Government’s response to Gulf flooding ‘fumbled’, opposition says

The Shadow Minister for Northern Australia has demanded the army be deployed to the Gulf immediately as people face weeks of isolation because of flooding.

Federal shadow ministers have said the Government’s response to flooding in the Gulf of Carpentaria has been “fumbled”.

However, the Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt, said the opposition “are making stuff up, just to play politics when people are hurting”.

The political back-and-forth comes as the Burke Shire mayor said the flood could wipe-out $50 million of assets, and people whose homes are underwater could face weeks more of isolation.

Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Susan McDonald called on the army to be deployed, and said the response to the flood had been fumbled.

This handout photo taken on March 10, 2023 and received on March 11, 2023 from the Queensland Police Service shows an aerial view of the flooded northern Queensland town of Burketown. PHOTO: AFP

“The full scale of this disaster is yet to play out so we need proactive help right now,” Senator McDonald said.

Speaking about an unrelated topic in Townsville on Tuesday, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Lean said that the defence force had not been enlisted to assist.

“We did some planning iterations last week, but at this stage no, we haven’t been asked to support the Queensland Government or the people of Burketown”.

Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt has defended the government’s response to the Gulf flooding event. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt, said that less than 24 hours after waters peaked on Saturday, “we worked with the Queensland Government to activate disaster support for affected communities”.

On Tuesday, additional freight subsidies for farmers to move stock, feed and machinery were provided, Mr Watt said.

“It’s disappointing that the Nationals are making stuff up, just to play politics when people are hurting.”

Shadow Minister for Emergency Management, Perin Davey, said that in 2019 the Coalition Government “quickly declared” a disaster, and authorised non-means tested payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child.

Senator Susan McDonald has criticised the government’s response to record-breaking floods that have hammered the Gulf. Photo by Emily Barker

Mr Wyatt claimed that of the $3.1 billion promised after the 2019 floods, less than 30 per cent had been delivered.

“Unfortunately, the Coalition always cared more about making big promises than actually delivering them,” Mr Watt said.

In the Burketown area, four helicopters owned and flown by Nautilus Aviation have been delivering supplies and flying evacuations.

Queensland Police Service Mount Isa Senior Sergeant Adrian Rieck has said sewage and water treatment plants in Burketown were offline, with residents instructed to conserve water usage and continue to monitor advice from council.

The rains fell in the Gregory and Nicholson River catchments last week, and extra police were brought in to door-knock and evacuate people from Burketown.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued flood warnings for the Gilbert, Norman, Nicholson, Flinders and Leichardt rivers.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Northern Australia, Madeleine King, said Mr Watt was the relevant minister to respond to questions.

Originally published as Government’s response to Gulf flooding ‘fumbled’, opposition says