MARKUS CONCERNED WITH GILLARD GOVERNMENT'S $155 MILLION FLOOD MITIGATION CUTBACKS
07-February-2011
Louise Markus MP, Federal Member for Macquarie, said the decision by the Gillard Labor Government to defer $155 million of projects relating to flood mitigation in North Queensland had ominous implications for the residents of the Hawkesbury region.
“The deferral of the North Queensland projects has me genuinely concerned that the Labor Government will turn its back on other much needed flood mitigation funding, which is not good news for the residents of the Hawkesbury,” Louise Markus said.
The highest recorded flood in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River occurred in 1867 when a height of 19.2 metres was reached at Windsor, with other major floods occurring in 1978 and as recent as 1990.
Modelling on the social and economic impact to the Hawkesbury region in the event of future flooding suggests that the total damage bill could be as high as $9.5 billion, with up to 17000 homes and 3500 businesses affected.
“Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania have just experienced some of the worst flooding on record, yet rather than plan for the future by funding much needed flood mitigation programs the Gillard led Labor-Greens alliance Government has preferred to slug Australians with its’ proposed new flood tax,” Louise Markus said.
“The Coalition has offered to sit down with Julia Gillard to find the savings needed from the budget which would pay the full costs of the flood reconstruction and recovery. It would be far more sensible to cut some fat from the Government’s bloated spending programs than impose yet another tax on Australians,” Louise Markus said.
“Our hearts go out to those families who have been impacted by the recent floods. The message to be taken from this disaster is to plan for the future and cutting funding to flood mitigation programs should not be part of that plan,” Louise Markus said.