Australia 's weather pattern transitioned rapidly to a wet La Niña pattern during autumn , resulting in record-breaking rains in the Murray-Darling Basin and well above average rainfall across the south-east . For many locations this was the first year of above-average rainfall since 1996 . The rainfall dramatically increased surface water storage and soil moisture , effectively ending the drought in the south-east . Very wet conditions continued through 2011 , resulting in floods in Queensland and northern Victoria . Dairy producers were hit particularly hard by the drought . 2004 was a particularly bleak year in the sector , with revenue in the industry falling by 5.6 %
floods in Queensland
2010–11 Queensland floods
Drought in Australia