Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Dodson for his question and also his fine leadership in the Kimberley throughout these devastating floods. I recognise that there are a number of senators and members across all sides of politics who played a very important role, and I thank them all as well.

Before directly addressing Senator Dodson's question, I'd also like to give a quick update on the deployment of Australian personnel to Turkiye. Tomorrow it is expected that a deployment of 72 personnel from New South Wales Fire and Rescue, DFAT and the National Emergency Management Agency will depart for Turkiye, where they will be tasked by local authorities in supporting search and rescue efforts. These urban search and rescue personnel have internationally recognised skills, and I'm sure they will provide much needed support in ongoing efforts across the impacted communities. I'd like to thank those personnel for this incredible undertaking, and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I wish them well for a safe return.

In the meantime the Albanese government is continuing to work closely with the government to support the ongoing recovery in the Kimberley, following the recent devastating flooding. Two NEMA officers have been deployed to two locations in Western Australia to work in the Western Australian department's offices in Perth and with the local council in Derby, West Kimberley. NEMA is working closely with the National Indigenous Australians Agency to identify recovery needs at the community level. Of course, there are a large number of First Nations people who've been dramatically affected by these events, and the Albanese government believes it's essential that traditional owners are part of the conversation on how we support the Kimberley communities and to make sure the recovery happens the way those communities want and need.

Again, I'd like to thank Senator Dodson for his ongoing engagement with myself, my office and all of those communities around their recovery needs in the Kimberley. I was on the ground with Senator Dodson and the Prime Minister in Fitzroy Crossing, in early January, and I've seen the power of work being done. In total, more than $2.5 million in Commonwealth disaster assistance has been provided to around 3,200 people in affected communities in Western Australia today, and there's a range of joint support still available. (Time expired)