Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Can I thank Senator Sheldon publicly for the tremendous work that he is performing as the government's Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery, a new position that was created by this government in recognition that our disaster affected communities need all the support that they can get. I personally thank Senator Sheldon for visiting around a dozen communities in the short time that he has held this role and for providing excellent advice to both me and the government more generally about what those communities need.

I think all of us have noticed that over the last week we have been closely monitoring and responding to another difficult weather system, particularly over central west and northern New South Wales, as well as some severe thunderstorms in South-East Queensland. The worst of the flooding over the weekend was in the Namoi River in Gunnedah, with several streets, low-lying properties and businesses inundated. I know that all of our thoughts go out to the communities that have been affected, particularly throughout New South Wales. There were also strong fears that Lismore would again see localised flooding, but fortunately forecasts there were downgraded. The Wilson River, which runs through Lismore, only peaked to minor flooding levels this time, well short of the level required to top the flood levy there.

I want to commend both the paid and volunteer personnel of the New South Wales SES for the tremendous work that they did to predeploy resources to affected areas, and to assist vulnerable people who were still recovering from the last floods earlier this year. The action that the SES took in getting ready for these events before they hit went a long way to ensuring that people were kept safe. As of late yesterday, the New South Wales SES had received 898 requests for assistance, including 64 flood rescue activations. South-East Queensland was also affected, particularly the Gold Coast hinterland.

Sadly, this flooding has taken the life of a young five-year-old boy in Tullamore in New South Wales, after the car he was travelling in was swept away by flood waters. Again, I know that all of our thoughts go out to that family, and it's another reminder of the life-threatening danger that floods provide. (Time expired)