Labor’s $3.4m flood fix pledge

A SHORTEN Labor Government would provide $3.4 million for flood mitigation works in Latrobe, in the state’s North-West, if it was elected at the next federal election.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten made the commitment yesterday while campaigning for the Braddon byelection.

It was his second trip in a fortnight to the electorate, which polling shows may be in doubt for Labor.

Mr Shorten said the works would protect 70 houses and 73 businesses through the installation of flood barriers, modification of the Victor St bridge, and improved drainage.

“Locals will no longer need to sandbag in extreme weather or worry about flash flooding,” he said.

Floods in 2016 did $180 million damage across the state and cost three lives including that of a 75-year-old Latrobe woman.

The Coalition’s Minister for Disaster Management Angus Taylor said Mr Shorten’s announcement was panicked.

“Latrobe Council’s report, which was partly funded by the Federal Government, was only handed to the Federal Government on Wednesday — the report won’t even be considered by Latrobe Council until tomorrow night,” he said.

The Turnbull and Hodgman Governments had together moved quickly to activate recovery assistance under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements to assist with the local clean-up and repair across Latrobe.

Braddon Labor candidate Justine Keay called on the Tasmanian Government to commit to funding the remaining $1.07 million required to complete the project.

She said the Turnbull Government had not put a dollar into flood mitigation in the region after promising to do so.