two weeks, after record rains.

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