Tweed MP: I would struggle to vote for PM

TWEED Nationals state MP Geoff Provest had admitted he would “struggle to vote for the Prime Minister” at the May poll after the federal government’s tardy response to help all northern NSW flood victims.

In an extraordinary spray at the Coalition government for not immediately providing extra funding to the flooddevastated areas of Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Kyogle, Mr Provest said: “It’s absolutely appalling our Prime Minister had excluded those four areas from national disaster funding, for reasons I do not know.

“I suggest the Prime Minister comes up here and looks into the eyes of the victims.”

Mr Provest (pictured) said there was a feeling among residents that the Prime Minister did not think they were “good enough” for the emergency funding.

“This lack of that extra funding has really hurt our community,” he said.

Mr Provest criticised Mr Morrison’s “fly in and fly out” approach to the flooding crisis, describing the reaction as “disconnected” and “incompetent”.

“I would struggle to vote for the Prime Minister,” he said.

Flood-affected residents from the Lismore, Clarence

Valley and Richmond Valley shires were granted an additional $2000 after a visit to Lismore by Mr Morrison last week.

The move was highly criticised by locals in the areas left off the funding list, as well as by Opposition leader Anthony Albanese and Labor federal member for Richmond, Justine Elliot.

On Thursday afternoon – a week after the Prime Minister’s visit – Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Kyogle Shires were given the same funding.

Liberal party member Catherine Cusack, who lives in Lennox Head, resigned over the issue.

“The idea that being a flood victim in a National Party-held seat makes you more worthy than a flood victim who is in the Richmond electorate ... is probably the most unethical approach I have ever seen,” she told the ABC.

“I can’t defend it and I’m outraged by it.

“The whole Northern Rivers should have been given funding according to their need, not according to their local government area. It’s unprecedented.”

Mr Provest said Ms Cusack would be sadly missed.

“Catherine has always been a warrior for the region,” he said. “I do understand her frustration.”

Mr Provest said he would support an inquiry into the flood response.

“Some of the things we did well but there were things we can do better to support our community,” he said.

“We need to sit down when we are over this and just look at it and work out how we can do better.”

Mr Provest said there needed to be some consideration into the numbers and the age of the people in the State Emergency Service before coming after the volunteer organisation.

He said Murwillumbah had 14 active members all over the age of 65 and in Tweed there were 30 members with an 80year-old team driver.

He said he had been impressed by areas like Burringbar and Tumbulgum which used their own resources during the flood recovery.

“Australia has been built on the back of volunteers – there could be room to enhance that,” he said.