The Prime Minister has addressed why a state of emergency for the flood disaster has been declared in New South Wales however not in Queensland, claiming the Premier did not deem it crucial.
Scott Morrison spoke on the Hawkesbury Emergency Operations Centre in NSW this morning and was requested why he modified his thoughts about declaring a state of emergency in Queensland regardless of the state being devastated by floodwaters.
He claimed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk mentioned it wasn't crucial for the state to be included within the declaration, nevertheless journalists argued it was as a result of Ms Palaszczuk believed it was too late.
"When the Premier tells me she would not assume it is necessary, properly, in fact, I am gonna hearken to that," Mr Morrison mentioned.
"If she thought it was crucial per week in the past, she may have written to me, however she did not.
"The state can request, however no such request was made by the Queensland Authorities."
She had beforehand known as for the declaration per week sooner, including the Queensland floodwaters had now receded.
"I did elevate it yesterday, he mentioned it was only for the northern NSW areas," she mentioned yesterday.
"It might be good if there was equality."
She mentioned whereas each states had skilled extreme ranges of devastation, the choice was finally as much as the Prime Minister.
"Look, that is a matter for him," the Premier mentioned.
"My members on the bottom have mentioned to me, 'How can this be completely different?'"
Mr Morrison mentioned a state of emergency is useful when the scenario stays "drastic" and it means commonwealth businesses do not require a "signature on a little bit of paper" to behave.
He added the deployment of the Australian Defence Drive and emergency funds weren't linked to the state of emergency declaration and, mentioned this help was already working properly in Queensland.
"All of that is flowing. And as Premier Palaszczuk famous, that was working extremely properly in Queensland, and the cooperation was excellent," he mentioned.
It comes as Mr Morrison met with the Governor-Basic final evening to declare a state of emergency in NSW, as flood warnings stay in place for the Hawkesbury and restoration efforts have solely simply begun within the Northern Rivers.
Street damaged in half by floodwaters
The emergency declaration will permit a swifter provide of help and aid funds to flood-ravaged areas resembling Lismore in northern NSW.