Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I understand that there is, as you said, widespread flooding across south-west Queensland, and a severe thunderstorm warning is current for parts of Queensland. I won't go through all of the information about that. As you probably know, Senator, there is a distinction between national emergency events and those which are dealt with by state governments. I'm sure Senator McAllister, much more eloquently than I, could explain when one moves from a state response to a national response. To date, there is not a national emergency event which has been triggered, and that response has not been triggered, but, of course, the government would stand ready in circumstances where those arrangements would need to be triggered.

Obviously, we know that what occurred in relation to the ex-tropical cyclone in southern Queensland, South-East Queensland and northern New South Wales was very difficult for the community. You would have seen that the government made it a very important priority to not only deliver services and support but also ensure Senator McAllister, Senator Sheldon and the Prime Minister were available to assist Premier Crisafulli and others.