The Federal Government has tabled its formal response to the Final Report of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry before the Parliament.

 

“The Australian Government has undertaken a detailed analysis of the Commission’s final report and its 177 recommendations and has accepted the three recommendations directed to it, either in full or in part,” Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said.

 

“Australia must learn from each disaster and build its resilience to future events, and the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry provides some important lessons.”

 

Ms Roxon said the three recommendations directed to the Commonwealth relate to working with Queensland to improve access to flood data, locating telecommunications facilities and minimizing exposure to flooding; and working with Queensland to improve the monitoring of contaminants in marine environments potentially affected by mine discharges.

 

“The Australian Government is working with States and Territories to progress a range of initiatives under the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience which draw on the work of the Inquiry,” Ms Roxon said. 


These initiatives include:

  • the establishment of the National Flood Risk Information Portal – a single access point for flood mapping data that will enhance awareness of flood risk and improve decision making in emergency management, land-use planning, and insurance;
  • the introduction of a standard definition of flood for insurance purposes, along with the provision of a key fact sheet for insurance consumers; and
  • implementation of the National Work Program for Flood Mapping, which will improve the quality of flood mapping within Australia.

 

 

A copy of the Commonwealth response to the Commission’s report can be found at www.ag.gov.au .