Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is urging flood-affected residents to be careful following the deaths of two women as waters sweep through northern NSW and southeast Queensland.
"This is a very dangerous time in these flooded areas," he told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.
"The flooding that has followed is of a very, very dangerous scale in parts of southern Queensland, right through Queensland, and indeed in northern NSW."
While tropical cyclone Debbie has been downgraded, the risk of flooding remains.
"We've had two fatalities, two women in NSW have died as a result of these floods and our thoughts and prayers are with their families.
"This is going to be a tough time for them, but the important thing is everyone should stay safe."
Mr Turnbull has urged residents to listen to the advice of authorities and emergency services.
"I want to say, everybody who is affected by these floods, do not go into these waters," the prime minister said, adding that the waters are expected to rise.
"If it's flooded, forget it."
Around 20,000 people in northern NSW were ordered to evacuate on Friday after ex-cyclone Debbie dumped heavy rain across large parts of the state's north.
"I want to thank the emergency services who, as they always do, show the very best of Australia and Australian spirit right at the time when nature flings its worst at us," Mr Turnbull said.
The federal government says the Australian Defence Force has been helping affected areas in the biggest pre-deployment in advance of a natural disaster.
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