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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

PM Anthony Albanese triggers federal flood support payments

Flood affected communities will have access to disaster recovery payments after the prime minister triggered federal financial support.

In 23 local government areas in NSW impacted by floods, a $1000 disaster recovery payment will be available from Thursday for eligible adults and $400 for every child, Anthony Albanese announced.

Mr Albanese will see the devastation caused by the latest floods first-hand on Wednesday as authorities warn further parts of the state must brace for extreme weather.

The prime minister will tour areas hit hard by the flooding alongside NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.

The visit comes a day after Mr Albanese landed back in Australia following a week-long trip to Europe for the NATO summit and to war-torn Ukraine.

A further 100 Australian Defence Force members are expected to arrive in flood-hit areas on Wednesday. 

It comes on top of 100 ADF members who were already assisting with efforts, with 50 more available to help during the eventual clean-up operation.

Three ADF helicopters have also been deployed to assist specifically at night.

The Commonwealth is working with the state government to provide the assistance requested during the crisis, the prime minister said.

“People want governments to work together in the interests of the population not to engage in politics,” he told ABC News on Wednesday. 

“We want to make sure that the support is available as soon as possible, that’s why we’re being very quick to act in partnership with the NSW government and it is pleasing that we’ve been able to work together so strongly.”

The federal government has already assisted with ADF deployment and joint disaster payments with the state government to 23 local government areas.

Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the Commonwealth was considering whether further disaster recovery payments would also be extended to flood victims.

“We have already announced a wide range of support for people, but I think it’s fair to assume that there will be more coming,” he said.

It’s the fourth time in as little as 18 months that some parts of NSW have been hit with flooding.

However, the government has yet to declare the natural disaster a “national emergency”.

The prime minister said such a declaration was being considered.

“We take advice on those issues appropriately and we will continue to take advice,” Mr Albanese said on Tuesday.

Senator Watt said the declaration had not been made due to the disaster not having reached a high enough threshold.

Parts of NSW’s mid-north coast are expected to be hit with the same weather system on Wednesday that led to the flooding in Sydney.

More than 50,000 people were subject to evacuation orders across NSW due to the flooding.

By Andrew Brown and Maeve Bannister in Canberra

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