Mr BARRETT - 2015-02-26
Can you please update the Assembly on the effort put in by Northern Territory Emergency Service personnel, police, government workers and NGOs over recent days in response to Cyclone Lam?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for a serious question. He is very impressed with the way authorities have responded to the emergency of ex-Tropical Cyclone Lam and the response to date. We had the opportunity of jointly going to Galiwinku on Sunday. I am very happy to respond to him and provide the House with an update on how things are going.
At lunchtime I had the opportunity to quickly stick my head into the Emergency Operations Centre at the Peter McAulay Centre police headquarters, where a computer program known as WebEOC operates and has the ability to respond. The 25-person Emergency Operations Centre had 25 staff operating on a 24/7 basis during the initial response by police. It is now running on 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, led by the Department of the Chief Minister in the recovery phase post-emergency.
We have spoken a lot about the contributions of police, the NT Emergency Service and Power and Water staff who are on the front line of this response, but there is a range of unsung heroes. There were more than 1000 people involved in the initial response. A few of the people who have been helping with the response are:
a crew of almost 60 people, who undertook early assessments of each community
the logistics people in the Department of Transport, who helped people get from of Goulburn Island and Warruwi into the Foskey Pavilion
staff of the Department of Children and Families, who supported Goulburn Island residents in the Foskey Pavilion. These staff are now on the ground conducting disaster relief assessments on behalf of the federal government
the Department of Sport and Recreation staff, who organised activities for Warruwi evacuees in Darwin
principals, teachers and support staff, who organised school shelter arrangements and rode out the cyclone in the communities across the Top End, most notably the Principal of Shepherdson College, who provided much-needed guidance throughout the occupation of the cyclone shelter in Galiwinku
the Department of Health and local clinical staff
the Department of Housing inspectors, who have been working very hard on the checks
the Local government and Community Services staff
There is a range of other organisations, including non-government organisations and Aboriginal organisations, such as Miwatj, ALPA and Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre, which the member for Nhulunbuy has spent a lot of time with.
I acknowledge the impressive work all of these workers – volunteers or otherwise – have provided, and their positive attitudes. It will take a long time to rebuild these four communities and I look forward to working with all of those stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome for all Territorians.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for a serious question. He is very impressed with the way authorities have responded to the emergency of ex-Tropical Cyclone Lam and the response to date. We had the opportunity of jointly going to Galiwinku on Sunday. I am very happy to respond to him and provide the House with an update on how things are going.
At lunchtime I had the opportunity to quickly stick my head into the Emergency Operations Centre at the Peter McAulay Centre police headquarters, where a computer program known as WebEOC operates and has the ability to respond. The 25-person Emergency Operations Centre had 25 staff operating on a 24/7 basis during the initial response by police. It is now running on 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, led by the Department of the Chief Minister in the recovery phase post-emergency.
We have spoken a lot about the contributions of police, the NT Emergency Service and Power and Water staff who are on the front line of this response, but there is a range of unsung heroes. There were more than 1000 people involved in the initial response. A few of the people who have been helping with the response are:
a crew of almost 60 people, who undertook early assessments of each community
the logistics people in the Department of Transport, who helped people get from of Goulburn Island and Warruwi into the Foskey Pavilion
staff of the Department of Children and Families, who supported Goulburn Island residents in the Foskey Pavilion. These staff are now on the ground conducting disaster relief assessments on behalf of the federal government
the Department of Sport and Recreation staff, who organised activities for Warruwi evacuees in Darwin
principals, teachers and support staff, who organised school shelter arrangements and rode out the cyclone in the communities across the Top End, most notably the Principal of Shepherdson College, who provided much-needed guidance throughout the occupation of the cyclone shelter in Galiwinku
the Department of Health and local clinical staff
the Department of Housing inspectors, who have been working very hard on the checks
the Local government and Community Services staff
There is a range of other organisations, including non-government organisations and Aboriginal organisations, such as Miwatj, ALPA and Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre, which the member for Nhulunbuy has spent a lot of time with.
I acknowledge the impressive work all of these workers – volunteers or otherwise – have provided, and their positive attitudes. It will take a long time to rebuild these four communities and I look forward to working with all of those stakeholders to achieve a positive outcome for all Territorians.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016