Rudd wades in to help washed out constituents

Mr Rudd described Queensland's road to recovery as

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd carried victims' luggage over his head as he waded through murky floodwaters in Brisbane.

ABC Television found the former PM helping people in his electorate to evacuate their homes.

Reporters pitched in to carry bags from Korean students' accommodation to safety.

Mr Rudd described Queensland's road to recovery as "ugly and long".

"The challenge for everybody, whatever level of government - federal, state or local, forget the politics - is to put their shoulder to the wheel."

He said his house was on higher ground so would be safe.