WHILE some parts of the Port Stephens and Myall Coast regions fared reasonably well during the recent flood crisis, others weren’t so lucky, and now 37 former emergency service chiefs have spoken out on the Federal Government’s management of the crisis.

Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) launched their statement in Brisbane last Monday, citing evidence that the Government was warned ahead of the 2022 floods and did little in response.

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Greg Mullins was a Former Commissioner of Fire & Rescue NSW, one of Australia’s longest-ever serving fire chiefs, and is now leader of Emergency Leaders for Climate Action.

“The Federal Government’s fumbling of this flood disaster is Black Summer all over again,” he said.

“Last October, charity leaders met with the Federal Government and were warned of massive flooding this summer.

“The Government knew what was coming and it did not adequately prepare our communities or first responders.

“Time and again this Government fails to listen to expert advice.

“There are 80 recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements gathering dust.

“The Government has failed to implement them.

“Our elected leaders in Canberra are failing communities right around the country impacted by this disaster, and the thousands of emergency service volunteers and professionals who willingly place their own lives in danger by responding to increasingly frequent and dangerous climate-fuelled disasters.

“Those of us who do hold hoses know just how dangerous climate change has become.

“Australia is under-prepared, and Canberra has no answers to how it will rapidly slash emissions this decade.”

Former Deputy Director General of the NSW State Emergency Service, ELCA member and flood expert Chas Keys said, “This disaster’s shown us that we can’t continue with business as usual.

“Bandying about terms like ‘one-in-500 year’ flood is meaningless to people who are experiencing such disasters repeatedly.

“Above all else, we need the Federal Government to take climate change seriously by cutting back drastically on the mining and burning of fossil fuels.

“We also need to reset the way we manage disasters, with spending between mitigation versus relief and recovery completely out of kilter.

“There is no more manageable hazard in Australia than flooding: we know where it will occur, we’re usually warned ahead of it and we can predict what its effects will be.

“We’re just not managing this risk well, and it hurts us over and over again to a greater extent than it should.”

Liberal candidate for Paterson Brooke Vitnell told News Of The Area,“I don’t believe in politicising natural disasters.

“Our focus should be, and is, on assisting those who have been devastated by the recent flood events and providing the assistance they need to rebuild.

“As part of the on-going flood response, a National Emergency Declaration was signed into effect by the Governor-General.

“The National Emergency Declaration ensures all federal government emergency powers are available, such as financial support and resources from all Commonwealth Departments and Agencies.

“The declaration will allow the Australian Government to further improve relief and recovery efforts in impacted communities, particularly by reducing red tape and allowing for the streamlining of normal processes.

“An additional $551.7 million will be provided to support flood affected communities across New South Wales as part of the next round of Commonwealth and New South Wales Government funding.

“This brings the total amount of joint recovery funding in NSW to almost $1 billion ($986.4 million).

“This additional funding will provide support to small businesses, primary producers, councils, households, and families hard hit by the devastating floods and includes a $285.2 million temporary housing package and grants for primary producers and small business.”

By Marian SAMPSON