Floods Devastate NT Aboriginal Communities; Rent Pause, Relief Payments Offered

0:00This is Corey with Sydney News Today, powered by the Daily News Now. Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in the Northern Territories' Big Rivers region, hitting remote Aboriginal communities hard. The government is now freezing rental payments automatically for public housing tenants affected by the floods, giving them a break without needing to. Apply Record water levels were seen at Dorisvale Crossing on the Daily River, reaching nearly 24 meters on Wednesday, the highest ever. The Katherine River also peaked at over 19 meters last Saturday, the worst since 1998. Local leaders from Aboriginal housing and justice groups have welcomed the rent pause as a good first step, but they're calling for more support. Many residents are already in tough spots, now displaced in facing losses, with criticism over uneven emergency aid outside key towns. Evacuations are underway from places like Na'yu, in Palumpa, to Darwin's showgrounds, and Kakadu is cut off with no return timeline yet. Food shortages have popped up in some homelands, though officials say they're handling it.

1:03Meanwhile, flood relief payments are rolling out across wider areas with varying timelines due to overlapping emergencies. Groups stress the need for quick damage checks and rebuilding to ease overcrowding pressures in these communities. The Daily News Now is powered by our sponsor, a pillow that plays your sound quietly, comfortably, effortlessly. Well for nighttime listening, S-O-L-I, soleypillow.com