Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

There is a broad range of activities in which the ADF can and will, I suspect, be engaged. ADF members from Navy, Army and Air Force are helping with the evacuations; with aeromedical transport; with search and rescue; with assistance to restore critical infrastructure; with the road and route clearance—as the weather allows; with emergency food, water, fuel and shelter delivery and distribution; as well as with those reconnaissance surveillance and damage assessments I have mentioned.

As the Prime Minister noted this morning, for example during his visit to Bowen, the ADF will also support the people of Bowen by transporting electricians by air from Townsville to help restore power in that area. As the picture on the ground becomes clearer, the ADF will begin to move out into the affected communities. It is a great effort from the ADF and the men and women who are working in the 1,200-strong joint task force. It illustrates the importance, I think of the pre-deployment of assets and personnel to ensure that assistance could flow immediately. The ADF is well experienced in such operations. (Time expired)