Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I am advised by the Queensland Minister for Emergency Services, Mr Neil Roberts, that to date over 4,200 homes and businesses have been reported damaged; over 23,000 calls have been made to the SES hotline; at least 250 to 400 SES volunteers from Queensland and interstate have been involved on a daily basis, contributing an estimated 23,000 volunteer hours of effort; and more than 4,000 jobs have been completed across Queensland, including an estimated 940 tarping jobs. On the Centrelink front, to date, almost $3.2 million has been delivered to approximately 2,600 adults and 1,500 children. People should not self assess but should retest their eligibility for the payment with Centrelink. I can assure all Queenslanders that the federal government is working closely with the Queensland state government during this difficult time. I take the opportunity of commending Queenslanders both for their resilience and for their community spirit. (Time expired)