Julia Gillard's emotional speech for flood victims

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has struggled to hold back tears while speaking about those killed in last month's devastating floods.

The Federal Parliament is considering a condolence motion for the victims of the Queensland and Victorian floods.

Ms Gillard has paid tribute to the emergency personnel who helped pull people from the waters and those who died.

She has spoken of a teenage boy and his mother who were killed when a wall of water hit Toowoomba on January 10.

"The courage it takes for a young boy, 13-year-old Jordan Rice, to say to his rescuers, 'take my brother first'," Ms Gillard said.

"And before that brave rescuer could return, Jordan and mum Donna were taken by the flood. But the legend of Jordan's amazing courage will go on."

Ms Rice and her two sons were caught in the downpour and had climbed onto the roof of their car when a passer-by tried to rescue them.

Jordan helped lift his younger brother to safety before he was swept away.

Ms Gillard says Jordan was "a hero in the purest sense of the word".

She says when people and communities are back to full strength, the dead will not be forgotten.

"They are not just names on a list," she said. "They were someone's brother, sister, grandparent or child.

"No insurance payout is going to fill that."

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