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

Thanks, again, Senator Dodson. I'm very pleased to say that under the Albanese Labor government, no matter what your postcode, no matter what electorate you live in, if you've been hit by a natural disaster you will receive support.

Since May, after our election, our government has provided $1.6 billion in direct payments to natural disaster impacted communities, across Australia, through the various recovery payments available. It is a sobering fact that $1.5 billion of this $1.6 billion has been delivered to residents of the state of New South Wales. We recognise that New South Wales communities have faced devastating and compounding flooding over the last 12 months, and we recognise that it's our responsibility as the federal government to show up in a crisis and keep showing up to help. What we don't recognise is whether those communities voted Labor, Liberal or Nationals. That's why, regardless of politics, we have continued to provide disaster funding, into the hundreds of millions of dollars, to very safe National Party seats, because those people need help. That is the right thing and that is exactly what we will keep doing.