Mr MITCHELL - 1998-10-07
I have been in Katherine a number of times this year, and even a few days after the disastrous flood, …
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr MITCHELL: Well you do not live there so don’t you worry about it. You have moved out of there - it should not concern you, member for Arnhem, John Ah Kit.
The fact is that the rapidity of the rising of the river was …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, the member for Millner is entitled to have his question asked in silence.
Mr MITCHELL: This would not worry members opposite because they have moved right out of that area altogether. However, if I can ask the question. One of the most numerous themes that came across from all the people I was talking to was how quickly the river rose. Can the minister tell me …
Mrs HICKEY: Point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Millner should get on with his question rather than engage in rambling rhetoric about the opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: I would ask all members to keep to the point and get to the question quickly on both sides of the House.
Mr MITCHELL: Madam Speaker, as I was just beginning to finish off - can the minister tell me, and this House, what measures may be in place now, or will be in place, to give early warning on any future incidents like that?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. I think that the people who are listening in Katherine at the moment will be somewhat concerned about the attitude of those members on the Labor Party side of this Chamber who show little regard for the warning mechanisms that should be put in place. They are concerned about these processes and I think will be satisfied with the processes that could be put in place.
In today’s edition of the Katherine Times, a full double-page lift-out will appear in relation to matters that people should be taking into account in preparing for the Wet season, and also in relation to the activities that they should pursue, which are similar to those in a cyclone. They are: to make sure that they have a portable radio with batteries; some emergency food; and some arrangements to look after property and pets and the like. In the event that we might face the prospect of another flood, hopefully, of course, we won’t, but, learning from the exercise of the January floods, and what we went through, it is appropriate that the information be provided.
I thank the TIO for sponsoring the lift-out in the Katherine Times today, and I hope that the people of Katherine will take the opportunity to retain that particular lift-out for future reference in the event that they need it. I also note that this coming Friday and Saturday the emergency services personnel will have a display in the Katherine Oasis shopping centre, that will be able to provide information to local residents in relation to flood matters.
On a national scale, today there will be the launching of a standard emergency warning signal. Territorians, at least those in coastal areas, will be very familiar with the signal. It is the sound that precedes cyclone warnings, and has now for many years. It was developed here in the Northern Territory by emergency services and the Bureau of Meteorology. Today that signal is being launched nationally as the signal which will precede all electronic media warnings in the event of a natural disaster, be it a fire, or a flood, or a cyclone, or other natural disasters that might occur. The reason for it being adopted nationally is that it has been shown to be highly identifiable, very efficient in drawing people’s attention to warnings that have been broadcast over the electronic media in the Northern Territory, particularly in relation to cyclones, and it will now be used across the nation to precede warnings.
The importance of that is that with the highly mobile population these days, whether people are moving to other areas in the country or even just away on holidays, that sound will become as well-known in other parts of the country as it has in the Northern Territory. It will attract attention when people hear it over the electronic media. It will be something that people will be able to recognise as a disaster warning signal wherever they are in Australia. That will have benefits to all Australians by bringing to their attention any warnings that might be required at any particular time in relation to any impending natural disaster.
I will be participating in the launch of that standard emergency warning signal at 12.30pm in Parliament House today. I am sure that Territorians will welcome that launch and that the people of Katherine will be able to relate to it, and that it will be a benefit to all Territorians and all Australians in due course. Of course I hope, Madam Speaker, that they do not have to experience it.
Mr Ah Kit interjecting.
Mr MITCHELL: Well you do not live there so don’t you worry about it. You have moved out of there - it should not concern you, member for Arnhem, John Ah Kit.
The fact is that the rapidity of the rising of the river was …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Members of the opposition, the member for Millner is entitled to have his question asked in silence.
Mr MITCHELL: This would not worry members opposite because they have moved right out of that area altogether. However, if I can ask the question. One of the most numerous themes that came across from all the people I was talking to was how quickly the river rose. Can the minister tell me …
Mrs HICKEY: Point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Millner should get on with his question rather than engage in rambling rhetoric about the opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: I would ask all members to keep to the point and get to the question quickly on both sides of the House.
Mr MITCHELL: Madam Speaker, as I was just beginning to finish off - can the minister tell me, and this House, what measures may be in place now, or will be in place, to give early warning on any future incidents like that?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. I think that the people who are listening in Katherine at the moment will be somewhat concerned about the attitude of those members on the Labor Party side of this Chamber who show little regard for the warning mechanisms that should be put in place. They are concerned about these processes and I think will be satisfied with the processes that could be put in place.
In today’s edition of the Katherine Times, a full double-page lift-out will appear in relation to matters that people should be taking into account in preparing for the Wet season, and also in relation to the activities that they should pursue, which are similar to those in a cyclone. They are: to make sure that they have a portable radio with batteries; some emergency food; and some arrangements to look after property and pets and the like. In the event that we might face the prospect of another flood, hopefully, of course, we won’t, but, learning from the exercise of the January floods, and what we went through, it is appropriate that the information be provided.
I thank the TIO for sponsoring the lift-out in the Katherine Times today, and I hope that the people of Katherine will take the opportunity to retain that particular lift-out for future reference in the event that they need it. I also note that this coming Friday and Saturday the emergency services personnel will have a display in the Katherine Oasis shopping centre, that will be able to provide information to local residents in relation to flood matters.
On a national scale, today there will be the launching of a standard emergency warning signal. Territorians, at least those in coastal areas, will be very familiar with the signal. It is the sound that precedes cyclone warnings, and has now for many years. It was developed here in the Northern Territory by emergency services and the Bureau of Meteorology. Today that signal is being launched nationally as the signal which will precede all electronic media warnings in the event of a natural disaster, be it a fire, or a flood, or a cyclone, or other natural disasters that might occur. The reason for it being adopted nationally is that it has been shown to be highly identifiable, very efficient in drawing people’s attention to warnings that have been broadcast over the electronic media in the Northern Territory, particularly in relation to cyclones, and it will now be used across the nation to precede warnings.
The importance of that is that with the highly mobile population these days, whether people are moving to other areas in the country or even just away on holidays, that sound will become as well-known in other parts of the country as it has in the Northern Territory. It will attract attention when people hear it over the electronic media. It will be something that people will be able to recognise as a disaster warning signal wherever they are in Australia. That will have benefits to all Australians by bringing to their attention any warnings that might be required at any particular time in relation to any impending natural disaster.
I will be participating in the launch of that standard emergency warning signal at 12.30pm in Parliament House today. I am sure that Territorians will welcome that launch and that the people of Katherine will be able to relate to it, and that it will be a benefit to all Territorians and all Australians in due course. Of course I hope, Madam Speaker, that they do not have to experience it.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016