- taken from THE STAR, SAT 22 JAN 2011 - BRISBANE (Reuters) - Residents in Australia's third largest city, Brisbane, sandbagged their homes against rising waters on Monday as torrential rain worsened floods that have paralysed the coal industry in the northeast and now threaten tourism.
Four people were killed in and around Toowoomba, a major town west of Brisbane, and others were missing, Queensland state premier Anna Bligh told the Australian Associated Press news agency.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the cost of the floods would not delay a return to budget surplus in 2012-13, but J.P. Morgan predicted the disaster would crimp growth this year and could delay another increase in interest rates.
The worst floods in 50 years have at times covered an area the size of France and Germany combined in Queensland state. At least six people have been killed while dozens of towns have been isolated or partially submerged. More monsoon rains are expected all week.
"People need to think about how to get out and if you don't need to travel, stay off the roads," said Police Chief Superintendent Alistair Dawson, referring to some of the smaller towns near Brisbane, Queensland's state capital.
In Brisbane, a city of 2 million, people in low-lying areas were given sandbags and warned the worst of the flooding might not occur until Tuesday or Wednesday.
Rain eased off on Monday evening but cloud hung low over a sodden landscape.
Police urged motorists to stay off the roads in the state's heavily populated southeast, home to the Sunshine and Gold Coast tourist strips, Australia's premier tourism destinations.
Queensland Tourism said rain and flooding would hurt the industry, but it was too early to quantify the impact.
Australias A$32 billion tourism sector was already in trouble due to the strength of the local dollar driving off overseas visitors and enticing Australians to go abroad.
The floods have caused an estimated A$6 billion ($6 billion)in damage and economists say they will cut economic growth in 2011 and heighten inflation as food prices rise and reconstruction begins in the nation's second largest state.
Queensland's $20 billion coking coal export industry has been brought to a virtual standstill.
"With more rain falling it could be months before the floodwaters clear and the extent of the damage to essential infrastructure is known," said J.P. Morgan chief economist Stephen Walters.
J.P. Morgan on Monday cut its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2011 to 3.3 percent from 3.7 percent and raised its inflation forecast to 3.8 percent from 3.2 percent. That pushed out to May from February the likely timing for the central bank's next interest rate increase.
"Even inflation-conscious RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) officials won't hike with Queensland under water," said Walters.
REMBAU: An accident that resulted in about RM75,000 worth of coins being strewn on a highway saw motorists risking their lives as they scrambled to get the money.
They parked their vehicles haphazardly along KM234 of the North-South Expressway and scooped the coins into helmets, pockets, plastic bags and whatever else that they could find until they were stopped by the police.
Some were seen squatting on the highway to collect the 10 sen, 20 sen and 50 sen coins and refused to budge despite pleas from the owners, who were on their way to distribute the coins to stores in Malacca.
Others ran to the middle and fast lanes to collect them with no regard for their safety.
The accident occurred at 4pm yesterday when a BMW, which was travelling south from Kuala Lumpur, crashed into the rear of a Toyota Hilux, causing its driver to lose control of his vehicle and crash into the embankment.
The impact caused a steel box in which the coins were kept at the rear section of the Hilux to be flung out.
State traffic chief Asst Supt Abdul Halil Hamzah said his men, who witnessed the frenzy, had to stop motorists from taking the coins and endangering their lives.
The driver of the Hilux, Zairul Hisham Mansor, 28, said he was travelling with a friend from Shah Alam to Malacca to distribute the coins.
Motorists rushing to pick up coins strewn all over the road on the North- South Expressway near Seremban. Others, oblivious to danger, even ran to the middle and fast lanes to collect the coins. 
Sakit Kepala Akut
