Having acknowledged he raised the bar of what support the public expects from the Federal Government in Opposition, now Minister Watt is failing to meet his own expectations.
Shadow Emergency Management Minister, Perin Davey, said concerns are mounting about flood stricken communities in north western Australia being isolated and forgotten even after the flood waters have passed.
“We are hearing reports of plummeting morale and lack of on ground communication leading to food being hoarded and bored frustrated people lacking crisis housing becoming increasingly angry and in some cases lashing out violently,” Senator Davey said.
“The Minister needs to start delivering on the statements he made in Opposition to ensure these communities are taken care of.
“I acknowledge communities like Fitzroy Crossing and Derby have unique challenges but that is all the more reason for the Government to ensure there is support on the ground and supplies getting through.
“Resources need to be allocated now for more long-term temporary crisis accommodation because at the moment flooded communities are being relocated to Derby exacerbating problems.”
Senator Davey said locals feel like they have been ‘forgotten’ and believe Government has ‘…left us on our own to figure it out for ourselves’.
She observed Minister Watt publicly acknowledged he “… played a role in lifting that bar as to what the public expects and now, of course, it’s my responsibility to meet that expectation.”
“While he says he has to deliver on expectations he created he jetted off to Europe and the UK instead.“
“Having made a name for himself smashing the former Government’s emergency management processes, he is entirely reliant on them now as he tweets from Europe while the communities around Derby are left to mop up the worst floods they’ve experienced.”
[ENDS]