And at least 40 homes and businesses around the water in Numurkah in northern Victoria.Communities downstream are preparing for flooding later in the week and residence in southern Queensland are preparing for more flash floods with heavy rains again forecast for today.

 

Overseas,the US president Barack Obama is urging Israel to give sanctions against Iran more time to work.The president is meeting Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House to discuss Tehran's nuclear ambitions.But Mr.Netanyahu isn't ruling out a military strike on Iran.

 

International Monitors say there are serious irregularities in Russia's presidential election with the polls skewed in favor of Vladimir Putin.Mr.Putin won 64% of the vote and was seen as the concession to the opposition Russia's outgoing President has ordered to review into the conviction of the former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

 

And finance minister Penny Wong says,the coalition needs to give details on its budgets savings.The coalition's finance spokesman,Andrew Robb yesterday distanced himself from the opposition's paid leave scheme but he later clarified his commitment to the plan.Senator Wong says,Mr.Robb's initial comments show the coalition can't afford its policies.