The repair bill stands at $5 billion.

“This is a once-in-100-year natural disaster,” said State politician Rob Messenger. “Powderfinger is Queensland music. Queensland needs them right now.”

The band had not responded as of press time.

Australia has mobilized to help victims, with telethons, BBQs and auctions among those raising cash. R&B diva Tina Arena, cabaret singer David Campbell, country performers Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley and Kasey Chambers, soul-pop singer Jessica Mauboy and “X-Factor” winner Altiyan Childs performed during a national telethon that raised $30 million Jan. 8 for the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.

Frontier Touring supremo Michael Gudinski, one of those behind the Sound Relief concerts that raised $13 million for Victorian and Queensland bushfire victims, is about to reveal plans for a massive fund-raiser concert.