Scott Morrison expected to declare national emergency after flood disaster

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is today expected to declare a national emergency after the east coast’s flooding disaster, allowing more resources to be deployed sooner.

Queensland’s flooding catastrophe will be included within Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s declaration of a national emergency, a move that would allow more resources to be deployed to affected areas sooner.

Mr Morrison is expected to make the announcement in Lismore later this afternoon.

The Prime Minister’s power to declare a national emergency was borne out of the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis.

It is the first time the powers will be used.

An aerial shot of One Mile School near Gympie at the peak of the flood in late February. Picture: Infinity Flights Photography.

Opposition disaster and emergency spokesman Murray Watt earlier on Wednesday morning said the Prime Minister should exercise those powers.

“I would have thought now is the time to do so,” he said.

“It also effectively gives the Commonwealth the power to step up if a state is overwhelmed in the wake of a disaster. And all due respect to the New South Wales Government, but they can’t do this on their own.

“I think more than anything, we just need to see Scott Morrison on the ground with some practical solutions for people because I think people are starting to think that Scott Morrison is the bloke that just goes missing when you need him.”

Flooding in Lismore in northern New South Wales on February 28. Picture: AAP Image/Jason O'Brien

An initial $558.5m disaster recovery package, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments, was announced last week.

The Royal Commission into the summer bushfire response found that while states and territories are primarily responsible for responding to and recovery from natural disasters, the disaster outlook was “alarming”.

“States and territories alone may not be able to respond effectively to, or provide immediate relief or recovery from, extreme to catastrophic disasters,” the report stated.

“To better assist states and territories in responding to and recovering from such disasters, the

Soldiers help with flood clean-up in the inner Brisbane suburb of Milton. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Australian Government should create a legislative mechanism for the making of a declaration of a state of national emergency.

“A declaration would signal to communities the severity of a disaster early, act as a marshalling call for the early provision of Australian Government assistance when requested, facilitate co-ordination with state and territory emergency management frameworks, and, in very limited circumstances, allow the Australian Government to act without a request from a state or territory.”

Originally published as Scott Morrison expected to declare national emergency after flood disaster