David Batt (Hinkler, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's Get Ready Queensland Week, a time to prepare for unpredictable weather. Get Ready Queensland's catchphrase, 'Weather doesn't plan but you can,' rings true for my community of Hinkler. In the five years prior to being elected as the federal member for Hinkler, I worked as the community resilience and disaster management officer at Bundaberg Regional Council, helping my community be best prepared for and aware of their risks. This is a passion for me. Cyclones, bushfires, damaging storms and flooding rains are a constant threat. Last week, my community was hit by hailstorms. The Woodgate and Childers regions experienced the worst. This week, multiple bushfires are burning across my electorate. Rural fire crews are working around the clock to protect our community.

On 9 March this year, with little warning, Hervey Bay was inundated with a record-breaking deluge as a result of ex-tropical-cyclone Alfred; 189 millimetres of rain fell in just two hours. The recovery is ongoing for hundreds of flooded homes and businesses. The three steps to get ready are knowing your risk, as impacts for extreme weather are different for everyone; making a plan so those in your household have peace of mind; and packing a kit, getting extra supplies at the ready. The parliamentary debate this week surrounding the need for more reliable communication and a more trustworthy 000 service is underlined during Get Ready Queensland Week. These need fixing now. Get Ready Queensland Week runs until Sunday.