Australian PM Interview on Seven News Brisbane
: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins me live from Canberra now. Prime Minister, thank you for your time. What’s the message for Queenslanders right now?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: That Queenslanders are tough but they’re showing how resilient they are. They’re working for each other. They’re listening to the advice which is there. Those people who are being told to take action are doing, providing, making it easier for the SES and the volunteers who are out there working as well as police and emergency services. This is a difficult period, but we will get through this together. All Australians are thinking of people there in South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales at the moment as this cyclone approaches.
HEATHWOOD: The ADF has been deployed, hundreds of troops on the ground and aircraft are on standby. Are there further plans to send more?
PRIME MINISTER: The ADF troops are on the ground as we speak. There’s been over 100 ADF personnel knocking on doors providing that advice to people when they need it. In addition, can I thank my friend, Prime Minister Luxon of New Zealand. There are 66 New Zealand personnel on their way. That just shows what is going on here. Families help each other out and New Zealanders are family, and certainly there’s quite a few with connections there, of course, in South East Queensland. But that is what we see, at the worst of times, we see the best of human character. People helping each other out, neighbours helping neighbours, friends helping friends, but importantly as well, friends helping strangers. And that’s what we’re seeing going on at the moment.
HEATHWOOD: Prime Minister. We’re yet to see the worst of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. But will there be disaster relief payments for people affected when all of this is through?
PRIME MINISTER: There certainly will be. We’ve already forwarded payments to local government areas, has been approved. That means that they can get on with confidence with rebuilding infrastructure if there’s an issue with the road or local infrastructure as well in those local government areas. In addition, I visited Services Australia this morning, their headquarters. They’re gearing up with an expectation that there’ll be substantial support, needs to be provided. I want to send this message very clearly. All three levels of government are working seamlessly together and the national government has your back at this difficult time.
HEATHWOOD: Prime Minister, you’ve said that you’ve got generators to send when the states request them. How soon will they realistically take to get to the affected areas?
PRIME MINISTER: They can be travelling very quickly. That’s why we’re using Air Force assets in order to ensure that goods and services can be got in in a timely manner. These are difficult circumstances, but we have mobilised very early. There has been more preparedness for this event than I’ve seen in my lifetime. And certainly the national headquarters there, the National Emergency Management Agency, is working around the clock with Queensland and also with New South Wales.
HEATHWOOD: Prime Minister talking to us live from Canberra. Thank you for your time.
PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much.
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/television-interview-seven-news-brisbane