Resilience agency’s chief in hot water

AUSTRALIA’S disaster relief boss is under scrutiny after saying people who choose to live in flood-prone areas shouldn’t blame the government if they lose their homes.

Shane Stone, the head of the National Resilience and Recovery Agency, told Nine Entertainment that flood plain development should end and inundated homes not be rebuilt.

“You’ve got people who want to live among the gum trees – what do you think is going to happen? Their house falls in the river and they say it’s the government’s fault,” he said.

“Australians need to have an honest conversation about where and how people build homes. The taxpayer and the ratepayer cannot continue to pick up the bill.”

Mr Stone (pictured), a former Northern Territory leader and Liberal Party president who was appointed by Scott Morrison to lead the NRRA, said councils must end their “poor planning decisions”.

His interview comes in the wake of a flooding disaster in NSW and southeast Queensland. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has said the damage bill could run into the billions of dollars.

The crisis has reignited debate over development in flood prone areas, with Mr Stone acknowledging his comments were “fighting words”.

Labor’s Murray Watt entered the fray on Friday, saying Mr Stone should be sacked.

“Families are piling up their destroyed belongings on streets. They need our support right now. They don’t deserve to be kicked by the man who is supposed to be helping them right now,” he said.

Earlier, Senator Watt tweeted: “Morrison’s handpicked disaster tsar Shane Stone blames flood victims, when he’s been sitting on a $4.8bn disaster fund that could have been used for flood mitigation.”

Mr Stone has been contacted for comment.