Tony Abbott rolls up sleeves to help out flood relief effort

A former PM has rolled up his sleeves to help out New South Wales’ flood relief effort.

Former PM Tony Abbott has rolled up his sleeves to help out New South Wales’ flood relief effort.

Mr Abbott joined the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade for some hard toil on Saturday as part of the flood clean up.

The former prime minister hitched a ride aboard a brigade truck to target a hard-hit northern beaches area.

Mr Abbott helps residents clear debris from their flood damaged homes in Windsor, NSW. Photo: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Mr Abbott, Australia’s 28th prime minister, has long served in the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade, including in the role of deputy captain and has a history of helping out during disaster efforts, including the NSW fires.

“I had always said to my brigade that when I ceased being a full-time politician I’d be a full-time fireman,” Mr Abbott wrote in The Australian in January, 2020.

Mr Abbott, right, assisting emergency crews. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

It came as the current prime minister and his wife toured a flood-affected western Sydney, visiting the Claremont Meadows State Emergency Service

Scott Morrison announced an extension of a $5 million loans scheme for flood-affected businesses up to $250 million in turnover, with no payments required for two years for the 10-year loan.

Mr Abbott on the job with the Davidson firefighting crew. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

A clean-up program funded equally between the federal and NSW governments has also been unveiled to help households, businesses, farmers and local councils recover from the devastating floods.

The federal and NSW governments have also agreed to provide recovery grants to small businesses of up to $50,000 and grants to primary producers of up to $75,000 where direct damage has occurred, on a cost shared basis.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Saturday the clean-up could take weeks, if not months.

Cleaning up: former prime minister Tony Abbott. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi