Cairns floods: Pressure mounts for release of Qld 2023-24 severe weather report by IGEM

Queensland’s new government is being urged to put politics aside as pressure mounts to release the state’s severe weather report after multiple ministers visiting the Far North expressed different accounts of the document’s whereabouts.

Queensland’s new government is being urged to put politics aside as pressure mounts to release the state’s severe weather report after multiple ministers visiting the Far North expressed different accounts of the documents’ whereabouts.

Residents of Cairns’ northern beaches say they feel authorities are ill-prepared, 12 months on, for a repeat of last year’s flooding, which cut off entire suburbs, inundated homes and destroyed dozens of properties and roads.

The Office of the Inspector General of Emergency Management was tasked to review the event, including holding a hearing at Holloways Beach in August, to examine the planning and response to severe weather events across the state between October 2023 and April 2024.

The report was provided to the former Labor cabinet in late September, just days before caretaker government kicked in.

It is yet to be released publicly.

Cairns flood 2023: Royal Australian Navy personnel work with civilian emergency services to evacuate members of the public from Holloways Beach using a stretch of the Captain Cook Highway near the Barron River Bridge. Picture: Supplied

Police and Emergency Services Minister Dan Purdie visited Cairns on December 18 and said he had been asking the former government to “release” the report, which had been held up through parliamentary “process”, as it needed the Opposition Leader’s consent to be handed over.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles provided that consent on December 11, noting he received the request for release of the report on November 25.

Then on Friday while in Cairns, Health Minister Tim Nicholls was asked by media if he was confident the health service was fully prepared for evacuations, if a mass flood event was to reoccur and close the airport and major roads.

A flooded area at Cairns Airport in Cairns on December 18, 2023, closing the site for a number of days. (Photo by Brian CASSEY / AFP)

The terms of reference for the IGEM review included “the effectiveness of preparedness, response, and transitional arrangements and activities undertaken by Queensland Government (including government-owned corporations and statutory bodies),” such as the health service.

“My understanding is that the previous government sat on the report for some five or six months and failed to release it,” Mr Nicholls said.
He was asked to clarify his comment, given the report was delivered in late September.

He indicated he agreed it should be released and while he didn’t speak on preparedness for hospital evacuations, he said Far North health providers were prepared for the wet season.

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls at Cairns Hospital's surgical south ward. Mr Nicholls agrees the IGEM severe weather report should be released. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I’ve just been at the Cairns ambulance centre, and I’ve spoken to the team including people who went up Wujal and the Cape last year, they’ve got lessons learnt from that.

I’ve just inspected all their emergency kits, and they are fired up and ready to go, so yes they’re on standby.”

Barron Floodplain Action Group’s Ross Parisi said the delayed release of the report was being viewed by beaches’ residents as “typical of government.”

“It should be above party politics, you’re dealing with people’s lives,” he said.

“There were things like improving communications, or an SES boat for Holloways, which you would think is essential, but we’ll never know the findings until they release it.

Holloways Beach flood victim Kathy Pit and convener of the Barron Floodplain Action Group Ross Parisi. Mr Parisi says the release of the IGEM report should be “above politics.” Picture: Peter Carruthers

“Another flood could occur and nothing has been done, to the recommendations, if any, in place.”

Cairns Deputy Mayor Brett Olds said the “argy-bargy” between the two governments was “pathetic” but was cynical about the details available in the report.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a saviour document, I’d be surprised if there’s any hard-hitting detail in there,” Mr Olds said.

“But the community deserves answers and no one likes it when everyone is using politics or arguing about important information like this, just release the bloody report.”

Originally published as Cairns floods: Pressure mounts for release of Qld 2023-24 severe weather report by IGEM