Scott Morrison visits flood disaster zones, deflects criticism of government response

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has visited flood devastated towns in northern NSW, deflecting criticism of the government’s response.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited flood devastated towns in northern NSW on Wednesday.

During the trip he declared the floods a national emergency and said Australia was becoming a more difficult place to live.

“I intend to recommend to the Governor-General to make a National Emergency Declaration covering this severe weather and flooding event across NSW and Queensland,” the Prime Minister said.

He also deflected criticism of the government’s response – ranging from unreachable emergency services to a lack of action on climate change.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the Norco Ice Cream factory in the flood affected town of Lismore in northern NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Elise Derwin

In the lead up to the visit, some angry residents said they were ready to “shirt front” Mr Morrison over the lack of government support.

“What we’re dealing with here is an extraordinary event. Australia’s becoming a harder country to live in because of these natural disasters,” Mr Morrison said.

“It’s just an obvious fact.”

“I absolutely understand the frustration, I understand the anger, I understand the disappointment, I understand the sense of abandonment.”

Lismore local Kate Stroud among others outside Lismore City Council waiting for Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s arrival. Picture: NCA/Newswire/Elise Derwin

The body of a man was retrieved from floodwater in Sydney’s west on Wednesday, after the city copped widespread torrential rain and flash flooding the day before.

Large parts of the city were inundated and thousands of residents were evacuated, as the Hawkesbury river broke its banks and Manly Dam in the city’s north began spilling over.

A delivery truck being driven by the 50-year-old was located submerged in floodwaters in the suburb of Greendale late on Tuesday evening.

Following a large-scale search of the surrounding area involving police divers and volunteer rescue crews, the body of a man believed to be the driver was found.

It took the number of deaths in NSW attributed to the disaster to eight, after an elderly mother and her son were also found dead in Sydney floodwaters on Tuesday.

Another body was recovered floodwaters in Sydney on Wednesday, taking the toll of the statewide disaster to eight lives lost. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

During his tour of the Northern Rivers, Mr Morrison deflected criticism levelled at the government over the slow roll out of ADF resources in the Northern Rivers, which left many to fend for themselves for days following the disaster.

Risking a repeat of his disastrous visit to Cobargo during the 2019-20 bushfires, media was barred from joining the Prime Minister as he met with residents in Lismore.

Mr Morrison denied the move was done to avoid embarrassment, saying it was for the privacy of residents.

“The primary purpose is to make sure I understand fully what we need to do, and the alignment of what our plans are and our announcements are with the needs here in the community,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s office banned media from attending meetings with residents amid fears of an embarrassing backlash. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Elise Derwin

Outside a press conference held in Lismore, in which Mr Morrison announced further disaster relief, protesters lined the street with placards calling for action on climate change.

The additional support package included $25m for emergency relief and $31m for long term mental health support.

Residents in three councils deemed as “catastrophe zones” will be granted two additional weeks of disaster payments, worth $1000 per adult and $400 per child.

“The sheer scale and impact to these areas in northern NSW highlights the need for extra support right now,” Mr Morrison said.

As the Prime Minister announced further funding for flood victims, protesters waited outside carrying signs demanding immediate climate action. Picture: Elise Derwin / NewsCorp

“While people in northern NSW aren’t able to work, are still clearing out their homes and businesses, the extra two lots of $1000 payments we’re rolling out to eligible families and individuals will give them some certainty as they start to rebuild their lives.”

As it too attempted to recover following destructive floods, Queensland was told to prepare for more storms to come late on Wednesday.

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for areas north of Brisbane including Gympie, Somerset, Sunshine Coast and Noosa.

Damaging wind, heavy rainfall and large hail were all predicted, with the Bureau of Meteorology saying conditions were volatile and difficult to predict.

Parts of the already saturated south east copped as much as 86mm in two hours on Wednesday afternoon.

Originally published as Scott Morrison visits flood disaster zones, deflects criticism of government response