CHRIS ROYLANCE, DEPUTY MAYOR OF SHIRE COUNCIL: Welcome, everybody. My name is Chris Roylance, Deputy Mayor for Shire Council. And it's with great pleasure to welcome to the PM along to our little flood event we're having today.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK, MEMBER FOR RIVERINA: Thank you, Chris. And apologies from the Mayor, Phyllis Miller, who can't be here, but certainly her thoughts with everybody. And it's good in one sense to welcome the Prime Minister and Premier to a very saturated Wiradjuri Country. This is the second Prime Minister who's been here in 11 months. So, I welcome Anthony Albanese to Forbes. certainly welcome Dom Perrottet back to Forbes. We've also got both the Federal and State Emergency Services Ministers, Senator Murray Watt, from Queensland who's also the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. And Steph Cook, who's the local member for Cootamundra, but also the Minister for Resilience and Flood Recovery in the New South Wales Parliament as well as her Emergency Services portfolio. And good to have here the State Member for Orange who looks after Forbes as well Phil Donato.
This is a worrying situation, of course, for Forbes with more weather expected to come on Wednesday through to Sunday. I want to thank firstly, the mighty SES and other volunteer workers and other full time, people who police, Rural Fire Service. All of those people who are once again been monitoring, who have once again been overseeing this situation, helping sandbagging, doing what they can to protect Forbes. Forbes, which has now had five floods in 12 years, 2010, 2012, 2016, last November and again now. So, this is a worrying situation. I reiterate again, that Wyangala Dam, let's raise the wall by 10 meters to 95 meters together another 650 gigalitres of capacity, Sydney Harbours worth of water, which I know Murray Watt wants for agriculture. I know these people need to flood mitigate. The Lachlan has overflowed its banks, as I say, five times in the last 12 years used to be once every seven years since 1887. They endure a lot of floods, but they tied the weary we thank again, our wonderful volunteers. And we thank the Prime Minister and the Premier for coming with the Ministers. We know that they stand ready in a very bipartisan way to do what they can to help the people not just here in Forbes, but Shepparton, which is a very worrying situation. I've been on the phone to Sam Berrill, my colleague, but right across the eastern seaboard and eastern states, it's a very worrying situation, I'm so glad that the Prime Minister and the Premier are very much on the one page when it comes to making sure that we'll have flood recovery, will have those rate upgrades. It's going to be needed. And without further ado, I call on the Prime Minister and I thank him again for doing what he's doing by coming here to Forbes today. Prime Minster.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Michael. And thanks for your service as a local member for this community. You're very passionate about it. And we spoke on Saturday. And hence I was very keen to come here to see firsthand the damage and the impact that floods are having on Forbes and on the surrounding community here in western New South Wales, but also to say thank you. Thank you to our emergency services personnel. Thank you to our volunteers through the SES, thank you for all of those Australians, who are showing once again, that at the most difficult of times, Australians show their true sense of character. Helping each other out, standing with each other in support of their communities. And this community, of course, has been heavily impacted by this event, not just in terms of people having flooding of their houses, but also the ongoing impact that it will have. It will have an impact on infrastructure, including local roads. It will have an impact as well on the farming community. This is a great agricultural region. And one of the tragedies confirmed yesterday when I was in Victoria, is that we're expecting bumper crops and any of those, of course have been devastated and ruined by the flooding event that we're seeing.
I do want to say that we are living in very dangerous times in the days and weeks ahead. What we have is a potential of further rain events here in western New South Wales. Further rain events in Victoria, and in Tasmania, all of them combining and having an impact, because you essentially have a single drop of rain has nowhere else to go except stay on the surface because of the flooding that has occurred over a period of time. And that's why my Government stands ready to provide whatever support is requested in cooperation with state and local government and in cooperation with local communities as well to build resilience and to build support. I do want to also, though, to give people a reminder to follow the advice that comes from the experts. Too many people not accepting the advice when they're told to evacuate. They're saying, ‘No, we'll be right’. And what that results in is having to be rescued with much greater resources and much greater risk not just for themselves, but for the emergency service personnel who are providing that support on the ground. Yesterday when I was in the chopper over Rochester, with the Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, we watched with just incredulity, two cars going through what was clearly a flooded road up to the window level. That makes no sense. Do not take a risk. If it's flooded. Forget it. As simple as that. And please, for your own sake, for the sake of your family and friends. It's just not worth the risk. Because you don't know it might look okay. It might look as the waters are only a meter deep. But you don't know if the road has just disappeared under where you can't see. And those risks simply aren’t worth it.
