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Australian grain farmers are weathering a "perfect storm" of record-high fertiliser costs that are expected to result in lower yields and increased food prices over the coming months.

High fertiliser prices – in addition to high diesel and labour costs – are squeezing farm budgets, GrainGrowers, a national group representing arable farmers, has warned.

"The high cost of fertiliser is having a really big impact," GrainGrowers Chairman Brett Hosking said.

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He said Australian farmers will be closely watching the fertiliser prices during the winter cropping season.

Data from Thomas Elders Markets showed the cost of sending fertiliser to Australia in April 2022 was $1251 per tonne compared with $533 per tonne in May 2021.

The conflict in Ukraine has driven the price even higher.

Ukraine has deposits of vital fertiliser ingredients urea and potash, and exports have been limited since Russia invaded the country on February 24.

Russia is also the world's largest fertiliser exporter but trade sanctions have imposed limits on imports into Australia.

Added to the problem is the high price of natural gas used in the production of fertiliser.

Australia imports most of its fertiliser from the Middle East, a major producer of gas.

But Thomas Elders Markets analyst Andrew Whitelaw said the gas price has "gone through the roof" since the invasion of Ukraine.

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Grain farmers are now warning cost pressures will lead to lower yields at the next harvest.

"Together with the supply chain problems in China – which produces much of the world's fertiliser – and now the Ukraine war, it's been a perfect storm," Hosking said.

While high grain prices and moisture levels are giving growers confidence in the current growing season, this may change in coming months.

Higher fertiliser prices mean the grower is taking a great risk in recovering the costs.

"The stakes and risk profile of the growers become a whole lot higher," Hosking said.

He is concerned that despite favourable conditions, because of cost pressures grain farmers will "reach a point of diminishing return" in yields of wheat, barley, oats, canola and other grains.

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And the pressure on farmers will feed into prices on supermarket shelves, especially the price of white meat.

Corn fed to chickens and pigs helps animals put on weight quickly and is one of the largest expenses in livestock production.

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An independent review into Queensland's flood crisis this year revealed emergency alerts took too long to reach vulnerable residents.

The review, led by ex-governor of Queensland Paul de Jersey investigated the government's response to flooding in south-east Queensland, which destroyed 23,000 homes and killed 13 people this year.

Brisbane received 80 per cent of its annual rainfall in just three days over February, with several surrounding regions also devastated by floods.

"I've reached the view this was a worst case scenario for Brisbane and it's people," de Jersey said.

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"In the end I'm very proud of the people of Brisbane who reacted to this event and to the council and its staff for the way they dealt with it responsibly with great dedication."

Brisbane's Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said 37 recommendations had been made during the review to deal with future flooding catastrophes and all would be implemented.

Of primary concern was the implementation of mobile emergency alert systems, which faced "unreasonable delays" in notifying Brisbane's 1.2 million affected residents.

"This is a national system but also implemented by state governments around Australia," Schrinner said.

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"We were concerned with the unreasonable delays in information getting out and that is something I believe must be addressed before the next storm system comes our way.

"The early alert system is absolutely critical."

He added more people needed to be registered for the voluntary alert system, with only 14 per cent of Brisbane residents signed up to the warnings.

He added the situation on the ground was rapidly changing, with emergency warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology escalating quickly due to unpredictable conditions.

"The situation moved incredibly quickly, we did our absolute best to respond quickly but the information provided by the Bureau (BoM) was changing and the responses on the ground were changing."

"Predictions on the level of rainfall we got from the Bureau were undercooked.

"It was the most rain ever recorded in just a few days in Brisbane's history."

De Jersey said a crucial takeaway was the response of residents and their willingness to help their neighbours, which formed the bulk of flood recovery across the south-east.

"One feature which emerges very strongly was the spontaneous outpouring of support amongst the community- neighbours helping neighbours."

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A puppy has been reunited with its owner after it was taken when the man's car was stolen from a Melbourne shopping centre.

Ryley, a seven-month-old German Shepherd, was in a cage inside his owner's black Holden Commodore wagon when the car was stolen from Cranbourne West Shopping Centre at about 7.50am.

His owner, 73-year-old Roy Smith, had just run into the bakery briefly, as he does most mornings, and was highly distressed to return to his parking spot to find his car and beloved pet gone.

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"I come back 90 seconds later and no car," Smith said.

He said Ryley had only just come out of surgery yesterday and needed to be given medication.

Fortunately, the puppy was found in a reserve in nearby suburb Narre Warren South around 10.30am and taken to the local pound.

Smith's car was then found abandoned on Marsh Grove in Berwick just before 11am.

Smith has told 3AW his car had been damaged inside and littered with hamburgers and drinks, and the cage he used for his dog was no longer inside.

However, he was just mostly excited to be reunited with his pup.

"He's my best friend," Smith said.

"You need to watch who you hang around with," Smith jokingly told Ryley at their reunion.

Smith said he was "over the moon" to have Ryley back.

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