Geoff Provest says Scott Morrison handling of NSW flood crisis ‘deplorable’

The Prime Minister has agreed to include four more LGAs in emergency flood relief funding after the oversight was declared “deplorable” by a local MP.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has agreed to include the Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Kyogle local government areas into additional disaster relief funds after a scathing critique from local MPs in the region.

The four LGAs were previously excluded from $2000 in funding but the National Recovery and Resilience Agency moved to include them on Thursday.

It came after 4000 people signed a community petition from Richmond MP Justine Elliot.

Richmond MP Justine Elliot (left) and Labor leader Anthony Albanese (centre) talk to resident Brett Bugg in his flood-affected home in Murwillumbah. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

“After more than 4,000 people signed my community petition calling on Scott Morrison to reverse his decision to exclude Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Kyogle Shires from disaster funding, the government has finally agreed to extend payments to all of us,” Ms Elliot said.

“Make no mistake – this is due to the relentless pressure our community put on Scott Morrison.

I did not stop fighting, and neither did our community. We will never forgive, and never forget.”

Nationals MP Geoff Provest slammed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s response to the NSW flood crisis as “deplorable and disgusting” after flooded towns in federal Labor seats were overlooked for funding.

Mr Provest joined Liberal MP Catherine Cusack in criticising the Prime Minister’s initial decision to not include Byron, Tweed and Ballina local government areas in the latest round of emergency funding.

The three areas are part of the Labor-held electorate of Richmond.

Liberal MLC Catherine Cusack is quitting politics over the “unethical” flood handling. Picture: Richard Dobson

“The federal government has really messed this up … They’ve lost the faith of the people. I can tell you, whether I’m down in the caravan park or one of the little villages, there is real venom out there directed at the Prime Minister,” Mr Provest told the ABC.

“This is like a remake of the bushfires some two years ago … as the days slid by people are getting very desperate out there.”

Mr Provest said the flood handling could cost Mr Morrison the election. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Provest said the federal government should “hang their heads in shame” after residents who lost everything were still waiting for support.

“We just hope to be included as all Australians. To segregate us like this and to put Lismore in and Richmond Valley and exclude the north of the state I think is deplorable and disgusting,” he said.

“I’m really disgusted with the Prime Minister and his office in the way that he is handling this … You just have to drive around the area and talk to the people and see they’ve lost everything.

“To be told it’s a bureaucratic thing, it’s a bit of a blame shifting game, I don’t accept that at all.”

He added that the Commonwealth was “disconnected” with everyday Australians.

“We need to be able to give them all the support, not just words.

“We are sick and tired of words.”

“I would struggle to vote for him … What I’ve seen out there is a failure of the federal government to listen, and more importantly to deliver.”