We now have 31 LGA’s in New South Wales that have been disasters have declared that disaster recovery allowance is that is flowing through to eligible people and will continue to make that available. There are 12 areas in New South Wales that are under flood warnings as we speak. In Victoria, towns, including Shepparton and a Echuca are under real pressure. People have been magnificent sandbagging, as we heard here today. The efforts of people here in Forbes has made an enormous difference. But there is further rain expected later this week. So, it remains a very dangerous situation. We've been in discussions with Victoria overnight about the clean-up and about further assistance that will be made available. Here very early on immediately, we made helicopters available for New South Wales for assistance. In the end they weren't as required as much as was expected but will continue to provide that support to be on standby. There are over 100 Australian Defence Force personnel on the ground in Victoria, providing support with evacuations, with sandbagging, with some of the early stages of the clean-up. We've made available the Mickleham facility with up to 250 beds, but for those people who have been left without homes to return to because of the flooding that has occurred, and we're prepared, that that facility potentially could be expanded further in the future. For Victoria overnight today, we've made available some heavy helicopters that's not about moving people, it's about moving heavy infrastructure equipment around through the Australian Defence Force as well. And I thank our ADF personnel for once again, showing their commitment to their fellow Australians at this difficult time the world work that will continue to take place as work that is certainly beyond politics, it’s about Australia's pitching in and will continue to pitch in. I hope to visit Tasmania as well, this week as well as the visits I've had in Victoria and New South Wales to see firsthand exactly what's needed, to talk to people on the ground, to thank them. And I'll ask now, Phil Donato, the Local member for Orange who represents this area of Forbes to introduce New South Wales Premier, Dominic Perrottet.
PHIL DONATO, NSW STATE MEMBER FOR ORANGE: Thanks very much, Prime Minister. And just briefly touching on what was said by previous speakers. Look, Forbes community is not immune to floods. They've had, as we've heard the Former Deputy Prime Minister and the local Federal Member, Michael McCormack, say, five floods since 2010. This community is not immune to floods. They're well known and very familiar with them. But each flood is different. And it's really important that we heed the advice as the Prime Minister said, of the volunteers, of the SES, the RFS or the New South Wales Police, and adhere to the rules not to drive through flooded waters. That's really, really important. But I just like to give a quick shout out to the amazing work that the local volunteers here at the SES have done. Rob and his team a remarkable effort preparing for flood events, sandbagging, he put a call out to the community on Saturday, to get more sandbags, filled, prepared, and out into the community. And the community. You know, the feedback from the community that the response from the community was absolutely outstanding. I'd like to congratulate everyone in the Forbes community. I'd like to also congratulate all the other emergency services, the RFS, the fire brigade, the New South Wales Police Force, as well, because they have also performed remarkably well. It is challenging times. We really need, as Michael McCormack said, we really need to put an emphasis on raising that Wyangala Dam wall. That's really, really important. And only last week, I asked a question at the Deputy Premier in relation to where it's up to. And he said it's out of the business case. So, that is something that's really important for our local community here. For Forbes, but also the surrounding districts, we've had farmers who've had crops written off over the last several years, with essentially their income for those years have been written off because of the impacts of floods, they know they live in a flood prone area, but five in the last 12 or 13 years is too many. We've also heard the impact it's having on local communities and local families and evacuations of local people here today as well. And the effects on the new highway as well, which is the spine of New South Wales, we don't want to see that highway closed again, like it was back in 2016. Because of floodwaters, which meant that basically the towns like Forbes was completely locked off from that new highway, they had a serious impact on local businesses here brought them to the brink many, because they weren't having that traffic through flow through the town. But without further ado, I'd like to introduce, it’s great to have the Prime Minister and the Premier here today, a momentous occasion here very often that we'd have senior levels of State and Federal Government here today. And that just shows you the bipartisan support across the electoral spectrum of how much this is. Because this is beyond politics. This is about caring for local communities. And I know that Premier, Mr Perrottet, and, and also the Prime Minister, but we all standing here behind me all care very much for our local communities and want to keep our communities safe. So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce the Premier of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet.
