State Government awaits legal advice after Supreme Court rules in favour of 2011 flood victims

The State Government, Sunwater and Seqwater were last week found to have exacerbated the 2011 floods that destroyed thousands of homes across the southeast. This is what happens next.

THE State Government is still considering the Supreme Court’s 2011 flood findings amid calls for victims to be compensated.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said she was expecting legal advice on the ruling later this week however it may be preliminary.

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Flood victim Frank Beaumont breaks down after NSW Supreme Court ruled in favour of about 6000 victims of Queensland's 2011 floods. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

“Certainly the state has a standing to appeal, as does Seq (water) and Sunwater but no decisions have been made in relation to that at this stage,” she said.

The Government, Sunwater and Seqwater were last week found to have exacerbated the 2011 floods that destroyed thousands of homes across the southeast.

Ms D’Ath today said the Government did not have legal liability insurance, however Seqwater and Sunwater did.

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She said it was a comprehensive 1550-page judgment which was taking some time to look through.

“ … and the Government is awaiting advice from their legal representatives in relation to that judgment before forming any views as to what we may do,” she said.

Insurers were expected to closely analyse the judgment to determine if they could pursue the Government for their own compensation.

John and Gail Craigie relax on the backs of the Brisbane river, 25 metres below their house which flooded in 2011, at Pine Mountain, west of Brisbane. John organised the successful class action against the state. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Asked whether the Government was concerned about this, Ms D’Ath said, “We’re not getting ahead of ourselves, we’re just looking at the judgment at this stage and what it actually means”.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander said there was a moral obligation for the Government to pay compensation to flood victims who had “put up with eight years of misery”.

“We think that the Palaszczuk Government should accept the umpire’s decision and pay compensation to help these people get on with their lives,” he said.