While coastal areas explode in population, it's a different scene in outback Queensland. Towns become almost as barren as the landscape, as a stifling heat sets in and many retreat to cooler pastures.

South Burnett locals have been left reeling and businesses closed for weeks after “unprecedented” storms and “above-average” ...

Normally our towns are not flooded ... near Australia which increases the amount of moisture in the air over Queensland,” they said. “There have been a series of low-pressure troughs ...