Mr BURKE - 2006-03-29
Can you update the House on what efforts the Northern Territory government has made to assist the people of North Queensland following the devastation of Cyclone Larry?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. We have all watched, with great sympathy over the last couple of weeks as we have seen the impact of Cyclone Larry on Innisfail and the region. We understand about cyclones; the devastation and disruption to life and the economic loss. We recognise with Cyclone Larry that there were no deaths actually attributable to the cyclone, which is extraordinary luck.
As we have watched over the last week-and-a-half, we have realised that the cost of the clean-up and redevelopment after Cyclone Larry is just escalating by day. When the cyclone first happened, I rang Premier Beattie and offered our sympathy, but also what help we could be. I told him we have expertise with Power and Water workers and in dealing with the impacts of a tropical cyclone and restoring basic services. We currently have three people in Innisfail - Iain Burns, Mick Hutton and Phil Rout from Emergency Services.
However, as the size of the problem keeps on being identified, I thought we could do more. Today, I rang Peter Cosgrove who is coordinating the clean-up and redevelopment of Innisfail, and said: ‘We have some people there, do you need extra assistance?’ He said: ‘I will see whether we need particularly workers in the power area’. They have only restored something like 10% of Innisfail’s power, so there is a lot of work to do there. He said: ‘I recognise your expertise and I will get back to you this afternoon’.
While we have made a small contribution at this stage, I would like to make a greater contribution. The size of the dollars associated with just restoring Innisfail back to working order means that we all have to dig a bit deeper. Therefore, on behalf of the Northern Territory, $250 000 of taxpayers’ money will go towards Innisfail. I am saying to Territorians, dig deep as well. We know what cyclones are like. There is the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal - the number for that is 1800 150 411 - or you can go to a Commonwealth Bank and donate. Every little bit will help with what is an escalating, massive cost of restoring Innisfail to normal service levels. We will make a contribution on behalf of taxpayers, but I ask Territorians to dig deep for our tropical brothers and sisters in Innisfail.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Brennan for his question. We have all watched, with great sympathy over the last couple of weeks as we have seen the impact of Cyclone Larry on Innisfail and the region. We understand about cyclones; the devastation and disruption to life and the economic loss. We recognise with Cyclone Larry that there were no deaths actually attributable to the cyclone, which is extraordinary luck.
As we have watched over the last week-and-a-half, we have realised that the cost of the clean-up and redevelopment after Cyclone Larry is just escalating by day. When the cyclone first happened, I rang Premier Beattie and offered our sympathy, but also what help we could be. I told him we have expertise with Power and Water workers and in dealing with the impacts of a tropical cyclone and restoring basic services. We currently have three people in Innisfail - Iain Burns, Mick Hutton and Phil Rout from Emergency Services.
However, as the size of the problem keeps on being identified, I thought we could do more. Today, I rang Peter Cosgrove who is coordinating the clean-up and redevelopment of Innisfail, and said: ‘We have some people there, do you need extra assistance?’ He said: ‘I will see whether we need particularly workers in the power area’. They have only restored something like 10% of Innisfail’s power, so there is a lot of work to do there. He said: ‘I recognise your expertise and I will get back to you this afternoon’.
While we have made a small contribution at this stage, I would like to make a greater contribution. The size of the dollars associated with just restoring Innisfail back to working order means that we all have to dig a bit deeper. Therefore, on behalf of the Northern Territory, $250 000 of taxpayers’ money will go towards Innisfail. I am saying to Territorians, dig deep as well. We know what cyclones are like. There is the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal - the number for that is 1800 150 411 - or you can go to a Commonwealth Bank and donate. Every little bit will help with what is an escalating, massive cost of restoring Innisfail to normal service levels. We will make a contribution on behalf of taxpayers, but I ask Territorians to dig deep for our tropical brothers and sisters in Innisfail.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016