Volunteering Qld Chief Executive Officer Jelenko Dragisic said “We think this might be the largest, single outpouring of offers of volunteer support in Australia’s recent history – certainly in our experience.”

The total amount raised for the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal as of 3 pm 19 January 2011 was $123,272,583.

Premier Anna Bligh has established a Commission of Inquiry into the disaster, which will take public submissions from across Queensland and will make recommendations in its interim report for future wet seasons.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) welcomed the announcement.

LGAQ President Paul Bell said “The Premier has reassured the LGAQ that small and medium sized councils hit by the flooding will not be burdened with unnecessary work associated with the inquiry while they get on with the task of returning some semblance of normality and security to their communities.”