Australia news LIVE: Federal budget to be unveiled, bid to build one million homes and UK has a new Prime Minister
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Rain to cause flash floods in Victoria as NSW Premier to tour flood zones

Major flooding is continuing to cause havoc in NSW and Victoria, with more rain expected.

In numerous towns across regional NSW more than a dozen catchments continue to overflow and two weather systems spell further rainfall for the state.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will begin a tour of flood-affected regional areas on Tuesday, after writing to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to request further funding, vowing to leave no impacted community behind.

“Our agricultural communities and farmers were looking forward to a bumper harvest,” the premier told media on Monday.

NSW liberal premier Dominique Perrottet meeting with the minister for flood recovery, Steph Cooke, NSW SES commissioner Carlene York and the Bureau of Meteorology’s Steven Bernasconi at the RFS headquarters’ Emergency Operation Centre in Olympic Park.Credit:Dean Sewell

“This has been a tragic time for many families in regional NSW,” he said.

The request for grant funding for primary producers, small businesses and regional councils comes as the Albanese government is set to hand down its first budget on Tuesday.

In Victoria residents remain on high alert with heavy rain expected to cause flashing flooding and rising flood levels.

Northern parts of Victoria are set to be pummelled with rain bombs and major flooding could occur at Echuca and Moama, with The Murray River expected to peak on Tuesday.

Appin South resident Clancy Watts decided to stay at his property during the floods,they have four water pumps running non stop to pump flood water out of their property.Credit:Eddie Jim

Evacuation orders remain in place at Echuca, Echuca Village, Barmah and Lower Moira, Bunbartha and Kerang.

Numerous Watch and Acts have been issued including at Goulburn River downstream of Shepparton, Goulburn River Lake Eildon to Seymour and Campaspe River Downstream of Rochester.

About 30 to 60 millimetres of rainfall is expected.

On Monday afternoon, there was major flooding at Moree, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Hillston, Hay and Condobolin.

AAP

One million homes to be built under agreement with states and investors

A scheme to build one million new houses will be unveiled in Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ first budget in a historic accord between the federal government, the states and private investors including the superannuation sector.

Chalmers will use the budget to outline the government’s plans to bring together states and the investment community to increase housing supply with a particular focus on new affordable homes.

The federal budget will outline plans for a housing accord between governments and private industry to build up to one million homes in coming years.Credit:Paul Rovere

Multiple sources on Monday confirmed elements of the accord would be unveiled in the budget, paving the way for a massive private and public investment in new housing across the country.

The government declined to comment.

Read more about the plan to build one million homes here. 

This morning’s headlines at a glance

Good morning, and thanks for your company.

It’s Tuesday, October 24. I’m Caroline Schelle, and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.

Here’s what you need to know before we get started:

  • Treasurer Jim Chalmers will unveil his first budget this evening, and here’s what we know so far 
  • Labor will commit to at least $40 billion in new borrowing in the federal budget
  • Greens senator Lidia Thorpe referred herself to the Senate privileges committee after her brief relationship with a former Rebels bikie president
  • Rishi Sunak has been named as the UK’s latest prime minister as he tells Tories to “unite or die”
  • A makeshift levee saved most of the Echuca, a border town in Victoria, from the highest flood levels in a century while in NSW, the state has also been rocked by flooding and erratic weather
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