Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Watt. In recent days, we've seen the effects of ongoing flooding and severe weather on communities across North Queensland. I know many Queenslanders and other Australians are concerned about the impact this is having on their fellow Queenslanders and fellow Australians. Can the minister update the Senate on the current situation?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sheldon, who I know continues to do good work in his role as the Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery. I think all senators will have seen much of North Queensland being hit by significant and widespread rainfall in recent days, leading to flooding across an area spanning over 400 kilometres. This has led to many communities being cut off and many more being flooded. While North Queenslanders are famously tough, this is a big event, and I know that all of our hearts go out to people going through these floods right now.

Many have come together to deal with the impact of the floods, and I want to acknowledge the work of Senator Green over the last couple of weeks. She is actually representing the government at an official event in Queensland today. I also particularly want to acknowledge Minister McAllister, who's been heavily involved at a personal level in the planning and preparation for these floods and is actually in Townsville today, meeting with the Queensland Premier, Queensland state and local government officials, and emergency management agencies to mobilise federal support.

There are currently five national helicopters supporting state emergency services in North Queensland—one from our national aerial fleet and four from the ADF. This is the first time a national aerial asset has been deployed outside of bushfires. In addition, locally based ADF personnel have been assisting and continue to assist, and we thank them for their efforts.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who died in floodwaters in Ingham over the weekend and the rescuers who were with her at the time. I want to express the government's gratitude and, I think, all Australians' gratitude to our first responders and emergency management personnel, as well as those from industries such as energy and telecommunications who continue to focus their efforts on supporting these communities.

While the rain is easing today, the risk to communities and the level of response remain. The situation is constantly evolving, so people should continue to monitor for updates and warnings. We know this is a big flood, and our government will be there to support Queenslanders through it. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, you made to Minister Watt the exact same comment that I asked you to withdraw in relation to Minister Wong. Could you please withdraw.

You made a reflection on his character, so please withdraw it.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the interests of the chamber, I'll withdraw, but could I ask, President, if you could provide me with some information as to the comments?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will, outside of the chamber. As you are well aware, when I ask senators to withdraw, I don't repeat the comments they've made. But I am more than happy to speak to you after question time. Senator Sheldon, first supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With these floods affecting such a widespread area, I know communities will have a long recovery ahead. How will the Albanese Labor government work to support the communities impacted by this crisis as they recover?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Supporting these communities in North Queensland is, and will remain, a priority for the Albanese government. Over the coming days, as local governments commence their damage assessments, we'll get a clearer understanding of the full extent of the damage caused by this event. Already, we've activated personal hardship payments for communities on Palm Island and in Hinchinbrook, the Cassowary Coast, Burdekin and designated areas of Townsville and Gordonvale. These support measures include $180 grants for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover the costs of emergency essentials like food, clothing and medicine. We're also supporting a number of local councils in their clean-up, recovery and response efforts.

We know families have been impacted by this disaster, and we have declared a period of emergency for childcare services in North Queensland. In the Burdekin, Cairns, Palm Island and Townsville regions, extra support is available, including gap-fee waivers and additional absences, so families won't have to use their annual allocation of allowable absences. We'll continue to work with the Queensland government to provide support. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sheldon, second supplementary?

Tony Sheldon (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know Australians are facing increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters. How is the Albanese Labor government working to improve the way Australians can prepare for, respond to and recover from significant events like the flooding we've seen in North Queensland?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Obviously, as well as it being vital that the federal government supports state and local governments when disasters hit, we're also working with state and territory governments and authorities, as well as industry and communities, to help Australia better prepare, respond and recover.

Ahead of this season, we conducted the largest ever disaster preparedness program across the nation, bringing together over 2,500 people to get ready for this summer. We've committed an additional $35 million over two years, increasing our aerial capability with a national large air tanker and three heavy-lift helicopters, and our flagship Disaster Ready Fund has already invested nearly $750 million of joint Commonwealth and state funding in over 350 projects around the country. That includes building cyclone shelters, improving drainage systems to better prepare communities against flooding and trialling AI for early fire detection in remote places.

We'll keep on preparing, because we know there will be more natural disasters, and we'll continue supporting communities to be ready.