Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, has praised the efforts of local services and councils in their response to Cyclone Ita over the weekend, with local volunteers and service providers responding quickly to call outs.

“I would commend the swift responses from our State Emergency Services volunteers in the affected towns along the coast. They are so well organised now that the teams are quick to respond – however, more needs to be done in responding to the sugar cane destruction after cyclones hit the area.

"There has been damage recorded to the sugar cane crops and banana plantations in the region from Gordonvale to Ingham and the Government needs to respond to this to help get the industry back on track. The sugar content in the cane will be down as will the tonnage of the sugar yield.

"I have been in contact with the Prime Minister and the Treasurer’s office – I would be surprised if the losses don’t go over a couple of hundred million dollars in agriculture as well as to infrastructure in the region. It is vital that we get federal funding for the area to recover the losses.

“Once the waters recede we will have a better idea of the losses farmers have copped from Cyclone Ita. We are continuing to measure the destruction from the cyclone and a final percentage loss cannot be recorded until all of the farmers have been consulted,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter has been busy communicating with residents on the ground and the councils to get a feel for the damage caused by the cyclone and is preparing to visit the affected areas in the electorate of Kennedy.

“This is a good opportunity to again highlight the need for the Australia Fund to react quickly in times of crisis. I called for this legislation in Parliament in February, but there has not been a resolution from the Government yet on this.

“Cyclone Ita again highlights the importance of an ‘Australia Fund’ that can give money to the battlers out there when they need it the most,” Mr Katter commented.