NSW SES twice rejected flood assistance from the Australian Defence Force

It can be revealed that the Australian Defence Force offered their services to NSW ahead of the deluge that swamped the state only for their offer to be knocked back — twice.

Defence officials offered NSW their help ahead of the east coast “rain bomb” on two separate occasions, only to be told they were not needed.

A week after Premier Dom­inic Perrottet promised a ­review into the state’s emergency flood response, which he admitted had fallen short, we can reveal Australian Defence Force (ADF) support was ­initially knocked back.

On February 25 an ADF representative contacted the NSW State Emergency Services headquarters about 2pm to seek advice on any potential request for assistance, including a presence in the Emer­gency Operations Centre.

However, the Defence representative was told there was no expectation support would be required.

Australian Defence Force helicopters deploying on Operation Flood Assist 2022 to support emergency services across NSW.

About 7.30pm, Emergency Management Australia (EMA) – the federal government body within the Department of Home Affairs and responsible for emergency management co-ordination – activated the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan, known as COMDISPLAN, for the east coast of Australia.

Shortly before 9.30pm, a Defence representative again contacted the NSW SES asking if Defence presence would be required.

The representative was again advised there would be no requirement.

The following day the army began increasing its readiness in Queensland, which would be the first state hit by record rain. Just after midnight on February 27, the head of the ADF ordered two helicopters to help the Queensland SES.

It also increased its readiness with 600 personnel for ground support.

Just after 3pm, it also began readying its ground forces in anticipation that NSW would be requesting its support.

Soldiers from the 5th Engineer Regiment assisting the local community of Lismore. Picture: Dustin Anderson/ADF/AFP

On February 28, Defence helicopters were tasked to fly to Lismore ahead of a request from NSW.

Just before 1pm, an EMA NSW request was made for search and rescue helicopter support, high clearance vehicles and evacuation support.

And just after 2pm a task request from NSW was received, which ADF accepted.

Asked when the state government requested Defence support, the office of Emergency Services Minister Steph Cook referred The Sunday Telegraph to the NSW SES.

A spokesman for the NSW SES said members had been on duty since February 24, alongside other emergency services personnel.

“Additional NSW SES members have been on duty assisting with the recent weather event,” the spokesman said.

“Both NSW SES and other emergency services personnel and their equipment/vessels, were pre-positioned in northern NSW to help with the potential impending weather coming from Queensland. The record-breaking flood that occurred in Lismore was like nothing that had been experienced before. It came much quicker and more intensely than was forecasted.”

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