Police have charged a 29-year-old French man with the murder of a British backpacker in Australia.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, was stabbed to death at a hostel in the Home Hill area of Queensland on Tuesday night.

Smail Ayad has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault.

A 30-year-old British man who tried to save Miss Ayliffe-Chung was attacked and is in a critical condition in hospital.

A dog which lived at the hostel was also stabbed to death and the hostel owner was attacked but survived.

Police said several officers were also injured when Ayad was transported to the police station.

Ayad is due to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court tomorrow.