Queensland flood disaster review to probe warnings, Wivenhoe Dam management

People are being urged to share their flood stories to help with the review into Queensland’s response to the deadly floods which devastated the southeast.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced there will be a review into Queensland’s response to the deadly flood disaster.

The independent review will be undertaken by Inspector-General Emergency Management, Alistair Dawson who is seeking people’s flood stories to probe whether Queenslanders were let down by lack of warning and preparedness.

Mr Dawson has delivered several reviews to the government including the 2019-20 Queensland Bushfires Review and the K’Gari (Fraser Island) Bushfire Review.

A review will be held into Queensland’s response to the flood disaster. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Ms Palaszczuk said the review it would “makes us better prepared for the next” disaster event.

Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said it would consider the timing and effectiveness of emergency alerts, how government agencies worked together and the management of Wivenhoe Dam.

“Whenever there is a major natural disaster like the devastating flooding event we have just witnessed in southeast Queensland, we will call upon the Inspector-General to conduct an independent review,” Mr Ryan said.

The review will consider whether people were given enough warning. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The unfortunate reality is that Queensland is the nation’s most disaster-prone state, and while we get a lot of practice responding to these kinds of events, we are always looking to see if we can do things better.

“That is the Inspector-General’s job, to examine the response to the floods, and see if there are any lessons that can be learned, or improvements that can be made to the way we deal with these events.”

Terms of reference and a guide to making a submission will be available at the Inspector-General’s website: www.igem.qld.gov.au.