DOMINIC PERROTTET, PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES: Thanks, Phil. And can I thank you for the continuing support you provide your local electorate as you've done since you've been elected for what's been a very difficult time. It's great to be back in Forbes, with the Prime Minister, Michael McCormack , the Services Ministers at both the Federal and State level. It's a community that's gone through some challenges, as we know, five floods, 12 years, but the people of Forbes remain incredibly strong, a very resilient community. And like other speakers today, I want to thank particularly our emergency services, volunteers and personnel. Whether it's been through droughts, bush fires and floods, they just keep going and going and going day in, day out, keeping our community safe. And it's a team effort, whether at a federal level, state level or council level. All our emergency services personnel. Surf lifesavers, coming out to regional New South Wales. The great support that our people provide, when we have the worst of times, really does bring out the best in the Australian people. And that's what makes our country unique. That sets us apart from anywhere else in the world is that spirit of service, that sense of volunteering. So, we do know that over the coming week, particularly heading into summer as well, we expect more challenging weather. So, we need to keep vigilant. We need to follow the instructions. As the Prime Minister has said, if it's flooded, forget it. You wouldn't drive through into a bushfire, don't drive through floodwaters. And we see time and time again people not following those in instructions and it's incredibly important you do. Not just to keep you and your family safe. But more importantly, as well, we have so many volunteers who are putting their life on the line to keep you safe. Those instructions aren't there for the sake of it. When those evacuation orders are made, please follow those instructions. That is the support that we can provide our emergency service volunteers and personnel across our state. As the Prime Minister said, funding is available, those disaster relief payments are there, they remain in place for those communities that need them. We've stood side by side with communities right across our state during difficult times. And we'll continue to do that. We do expect more challenging weather, more difficult forecasts on the way. And that's why even when there’s sun in the sky, it doesn't mean that those floods do not remain a significant challenge for people. But please follow the instructions of our emergency services personnel if it's flooded, forget it. And that will ensure that you and your family remain safe during this typical time, thanks.
JOURNALIST: Mr Albanese, Xanthi Gregory with the ABC here. The previous Federal Government promised to jointly fund them expansion of the Wyangala Dam, which we heard from Mr McCormack and Mr Donato both support. Is that something that has been included in this Budget?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, you'll have to wait and see all of the commitments that will be in the Budget. But could I make this point that every commitment that we made will be included in the Budget.
JOUNALIST: Do you support it at all?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll look at business cases for projects as what we do. We look at the business cases, we look at the need which is there. We have another Budget in May. And what we do is, once business cases are completed, and they've been through proper processes, that's when we make commitments and funding in the Budget. If there are funding already in the Budget for major infrastructure projects, including for New South Wales, those funding agreements are being honoured for projects that are underway that have been included.
JOUANLIST: So, we're still waiting for the business case for that. So, can we conclude that because that's not done, there might not be money in the Budget for it?
PRIME MINISTER: We can conclude that the Federal Government should fund projects once there are business cases done, just as local people in their budget, when they work out, do they want to make an expenditure, they go and look at what the cost is, what the price is. Whether it be a new TV, or whether it be something in the local budget that they make. That's the way that good governments put together budgets. My Government is a good government. It doesn't make commitments without having those, those figures before. And we'll do that. We're happy to deliver on any infrastructure project that stacks up. I was Infrastructure Minister for a long period of time. We delivered increased money, including for the new highway and a range of other projects around New South Wales. And a Government that I lead will always be a Government that delivers on infrastructure.
JOURNALIST: We know those disaster assistance payments, will any support be offered to farmers who've lost crops during these floods?
MURRAY WATT, MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Thanks again. Murray Watt, Agriculture Minister And Emergency Management Minister. We're certainly having a good look at that right now. I'm certainly conscious from the travel that I've undertaken over the last few days, whether it be to Dubbo, Gunnedah, Seymour, and Bendigo yesterday, and now here in Forbes. That many of our prime agricultural regions of this country have been very badly impacted by these repeated floods. And indeed, there could well be more coming, whether it be this week or next week or next month. In fact, this morning, I spoke to the president of the Grain Growers Association nationally, and his own farm in Victoria is being affected by these flooding events down there. We are in discussions with the state governments and with our own authorities about what extra support could be provided to farmers. Even under the support that's already been triggered between the New South Wales and Federal governments. There are low interest loans available for primary producers, small businesses, and there's a range of other support as well. But should further support be required down the track, then of course we consider that.
JOURNALIST: Do we have an idea or an estimate of how much this will hit Australia's agricultural productivity?
