Media Release

KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has called on the Queensland Government to match the Commonwealth’s commitment to restoring and rebuilding of Torres Strait sea walls after severe flooding.

“It is critical that we maintain occupation of the Torres Strait, and if the people are going to live there, they have to be helped,” he said today after supporting an amended motion by the Federal Government that called on the Commonwealth to investigate remediation works required to bring the affected sea walls to a standard high enough to prevent tidal flooding; the maintenance of sea walls to a safe standard; and funding options.

Mr Katter noted that there had been agreements for more than a decade between the Commonwealth and Qld governments involving the Major Infrastructure Program (MIP), which reinforced the proposition of ongoing precedent for matched State-Federal funding of local infrastructure in Torres Strait.

“I can tell you as an ex-State Minister that these projects are done jointly,” he said.

“Even though there was great hostility between the Bjelke-Petersen Qld State Government and Hawke Federal Government, on critical issues we worked together. We both shouldered our responsibilities.

“In this instance, the Federal Government has committed $12 million to restore and rebuild these sea walls, which represents one half of the overall cost of the project.

“This Qld Government should now honour their commitment and provide their half of the money so that we can get on with getting the job done.”

Mr Katter thanked the Federal Member for Leichhardt for raising this issue in the Parliament – “but we do not appreciate him turning it into a political football, and we would urge him to rather use his energies to convince his own party’s State Government to meet their responsibilities.

“To continue to abuse the Federal Government, which has committed $12 million, but not question the State Government, would make us question his sincerity.”

THE MOTION

Debate resumed by Mr Neumann who moved, by leave, as an amendment, that this House:

(1) notes the motion agreed to on 18 August 2011 in relation to the severe flooding of Torres Strait Islands;

(2) acknowledges the commitment the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government made on behalf of the Government to address the problem;

(3) calls on the:

(a) Minister to publicly comply with the resolution that this House passed on 18 August 2011; and

(b) Government to investigate:

(i) any remediation works required to bring the affected sea walls to a standard high enough to prevent tidal flooding;

(ii) the maintenance of sea walls to a safe standard; and

(iii) how these works might be funded;

(4) acknowledges the announcement made by the Minister on 4 June 2012 that the Commonwealth has committed up to $12 million to restore and rebuild sea walls of the Torres Strait Islands, representing one half of the overall cost of the project;

(5) notes that the Torres Strait Regional Authority and Torres Strait Island Regional Council welcomed the Commonwealth contribution and called on the Queensland Government ...to recognise the serious nature of this issue for our communities and at least match the Commonwealth contribution ; and

(6) calls on the Queensland Government to match the Commonwealth s commitment to restoring and rebuilding the sea walls of the Torres Strait Islands, 11:46:38 AM.

Question: That the amendment be agreed to put.

[Division No. 388], 11:47:25 AM to 11:55:22 AM, Ayes 71, Noes 66.

Question That the motion, as amended, be agreed to put, 11:55:36 AM.

[Division No. 389], 11:55:44 AM to 11:59:14 AM, Ayes 71, Noes 66