Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today with a heavy heart to speak about the devastating floods currently impacting communities across north and Far North Queensland. In a matter of days, relentless monsoonal rainfall has caused rivers to swell beyond their banks, submerging homes, businesses and vital infrastructure. Thousands of residents from Townsville to Tully have been impacted by this weather event. Tragically, this disaster has already claimed the lives of two women in Ingham. It's a heartbreaking reminder of the danger that these floods pose to our communities. I extend my deepest sympathies to their families and loved ones and to everyone affected by this catastrophe. I also want to extend my gratitude to all of the first responders, SES volunteers, emergency services personnel and the Australian Defence Force members, who have worked around the clock to save lives and provide assistance. We know that you are the backbone of our communities. We owe you an enormous amount of gratitude.

The scale of this disaster requires a swift and coordinated response from all levels of government. The Albanese Labor government has already activated emergency assistant payments, ensuring that affected families can access immediate financial support. Today, we've made two very important announcements to assist in the recovery of this disaster. Our government is providing financial support through the Disaster Recovery Allowance. The DRA offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of flooding in the local government areas of Burdekin, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island and Townsville. I urge residents in those areas to check their eligibility through the Services Australia website.

We've also made a significant announcement in the last hour. The Albanese Labor government is providing assistance to ensure there is a temporary structure to reconnect flood impacted communities to the Bruce Highway. Part of the Ollera Creek Bridge connecting Townsville and Ingham fled into floodwater on Sunday afternoon after more than 1,400 millilitres of rain fell in the area over the weekend. This particularly impacted communities between Townsville and Ingham because the highway provides direct connectivity and emergency services, and it ensures supply to those communities. Today, it's really pleasing to see that the Australian Defence Force will be working with the Queensland government and QRA authorities to work out how to safely deliver a temporary bridge structure in what continue to be challenging conditions. If feasible, the temporary bridge will be a single-lane structure to allow vehicle access. I know that this is really welcome news for people in north Queensland.

On top of that, our government has five national helicopters supporting state and emergency services in north Queensland, providing support as needed such as the delivery of food, supplies and animal feed to isolated communities. We will continue to work closely with the state and local governments to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most. I want to thank Minister McAllister for the work she's doing to support our communities on the ground. I thank the Queensland government for the work they have done.

North Queenslanders are resilient. I'm so proud of the communities that are rallying together and looking out for one another, but, as the rain starts to slow down, the water starts to recede and the repairs begin, I want those communities in north Queensland to know this: our government stands with you. We will be with you every step of the way as you recover, rebuild and strengthen our communities for the future. North Queenslanders are very tough, and we are used to tough conditions, but this has been a very difficult time, and I thank the Senate for recognising this difficult time for our community in north Queensland. We will get through it, stick together and rebuild.