George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

As I said in answer to your previous question, that will be under the NDRRA. The appropriate declarations have been made, and are being made, by my colleague the Minister for Justice, the Hon. Michael Keenan, who has responsibility for emergency management.

I am advised by Mr Crosweller that there are 6,774 buildings in the impact zone—that does not include Mackay; it is the immediate impact zone—of which we judge that 2,885 were built before 1980. That was when the current building code came into operation, which required that all buildings be built to a strength to withstand a category 4 cyclone, which this cyclone was. The assessment is ongoing but we are apprehensive that among those 2,885 buildings there will be a considerable number damaged. (Time expired)