WATT: Look, no one has been able to come up with the precise dollar figure but I actually spoke to the Agriculture Department in Canberra this morning about this and they are in the process of getting some figures prepared by ABEARS, the economic forecasting agency we have within the Agriculture Department. But I think we can expect that it's going to be a very large dollar impact. And of course, you know, what we've seen in past floods, even just this year in Australia is that that then flows through to the supply of crops and other agriculture. And it flows through the checkout. So, it's likely that these floods are going to have a cost of living impact on people because of the impact on prices of fruit and vegetables. But we don't have precise dollar figures yet, but we're certainly working on. Thanks.
JOURNALIST: Also, just going back to the disaster assistance funding, obviously the current set of system funding is up to a maximum of 13 weeks. Is there opportunity for that to be still extended up? Obviously, cost of living, as we mentioned, is sort of going up. And obviously, farmers are facing pressures continually since last year’s losses.
PRIME MINISTER: We will continue to examine the procedures that are in place, but we don't want to either just make further commitments just on the run. There are substantial systems now put in place that are much better, must be said, than the ones that were in place more than a decade ago. So that those payments automatically kick in, they kick in a way which fair, they kick in a way which is an objective assessment which is made between state and the national government. And that ensures and has ensured, the de-politicisation of these issues. And that is something that I'll continue to support.
JOURNALIST: Just back on the infrastructures announcement as well. Why was the Federal Government indicating it will pull funding from regional areas instead of investing to improve resilience?
PRIME MINISTER: I've seen some commentary, which is ill-founded about our infrastructure investments. Let me make this point. The releases that we put out over the weekend were the new commitments that we gave during the election campaign of where additional new funding will be allocated. In terms of New South Wales in the region's $1.75 billion for the Coffs Harbour bypass. $1.6 billion for the M1 to Raymond Terrace. $752 million to the Milton-Ulladulla bypass. Other funding will be, for New South Wales $5.25 billion for Western Sydney Airport Metro. $1.6 billion for the M12. $5.3 billion for Western Sydney Airport, that will, of course, be a break up, including for our produce, to be able to get to the markets, to our north will provide major support. A Government that I lead will always deliver on infrastructure. It's something that I have chosen, when given the opportunity as Deputy Prime Minister to have whatever portfolio I wanted. And after then, it was infrastructure that I chose to have. We’ll continue to work for operatively with state and territory government and local government. I'll make this point as well. That when it comes to regional funding, I believe if you want to know where my Government will approach community infrastructure grants, it'll be by delivering through local government. We are reforming the Australian Council of Local Government. I think that the way that you ensure probity, and the way that you ensure value for money is by asking local communities through their elected local representatives what their priorities are. So, I'm not a big fan of funding one private for profit corporation, which is in competition with their neighbour next door. Whether that be a farm, or whether it be other produce as well, I think that gets you into real difficulty and probity issues is the polite term to use. What we need to do is to make sure that we deliver for local communities. We’ll do that, including the disaster recovery. Of course, a lot of that will be through local government in order to fund local roads.
JOURNALIST: (Inaudible).
PRIME MINISTER: What we've got as a full quarters program tonight, I look forward to watching it. Although I'll watch it on, iview, to put in an ad, because I'm hosting the Singaporean Prime Minister tonight. But obviously, when talking about public funds, they should always be used wisely. But I think, overwhelmingly, our doctors, can I make this point, overwhelmingly, Medicare is an incredible national asset. And overwhelmingly, our doctors all do the right thing, including our GPS. So, I wouldn't want any impression to be got that that is anything but the case. And I do want to give a shout out to those people who are GPs in particular, we don't have enough of them. The idea that we denigrate those people or tar them with this brush is in my view entirely inappropriate because overwhelmingly, GPs are out there providing fantastic service.
And on the Warragamba Dam issue. I've said very clearly, and I say it today, the Premier has not advocated for this project with me, but as he said to me, why would he. The business case is being prepared. We look at business cases, which we don't have yet. We look at environmental assessments, which haven't been done yet. That's the way that my Government will do good infrastructure projects, whether it be in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, or other places as well. Queensland have a major, major announcement as well, for example, that includes dams for energy, it'll be the biggest hydro project that the southern hemisphere has seen. Bigger than Snowy Hydro. Will the funding for that be in the Budget? No, because we haven't yet received the business case the environmental assessment and those processes. That's what good government does, and that's what we'll continue to do. Thanks.