 According to the Bureau of Meteorology 's 2011 Australian Climate Statement , Australia had lower than average temperatures in 2011 as a consequence of a La Niña weather pattern ; however , " the country 's 10 @-@ year average continues to demonstrate the rising trend in temperatures , with 2002 – 2011 likely to rank in the top two warmest 10 @-@ year periods on record for Australia , at 0 @.@ 52 ° C ( 0 @.@ 94 ° F ) above the long @-@ term average " . Furthermore , 2014 was Australia 's third warmest year since national temperature observations commenced in 1910 . Water restrictions are frequently in place in many regions and cities of Australia in response to chronic shortages due to urban population increases and localised drought . Throughout much of the continent , major flooding regularly follows extended periods of drought , flushing out inland river systems , overflowing dams and inundating large inland flood plains , as occurred throughout Eastern Australia in 2010 , 2011 and 2012 after the 2000s Australian drought . 
