Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Waters, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) North Queensland is being ravaged by floods, and Townsville received more than a year's worth of rain before the end of the first week of February 2019, and

  (ii) the floods have been devastating for livestock, with more than 500,000 cattle estimated to have been killed, and another 150,000 in danger of starving to death; and

(b) calls on the Commonwealth Government to:

  (i) increase assistance to people affected by the Townsville floods, and to provide emergency assistance to save the lives of cattle that are currently starving, and

  (ii) more effectively plan for animal welfare in natural disaster responses.

Question agreed to.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is providing extensive disaster relief to support communities across north-west Queensland affected by the recent monsoonal deluge. This support includes a $300 million commitment to support farmers to restock, replant and replace on-farm infrastructure and financial relief to individuals, families, communities and councils, such as the $75,000 payment to primary producers to assist with the clean-up of debris, salvaging crops, repairing plant equipment and the burial of carcasses. We've also delivered $1 million to 11 impacted regional councils to help them provide a range of local measures to ratepayers. This is in addition to the immediate support provided by the ADF to coordinate delivery of 43 tonnes of fodder and 42,000 litres of jet fuel. Any suggestion that producers failed to protect and care for their livestock in this natural disaster is plainly wrong. Graziers have been working tirelessly through a relentless drought to care for their herds and are now left utterly devastated and distraught by losing most if not all of their cattle.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The scale of the natural disaster in North Queensland is confronting. As someone who has visited the impacted areas numerous times in recent weeks, I know the recovery will be long and difficult. Labor stands with the Commonwealth and state governments in support of all those affected. We will support all initiatives taken to assist them in this time of need. However, there will need to be a review of current plans with regard to the impact of such devastating disasters post the immediate critical crisis response.

Question agreed to.