Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister update the House on flooding events and extreme weather affecting communities in parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland? How is the Commonwealth working with the Northern Territory and Queensland governments to provide assistance to Australians impacted?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We on this side of the House are focused on the issues that Australians are facing, and one of those is the floods.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The interjections say it all about those opposite and their focus. Not all of the LNP are like this though. I spoke this morning and had contact yesterday with Premier David Crisafulli, who was visiting Bundaberg. Bundaberg residents are under immediate threat of flood. Floodwaters are impacting the Wide Bay region, and will do for several more days. We say to the people of those electorates, prioritise your safety and the safety of loved ones. Follow advice about warnings. Remember: if it's flooded, forget it.

In the Northern Territory, a large monsoon trough remains over the Big Rivers region. Minister McCarthy has visited evacuation centres in Katherine, including the evacuation centre at Katherine High School. I hear from the minister that the principal there, Nick Lovering, spent 77 hours straight on duty at the school supporting his community. That is the sort of thing that we see: at the worst of times we see the best of the Australian character, and that's a good thing.

The Commonwealth, of course, is providing assistance wherever it can. In the Northern Territory we have deployed staff, through NEMA, who are active on the ground coordinating assistance, including with evacuations. The Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments have activated joint disaster recovery funding in Katherine. That includes support for clean-up efforts, immediate relief payments and short-term accommodation payments. We're in regular contact with the Northern Territory and Queensland governments, and, as always, we stand ready to respond to any further requests for help.

This will be a hard time for Australians who are facing these threats, the aftermath of flooding and the uncertainty of the weather over the next few days. Every level of government will keep working together to help those affected get through this time, through the clean-up and through the recovery.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Chifley then left the chamber .

We're not having people interject as they approach the despatch box.

Order! The minister for infrastructure will follow the member for Chifley if she's not careful. People need to be able to ask their questions in silence.