Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Hansard source

A key priority for our government has been to rebuild capability in disaster resilience, response and recovery after the coalition's disastrous period in office. We have established the first ever emergency stockpile. During ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred the stockpile deployed 125,000 sandbags to Queensland and six large generators to New South Wales to support the response. We've increased the national aerial fleet investment, and states and territories now have access to a large air tanker and three federally funded heavy-lift helicopters. During Alfred these were pre-positioned in Bundaberg and Coffs Harbour. We have funded Disaster Relief Australia, and, again, in Alfred DRA staff were deployed to help with the clean-up in Queensland.

We know that the climate is changing and Australians will face more severe events of this kind, and that's why we have made these investments. It's in stark contrast to those opposite. Their promise of reckless cuts will send a chill through communities affected by natural disasters.