Government reversal: Morrison supports QLD floods package

Prime Minister announces backflip

Government reversal: Morrison supports QLD floods package

Insurance News

By Daniel Wood

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison has reversed his government’s decision and announced he supports splitting the cost of Queensland’s proposed multimillion-dollar flood recovery package.

Morrison told Brisbane radio 4BC this morning that there will be caveats.

“I want them [the Queensland government] to be transparent with the payments that are being made. I want them to report to the public,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that most of the Queensland government’s $741m package, which includes funding for flood-proofing homes and a property buyback program, is typically a state responsibility.

Yesterday, in a strongly worded news release, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) expressed frustration at the federal government’s initial decision not to contribute.

The ICA’s CEO Andrew Hall, called the decision “disappointing and short-sighted”.

“Australians – particularly those still impacted by the ongoing rain and flooding – want governments to come together to provide better protections against worsening extreme weather, not wash their hands of responsibility,” said Hall.

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