‘We need answers’: Frustrated Far North flood victims seek meeting as Premier Steven Miles tours devastated communities

Gambling and alcohol are hurting southern Cape York youths displaced following the Far North’s floods, a community leader says.

Disaster Recovery Minister, Nikki Boyd, Douglas Shire mayor Michael Kerr and Premier Steven Miles with a caravan that has been deployed to Degarra for flood victims to use more than a month after the record rain event.

Desperate elders are calling for an urgent meeting with Premier Steven Miles as a Far North MP slammed the leader’s latest visit to flood-affected communities as a “photo opportunity”.

Queensland’s top boss toured disaster-stricken townships, including Ayton, Degarra and Wujal Wujal on Tuesday afternoon.

But Auntie Kathleen Walker, who was evacuated from Wujal Wujal by the Australian Defence Force after her home was destroyed last month, said Mr Miles was still yet to meet key leaders from her community.

“Someone should have let us know when he was in our homelands last time,” Ms Walker said of Mr Miles’ trip to the remote Indigenous community earlier this month.

“We could have told him about the things frustrating us.

“We’re very disappointed. He’s been talking to our mayor and CEO but not us.”

'We're refugees': Wujal Wujal residents Marie Shipton, Auntie Kathleen Walker, Coraleen Shipton and Uncle William Harrigan.

The hundreds of Wujal Wujal residents evacuated prior to Christmas following the record floods yearned to return to country, Ms Walker said.

“We were the ones there when the floods came,” she said.

“I don’t want to whinge. I just want to see how long it’s going to take to build our houses. We need answers.

“If I could see him (the Premier) face-to-face, I’d just want to know how long til we can return to our homelands.

Wujal Wujal flood victim Peter Wallace is concerned for his community, after Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the resulting floods saw the entire town evacuated by the Australian Defence Force. Picture: Brendan Radke

Former mayor Peter Wallace, who also lost his home in the floods, said he feared for wayward youths left with little guidance or support while living in communities such as Cairns and Cooktown.

“There’s a lot of concern for our young people – half of them haven’t been off country before,” Mr Wallace said.

“They’ve come out after a disaster, got a little bit of money and (are) blowing it on alcohol and pokies instead of looking after it for hardships.

“They’ve got no knowledge about these sort of things.”

Further south, frustrated Cape Tribulation resident Lawrence Mason said businesses were going bust while the main road into the community remained shut.

“It’s been 41 days since we were first cut off and not much has changed since,” Mr Mason said.

“They need to open the road and fix the water supply in Port Douglas. Who wants to go to a resort town and s--t in a portaloo, or carry a bucket of water from the pool to flush their toilet?

“The level of damage that’s being done to our brand right now can’t be underestimated.

“This can’t go on forever.”

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch accused the Premier of playing politics.

“He’ll come up there, as do these other pollies, get a photo to post on social media and be on their way,” Mr Entsch said. “That’s the way they operate.

“It’s a disgrace and it just builds up resentment amongst the victims.”

Bloomfield business, The Shak, had a pointed message for Premier Steven Miles during his visit to flood affected communities in Far North Queensland on Tuesday. (Supplied)

Mr Miles, who also inspected roads and infrastructure while in the region, is expected to speak to media in Cairns on Wednesday morning.

Ms Walker said she would happily extend a Welcome to Country to the Premier if he reached out to her next time he visited.

“I got up this morning and said to my son, ‘My ancestors are calling me back home,” Ms Walker said.

“I want to see my community again and the job we have to do.”

Originally published as ‘We need answers’: Frustrated Far North flood victims seek meeting as Premier Steven Miles tours devastated communities