Cyclone Alfred is the first tropical cyclone so far south off the Queensland’s coast since Gough Whitlam was prime minister. Schools have been shut, public transport parked and two AFL matches punted.

Cyclone Tracy in 1974 remains the costliest for insurers, with an estimated A$7.4 billion being paid out in today's dollars. ($1 = 1.5853 Australian dollars) (This story has been corrected to fix ...