Floods in Australia has contributed more than 3 million people, becoming one of the most costly disasters in the nation's federal treasurer, said Sunday.
The cost of the damage will be higher than last tragedies, such as major fires two years ago, and the floods in 1970, Treasurer Wayne Swan said.
The cost of the recent floods is much higher because the population peak in the state of Queensland, Swan said.
"While the entire population of the state in 1974 was only 2 million, has more than 3.1 million people were affected by recent floods," said Swan.
His first known economic 2011, Swan said, "is still too early to determine the effects of certainty at this stage." But he said there is no doubt the economic impact of these floods are enormous. "
Swan, floods have destroyed crops, tourism, retail and industrial and disrupted major urban areas such as Brisbane.
"One of the victims are also likely to be exports of coal, many abandoned mines in major coal-mining regions, such as the Bowen Basin, and the supply chains are doing," Swan said.
"Although this will be partially offset by increased prices, loss of production will be affected much more difficult."
Swan said the government has already made approximately $ 227 million in payments for disaster recovery for people who have been affected by flooding.
"In the coming weeks, months and years, the federal government will invest billions of dollars to get Queensland back on its feet," said Swan.