What will it take for policymakers to take this more seriously?

That’s the question a desperate-sounding Jeremy posed on local ABC talkback radio as he drove through central Victoria, which has been ravaged by bushfires for the past week, while his family was on the Great Ocean Road trapped by floodwaters.

Flooding at Wye River on Thursday.Credit: Rebecca Scott

It’s a question we should all be asking.

Queenslanders have been warned to brace for further flooding and heavy swells in coming days, as another cyclone threatens to form off the coast – even as recovery from ex-cyclone Koji continues.

In both NSW and Victoria, authorities on the weekend warned people to limit the time they spend outdoors to reduce exposure to bushfire smoke. That smoke, it should be remembered, contains toxic particles from everything incinerated in the fires – not just trees and grass, but buildings, factories, vehicles, and more.

Communities in southern NSW have been hit by fires. Communities in Queensland’s Central Highlands were urged to evacuate on Thursday morning as the Mackenzie River inched ever closer to its peak. Large areas of Western Australia remain gripped by severe heatwaves and fires.

Devastating flooding in North Queensland in December.Credit: Nine

Hundreds have been made........

© The Sydney Morning Herald