Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Colin Barnett, the Premier of Western Australia. He said:

I believe most Australians, most West Australians, are willing to contribute a little bit more to help Queensland get back on its feet.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said:

... as a nation we have come together in the past to help out the milk industry, the sugar industry, the workers of Ansett and to buyback guns after the Port Arthur tragedy. I think the people of Queensland are at least as important as all of those other levies in the past.

She is right. The people of Queensland are important—just as important as all other Australians in need of support. The government has also received support from the NGO sector. These organisations include the Australian Council of Social Service and the Salvation Army. The Australian newspaper also supported the levy. An editorial said:

... the imposition of the levy is reasonable and responsible.

That sums up what a good government should be. The Gillard government’s approach to funding flood reconstruction is both reasonable and responsible.

Debate interrupted.