NSW Labor is today calling for the immediate release of the government’s long awaited independent flood inquiry report.
 
In March 2022, Premier Dominic Perrottet announced an independent inquiry to the government’s response to NSW floods.
 
Thirteen lives were lost during the floods between February and April 2022.  More than 4,000 properties were deemed uninhabitable; almost 11,000 properties assessed as damaged; and more than 8,000 inundated with water.
 
The government promised to deliver an initial report on 30 June, but this was delayed.
 
According to the Deputy Premier Paul Toole, the report was handed to the State Government on July 31.
 
It is one of two major reports into the recent NSW floods.
 
The other report, will be from a NSW Parliament multi-party inquiry, chaired by Walt Secord, is set to be tabled on August 9.
 
Jihad Dib, NSW Shadow Minister for Emergency Services said:
 
“This report is important because we need to know what went wrong and how we move forward in the future.
 
“Communities devastated by the floods are not interested in the Government’s internal problems, they want their voices heard and a pathway forward to begin rebuilding their lives.
 
“Labor has always said that we need findings and recommendations to prepare for the next flood season.”
 
Walt Secord, NSW Shadow Minister for the North Coast said:
 
“The community has a right to know what was the result of the deliberations of the inquiry by Mr Fuller and Dr O’Kane.
 
“The government does not have a right to sit on this report until it is politically expedient for them to release it.”
 
Janelle Saffin, Member for Lismore said:
 
“Ideally, this report, which was delivered to the NSW Government at the weekend, should be publicly released in the Northern Rivers, preferably Lismore, as soon as possible so that local residents, business owners and councils have some certainty about our future.
 
“I’ve requested that the Premier do the right thing by us up here by releasing the report in our region and without delay.”

JIHAD DIB MP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES
 
WALT SECORD MLC
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE NORTH COAST
CHAIR OF COMMITTEE ON RESPONSE TO MAJOR FLOODING ACROSS NSW
 
JANELLE SAFFIN MP
MEMBER FOR LISMORE