Queensland sends help to New South Wales flood victims

Published Wednesday, 06 July, 2022 at 04:48 PM

Premier and Minister for the Olympics
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Queensland is sending teams of frontline Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Rural Fire Service personnel to assist New South Wales residents caught up in the latest round of devastating floods.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland knew all too well the impact widespread flooding has on a community and that she’d contacted New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet earlier today to offer any assistance that Queensland could provide.

“Our heart goes out to those impacted by what's happening in New South Wales.

“I've conveyed to the New South Wales Premier that any request for assistance that Queensland can provide, we're more than happy to help out.”

Tomorrow a contingent of nearly 40 Queensland frontline personnel will travel to New South Wales.

The contingent includes 33 swift water rescue Fire and Rescue personnel who will be able to respond to emergency situations.

The Queensland contingent will remain in New South Wales until at least the weekend when conditions are expected to ease, or stay longer if required.

The contingent comprises:

  • 33 swiftwater rescue technicians (Fire and Rescue Service)
  • 6 Incident Management Team (IMT) members from the Rural Fire Service and QFES support staff

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said the state’s highly trained personnel would be an asset to the flood response effort.

“Our swiftwater rescuers are coming off the back of an extremely busy wet season, during which the state’s crews responded to multiple flooding events and hundreds of calls for help,” Mr Ryan said.

“Our IMT personnel will be filling roles as sector commanders and public information and warnings support.”

QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said Queensland had plenty of capacity to assist people in NSW.

“We’re happy to be able to answer the call from NSW as their crews have done for us many times before.”