Qld's disasters to hit Australian economy

(AAP) - There is no doubt that the natural disasters which have hit Queensland in the past few weeks will have a broader impact on the Australian economy.
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan warned on Tuesday the damage to the state's coal and agriculture industries could make the economy contract for the first time since the global financial crisis.
Mr Swan said there was no doubt the natural disasters would thump the economy in the first quarter of this year.
"As it stands you couldn't rule out a negative in that quarter," he said.
Mr Swan said the longer term prospects for the economy remained firm with strong investment in the resources sector.
But the coal industry stood to lose $5 billion in exports as a result of the Queensland floods and cyclone while agricultural production would be down by as much as $2 billion.
The mining and agriculture industries are not the only ones that will have to think long term about the recovery from Cyclone Yasi.
Chief Superintendent Mike Keating, the man appointed on Monday to head the north Queensland office of Reconstruction Authority, has assured the people in the impact area they will not be forgotten, including those in smaller communities, but he said everyone would have to be patient.
"We expect this program will take years to be completed and a lot of work needs to go into action over the next few days, few weeks, few months and right through for 12 months at least to bring about recovery across the community.
"It'll take time and we're committed to giving the time that is required."
"Some people will need to be patient in terms of what comes to them, in terms of the recovery program, because it is going to be a lot of work and a lot of detail required.
"But nobody will be forgotten, we are committed to that, and we are looking forward to servicing the needs of those communities right through the reconstruction required in the devastation areas."
An extra 90 workers from the state government's construction arm QBuild hit the ground on Tuesday to help cyclone ravaged communities get back on their feet.
They will join 160 local QBuild field staff already on the job.
"QBuild are on the ground from Cairns to Townsville including ground zero communities such as Innisfail, Silkwood, Mission Beach, Tully and Cardwell," Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten said in a statement.
"They are doing damage assessments and maintenance on schools, TAFEs, residences and other government infrastructure."
He said his department had also procured 1500 beds, 1000 stretchers and 150 pumps to be sent to Innisfail.
The government is also working to make sure it can save as many of the cassowary population as possible, sending a specialist team to stop the endangered birds starving to death after the cyclone.
Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said the team was conducting aerial surveys of vital habitat around Mission Beach.
Consideration would then be given to aerial food drops in targeted locations to supplement food sources for the birds.
Feeding stations were also being investigated, she said.
After Cyclone Larry hit the same area in 2006, some cassowaries starved to death after food sources were stripped from the rainforest.
Amid all the tragedy of personal losses, there was one story of luck.
A north Queensland fisherman who fell overboard during Cyclone Yasi was miraculously swept back onto his boat moments later.
Lucinda volunteer coast guard Bob King said he'd heard a report that a fishing boat anchored in the Hinchinbrook channel, taking shelter from the tempest, was knocked onto its side.
"The bloke on it had been wrenched from the boat and thrown into the sea," he told AAP on Tuesday.
"He was valiantly trying to get back to the boat, not doing much good, until a wave came along and deposited him back on deck.
"Amazing things happen."
He said the boat was somehow righted and was able to return to the Port of Lucinda.