Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to make my contribution to the debate on the condolence motion and to acknowledge with great sadness the devastation caused by the recent natural disasters in Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. We have had floods, Cyclone Yasi and bushfires. The floods this summer mark one of the greatest natural disasters to ever hit Australia. The damage sustained was catastrophic. Whole towns and communities were destroyed. People’s lives were torn to pieces. This was truly a natural disaster of momentous proportions, shattering communities. Queensland’s capital Brisbane was brought to a standstill. City streets were turned into rivers, the CBD was turned into an inland sea, and people’s lives were ripped apart. The floodwaters tested the emotional strength of everyone involved. As the  Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, said during the darkest days of the disaster:

This weather may break our hearts but it will not break our will.

This statement exemplifies what is truly remarkable about Australians. We are strong-willed people who, throughout history, in the face of some truly great adversities, have always pulled together and these devastating floods are no exception. As is the Australian way, in times of need we witness extraordinary examples of mateship. Our fellow Australians show the true meaning of the Australian spirit by pitching in and helping out their fellow countrymen and women. We have heard amazing stories of friends, neighbours and complete strangers pitching in to help each other against the rising floodwaters. Last week I heard the Treasurer, Wayne Swan, talking of people driving thousands of kilometres to volunteer in Brisbane and we heard today senators speaking about what they have witnessed—complete strangers going out and helping, taking time out of their holidays or, as we heard from Senator Trood, hiring trucks to help clear the streets.

The damage was not limited to roads, houses, farms and railways; unfortunately, during the floods lives have been lost. Heartbreakingly, people have tragically lost loved ones and some people are still missing. As senators in this place have said, we pass on our heartfelt condolences to all families and friends who have lost loved ones during the floods. Our thoughts go out to them in what is no doubt an incredibly difficult time. While the floodwaters have had a significant impact across Queensland, other parts of Australia have not been immune either, with large areas of New South Wales, Victoria and my home state of Tasmania being affected. One of my colleagues in Tasmania, the federal member for Lyons, Mr Dick Adams, has been working particularly hard to visit all flood-affected areas. He has also had the Attorney-General, the Hon. Robert McClelland, visit the sprawling electorate of Lyons, to inspect the damage caused by the floodwaters.

In light of the damage sustained in Queensland by the floods and the establishment of the Premier’s flood disaster fund, the Tasmanian state government have been undertaking fundraising, as have other state governments and many organisations and individuals. On 11 January, the Tasmanian Premier announced that the state government would match all money raised by Rotary, dollar for dollar up to $250,000. Since the Premier’s fundraising announcement, a number of community groups and organisations have begun efforts to take up the Premier’s offer to match fundraising. Also, 21 dedicated Tasmanian State Emergency Service volunteers have travelled to Queensland to assist with rescue and safety work in flood-affected areas, as well as one full-time coordinator. Stories such as these are commonplace around Australia at a time when fellow Australians are suffering and in need. The level of community spirit and support shown by the public is extraordinary. For the work undertaken by defence personnel, the SES and all the volunteers involved, not only in the support effort to fight the floodwaters but also in their work assisting in the clean-up of the affected areas, we thank you for your efforts.

In response to the high level of destruction caused by floodwaters, the federal government has announced a well-balanced and comprehensive response to help flood-affected communities rebuild roads, bridges, railway lines and public facilities. In the past couple of weeks we have again seen the full force of mother nature in North Queensland coping with the full brunt of category 5 Cyclone Yasi.

In more recent days, Victoria has again been on the receiving end of large unexpected downpours resulting in widespread flooding through the Melbourne CBD and parts of Gippsland—again, sadly, with loss of life. As well, Perth has suffered devastation with the loss of over 60 homes from bushfires. Our thoughts and support go out to all those people affected by these natural disasters.

As I finish my remarks today I want to reiterate what the Prime Minister has said to people affected by natural disasters: these are indeed incredibly tough and difficult times, but we are here for you. We will do what is necessary to support you so that you can rebuild your lives. We will rebuild. Now is your time of need. We will be there for you in the recovery and the rebuilding of your communities. I again give my heartfelt thanks to the volunteers assisting in the clean-up and I extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to those affected by these terrible natural disasters.