Anthony Albanese sparks outrage over 'inadequate' response to NSW floods as he touches down in Taree
It's estimated at least 800 homes have been destroyed followed heavy rain across NSW, which caused major flooding and destruction last week.
Up to 50,000 people were isolated during the peak of the flooding, with more than 10,000 remain cut off. The death toll of the floods currently stands at five.
ADF personnel arrived in the worst-affected areas on Tuesday morning, and will be assisted by veteran-led Disaster Relief Australia. The group will help clear debris, reopen roads and conduct welfare checks on those in the flood zone.
Criticism of the federal response to the floods has intensified online, particularly around the number of personnel deployed to assist in the affected regions.
'There's 14 towns with a disaster warning. Why not 7,000?' one person wrote.
'The Australian Army has 28,500 regular personnel, yet only 70 will be sent to aid NSW's flood crisis,' another wrote.
'With 50,000 isolated, this is a woefully inadequate response.'
'Taree is totalled… 70 Army personnel is going to make bugger all difference,' a third commented.
The Prime Minister visited Taree on Tuesday to meet with SES and ADF personnel alongside Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain.
It came after he addressed the ongoing crisis from the National Situation Room in Canberra where he blamed climate change for the wild weather.
Albanese noted that many of the recent floods and storms, previously considered 'once in a century' events, are now occurring with alarming frequency in NSW.
'Science told us that there would be more frequent events and that they would be more intense, and that is what we are seeing playing out with a devastating impact on communities,' he said.
'Most significantly, a devastating human impact, with five lives lost during this event, but also a significant environmental impact and of course a significant economic impact as well.'
On the ground, residents in hard-hit areas like Taree are demanding more immediate and practical assistance.
Local business owner Jeremy Thornton expressed frustration with the federal government's response and called for real solutions.
'When I am hearing Anthony Albanese talk about climate change, I hope he wants to have the conversation with people that are hurting right now,' he told Sky News.
'They don't want to hear that conversation, they want to hear what their leaders are going to do.'
The federal government's disaster response, particularly its use of the ADF, has come under renewed scrutiny.
A 2023 Defence Strategic Review, commissioned by the Commonwealth, warned against relying too heavily on the military for domestic disaster relief.
'Defence should be the force of last resort for domestic aid to the civil community, except in extreme circumstances,' the report stated.
Instead, it recommended the development of national resilience and coordinated response measures in partnership with state governments to better handle the escalating risks of climate change.
While floodwaters have mainly receded, there are concerns over a 'severe' cold front moving through NSW and its impacts on local livestock and residents.
A disaster recovery allowance, to cover income for up to 13 weeks for people unable to work due to the disaster opened on Monday for residents in an initial group of four NSW council areas, Kempsey, Port Macquarie Hastings, MidCoast and Dungog.
Residents in 19 other council areas are eligible for a personal hardship payment of $180 per adult and up to $900 per family for emergency food, clothing and medicine.
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