Prime Minister Scott Morrison pays emotional visit to Queensland farmers

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made an emotional return to Queensland to visit cattle farmers devastated by floods earlier this year.

Scott Morrison was visibly emotional and “choked back tears” as he spoke with farmers affected by horrific flooding in February, AAP reports.

In his first trip since his shock election win, Mr Morrison met with cattle farmers Jacqueline and Robert Curley in Cloncurry in Queensland earlier today.

Mr Morrison first met the Curleys shortly after their property was inundated by floodwaters back in February.

More than 2500 cattle died in the floods, while a further 1500 calves shortly afterwards due to exposure and frost.

“This is emotional coming back,” Mr Morrison told the couple, according to AAP.

“It’s quite overwhelming, to come back and just see the spirit, that’s what I love.

“The spirit and the life here, and how, despite everything that happened, the fact that we’re all working together to rebuild.”

Scott Morrison hugs farmer Jacqueline Curley during his first visit since winning the election. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP Image

Mr Morrison also recalled the horrifying smell of dead cattle during his previous visit to the property.

“That’s the thing that just completely overwhelmed me,” Mr Morrison said.

“It’s still there Scott — it’s not as prevalent as it was — but you can pick it up all the way along,” Mr Curley replied.

Mrs Curley also described the horror of seeing thousands of her dead herd, and being forced to rescue some survivors stuck in mud by helicopter.

“We just had to shoot what we couldn’t get out,” she said.

The couple, who received $75,000 special disaster recovery grant, believe it will take more than a decade to replenish their cattle.

And in a further blow, Mrs Curley said the area could be “back in drought by the end of the year”.

Mr Morrison toured the property along with his deputy, Michael McCormack, who was re-elected as Nationals leader unopposed yesterday.

The Prime Minister also met with Cloncurry residents at the local bowling club last night and paid tribute to the resilience of locals.

The PM was shown a video of flood devastation during the trip. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP Image

“What I know absolutely is that this part of Australia is going to be vibrant, successful, and prosperous for generations to come,” he said.

“This has been one of those times when I think Australians have really all pulled together and shown everyone what we can do.”

Queensland voters overwhelmingly backed the PM during last weekend’s election, with no LNP politicians losing their seats in the state.

The Coalition also managed to snatch marginal seats marginal seats of Herbert and Longman from Labor.

Yesterday, maverick MP Bob Katter said the PM would embark on a “thankyou tour” of Queensland after the state turned its back on Labor en masse, throwing its support behind the Coalition.

During his Queensland tour, Mr Morrison also urged the state government — led by Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk — to just “get on with it” and stop delaying the Adani coalmine.

The Premier has set a deadline of mid-June for two approvals needed to get the project underway.

“They have a decision to make. They’re the authority on these questions and they should make those decisions,” he said of the Palaszczuk government.

— with AAP

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