More like a cyclone, Dutton says of floods

Colin Brinsden | March 6, 2022

Defence Minister Peter Dutton has compared the flooding devastation on the east coast of Australia to a cyclone and promised more ADF personnel on the ground to support the response.

Already flooded parts of NSW face the prospect of further heavy rain that could cause more flooding as the clean up continues around the state.

Some areas could receive up to 120mm of rain in six hours and dangerous flash flooding could follow.

The Queensland government also launched a flood appeal, donating $2.1 million to get the ball rolling.

Previous estimates have put the total Queensland damage bill at more than $1 billion including insurance claims and major infrastructure repair, and work is under way to establish the full financial impact.

“For an event that lasted just three days, it’s going to have a big impact on our economy and on our budget,” Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said on Sunday

Mr Dutton told ABC’s Insiders program about the destruction experienced in northern NSW and the surrounding remote towns.

“It’s much more akin to a cyclone that has gone through there. There is absolutely devastation,” he said.

While NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet concedes there should have better coordination on the ground, Mr Dutton said he was satisfied with the Defence response.

“The bravery exercised by these people, the work that they are doing on the ground is quite phenomenal,” Mr Dutton said.

He said the number of ADF personnel will surge to 5000 over the next few days and more will be supplied if needed. 

“There has never been a question of the numbers of people, what we need on the ground,” he said.

Labor’s Defence spokesman Brendan O’Connor said there has been an enormous effort by emergency workers, professionals, volunteers, the ADF, private citizens who put their lives on the line to rescue others.

“I think people have really been quite remarkable,” he told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program.

“But I do believe we should have had more mitigation investment in place before these terrible events.”

He said a $4.8 billion emergency response fund was established three years ago, but not a cent had been spent yet on the construction of culverts, drainage systems, evacuation centres or anything like that.

The death toll from the devastating floods across parts of Queensland and NSW stands at 17 after the discovery of a woman’s body on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Insurance claims had hit about $1.25 billion by the end of Friday, with the lion’s share – $1 billion – being submitted from Queensland, according to industry body, the Insurance Council of Australia.