February 28, 2013
The announcement by Prime Minister Julia Gillard to offer Sydney up to $50 million per year for flood mitigation is an insult to every flood-affected community in the Wide Bay Burnett region, Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today.
“I am disgusted that Prime Minister has come to Queensland and made this announcement, without any reference to the Wide Bay area, which is still under flood waters.
“Ms Gillard did not visit the flooded areas of Gympie, Maryborough and the South Burnett, and it seems that we are being ignored again.
“So many homes, businesses and properties in Wide Bay have been flooded so many times over in the past five years, so Ms Gillard should extend a similar offer to mitigate the flood-prone areas of Wide Bay.
“There is a clear and urgent need for mitigation works to be undertaken in Wide Bay. In Maryborough, Gympie, the South Burnett and parts of the Sunshine Coast, the evidence is right here, right now, on the ground for all to see.
“The latest rain and flooding has damaged homes, caused losses to businesses and primary producers, ruined infrastructure, cut off roads and left people stranded, yet the Gillard Labor Government’s focus is on Sydney, at a time when people in Wide Bay need help.
“The Federal Government should be taking urgent action in Wide Bay to stop the Bruce Highway from being flooded, as well as develop a plan with State and Local authorities to prevent local homes, businesses and farms from being inundated.
“It is unbelievable that Julia Gillard and her Workplace and Insurance Minister, Bill Shorten could overlook what has happened within local Wide Bay communities three, four and five times over since Federal Labor came to power, yet offer Sydney the relief that is needed here.
“Ms Gillard’s announcement to allocate some funding for flood mitigation will disappoint many people in Wide Bay who have suffered from flooding time and time again.”
Prime Minister Gillard visited Ipswich today where she announced the Federal Government would provide a $40 million “betterment fund” for local councils, as well as $45 million for counselling and other flood recovery services and $100 million over two years for projects such as levees.
She also invited the State Government to make a similar contribution, and said more money could be made available for other betterment projects.
Unusually, the $40 million Queensland betterment fund will not be under the control of the Queensland Government.
Instead, local councils will be able to apply directly to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority for money from the fund for betterment projects rather than go through the usual application process.
Queensland Local Government Minister David Crisafulli blasted the announcement as “an absurd move” after the State Government had called for both the State and Commonwealth to contribute $100 million each to betterment.
Premier Campbell Newman also expressed his disappointment, saying that while the money committed towards flood mitigation was “welcome” it fell well short of the amount requested.
“My government has been arguing for $140 million from the Commonwealth for roads and flood mitigation schemes,” the Premier said.
However the Federal Minister Assisting on Queensland Floods Recovery, Senator Joe Ludwig, defended the Commonwealth’s contribution.
“What the State Government won’t tell you is that they had insisted on making the fund available for both state assets and local council assets,” Senator Ludwig said.
“This fund is targeted at local councils who need it the most.
“It is not about pumping millions to a State Government to do their own job.”
Earlier, the Prime Minister announced the Federal Government would provide $50 million to raise the Warragamba Dam in Western Sydney by 23m as part of flood mitigation works in that State.
