Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I think we will all tolerate that partisan observation today in the circumstances, Senator Macdonald. But Senator Macdonald is correct; as we have seen, the Whitsundays is one of the hardest hit areas. Yesterday, HMAS Choules loaded stores and engineering equipment in Brisbane to establish three disaster response sites in the Whitsunday Group. Choules has an MRH90 helicopter embarked as well as medical personnel, and both the helicopter and the ship's landing craft will be used to take supplies directly onto the islands as she left from Brisbane yesterday afternoon. An Army amphibious landing craft is also transporting an amphibious beach team to the Whitsunday Islands to conduct survey operations and inspect damage. HMAS Melville will support the people of Daydream Island as well with emergency support of fresh water and suppliers, and will carry out evacuations if they are required. These are examples of the unique capabilities that Defence is able to deploy to supplement state emergency services in harder to access areas so that we can provide immediate support to those affected and assist with long-term reconstruction. (Time expired)