Tony Sheldon NSW, Australian Labor Party
1:32 pm
It's a great honour to be appointed Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery. Whether it's floods, bushfires or storms, when natural disasters hit Australians look to us to work collaboratively and urgently with state and local governments in their hour of greatest need. Australians all believe that we should be rebuilding their lives and communities, and building them back better and more resilient.
I've started receiving briefings, and listening to stakeholders from recently impacted disaster regions. There is a lot of optimism about what a change of government will mean for disaster recovery, but there is also a lot of frustration and scepticism, given these communities' experience with the former government—a former government which withheld disaster relief funding and which, after being pressured to finally provide support, excluded communities in Labor-held seats. This is disgusting. There was our former prime minister, who snuck off to Hawaii during the Black Summer bushfires and the now opposition leader, who made jokes about our Pacific neighbours suffering from rising sea levels.
This is the former government that appointed the former National President of the Liberal Party, Shane Stone, as our disaster recovery agency chief, despite having no experience in disaster recovery. Mr Stone's main contribution to the role was to insult flood victims, suggesting it was their own fault for living in areas prone to flooding. There's a lot of work to be done—
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition
That's not true!
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
Senator McGrath! Senator Sheldon, resume your seat. Senator Scarr, are you taking a point of order?
Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party
Madam Acting Deputy President, my point of order is that there are gross reflections being made on a former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory and I would suggest to my colleague that he should withdraw.
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
Because he's not a current chief minister, it's technically not contrary to the rules. But, Senator Sheldon, it would assist the smooth running of the chamber if you withdrew.
Tony Sheldon NSW, Australian Labor Party
Chair, I would really prefer not to withdraw those comments, because they were an accurate description of what actually was said by Shane Stone.
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition
You're disgraceful. You're just a mud-chucker; that's all you are.
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
Excuse me, Senator McGrath. Could you stop interjecting. Senator Sheldon, just continue your speech, in that case.
Tony Sheldon NSW, Australian Labor Party
And, of course, despite having no experience in disaster recovery, Mr Stone's main contribution to the role was to insult flood victims, suggesting it was their own fault for living in areas prone to flooding. So there is a lot of work to do to restore faith—
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
Senator McGrath, please stop yelling and interjecting. It's disorderly. Senator McDonald?
Susan McDonald Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources
My point of order is that that is grossly inaccurate, Mr Stone having managed the north-west flood recovery to the very great satisfaction of those people.
Catryna Bilyk Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
There is no point of order. Senator Sheldon, you have nine seconds left.
Tony Sheldon NSW, Australian Labor Party
So there is a lot of work to do to restore the faith of communities and undo the damage of the last government, but we are hitting the ground running and making a difference.