Albo visits Lismore with questions for PM about flood response

Anthony Albanese has used a trip to the flood-hit NSW town of Lismore to ask why Scott Morrison needed “days and days” to declare a national emergency.

Anthony Albanese says the red-hot anger of flood-ravaged communities extends beyond the late deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel, using a trip to the northern NSW town of Lismore to question why Scott Morrison needed “days and days” to declare a national emergency.

The Prime Minister was set to meet with Governor-General David Hurley on Friday night to officially call a national emergency – a legislative power he sought after the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20 – two weeks after a historic downpour hammered parts of NSW and Queensland.

Just days after Mr Morrison’s tightly controlled visit to Lismore, the Opposition Leader took a markedly different approach, walking the town’s streets and speaking to devastated locals, as he continued to draw attention to the Morrison government’s sluggish response to the floods.

Mr Albanese was met with a warm reception by locals who approached him for selfies and a chat, with one man named Richard Hughes shedding a tear as they discussed the passing of Labor senator Kimberley Kitching and the impact of the flooding.

Mr Albanese said he was always happy to engage with locals in the community.

“As terrible as this is, it’s terrible in other parts as well and they need support and the government has to stop this nonsense of giving ­selective support,” he said.

When asked whether Mr Morrison, who did not walk the streets of Lismore, was scared of meeting locals, Mr Albanese said it was “a matter for him”.

On Wednesday, Mr Morrison left his enforced seven-day isolation to travel to Lismore, visiting a flood-affected farm and SES base without the media, but accompanied by his official photographer.

His press conference at the Lismore City Council chambers was greeted by a furious Lismore residents, protesting the government’s lethargic response and lack of action on climate change.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese, in Murwillumbah. Picture: Liam Mendes

The Opposition Leader said the anger of communities extended beyond the deployment of ADF personnel, asking why it had taken the Prime Minister so long to declare a national emergency, given he had implemented the legislation himself.

“It is not just about the army. That is one factor that the army were brought in too slowly. The Prime Minister only declared the national emergency yesterday,” Mr Albanese told ABC News on Friday morning.

“This is days and days into this disaster. The parliament gave the Prime Minister and the government powers to do that after the experience of the bushfires.”

By way of explanation for the delay, Mr Morrison has highlighted the legislative requirement for a written request from premiers before he can declare a national emergency.

Speaking from Murwillumbah, in northern NSW, Mr Albanese drew attention to the Morrison government’s decision to extend additional $1000 disaster relief payments to the Lismore, Richmond and Clarence Valley local government areas while excluding the devastated areas of Mullumbimby and Tweed Heads.

“The extra disaster assistance that is being given in Lismore is a good thing. There is no reason whatsoever why that shouldn‘t also apply here in between, and why it should also apply in Ballina and in Byron,” he said.

“The truth is that when you go into the southern outskirts of Murwillumbah here, what you see is every single house has been impacted. All the cars left on the road that have been ruined.”

The three LGAs that received support all fell within National MP Kevin Hogan’s federal electorate of Page, but the Byron LGAs that missed out were encompassed in Labor MP Justine Elliot’s seat of Richmond.