Inquiry will look at River Murray flood preparation, response and recovery
A committee of MPs will spend the next three months gathering evidence for a report on the state government’s handling of the 2022-23 disaster.
Locals support locals – that’s why this recent post is now free to read. Your support can help Murray Bridge News tell important local stories. Subscribe today.
The state government’s preparation for the 2022-23 River Murray floods, its response and its efforts to help with the recovery will be the focus of a parliamentary inquiry.
A committee of five MPs will travel the state over the next three months, gathering evidence and listening to people’s stories.
Opposition River Murray spokeswoman Nicola Centofanti said river communities deserved a similar inquiry to the one that had followed the 2019-20 bushfire season.
“It’s critical these communities can have confidence in the government’s response and recovery efforts,” she said.
“By establishing a parliamentary inquiry, our aim is to … thoroughly investigate key aspects of the disaster, including the roles and responsibilities at all levels of government, the grants processes and river flow management and modelling.”
Locals support locals. Your support helps Murray Bridge News tell important local stories.
The Murraylands’ MP, Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick, hoped the inquiry would inform decision-making about the future of the Lower Murray’s levees.
“Levee banks play a critical role in protecting our communities and farming properties from flood damage,” he said.
“The management of levee banks is a mixed responsibility between government and private land holders, and getting this balance right will be critical moving forward.”
Liberal opposition and crossbench MPs joined forces to vote in favour of the inquiry, first proposed in June, in Parliament last Friday.
Labor government MPs, who had already ruled out an independent inquiry, voted against it, but did not have the numbers to stop it.
Labor’s Russell Wortley said there was no need for an inquiry, and pointed to an upcoming review of the Emergency Management Act.
But Greens MP Tammy Franks and SA Best’s Frank Pangallo both said South Australians needed to be sure their government could deal with future natural disasters.
Participating in the inquiry will be Dr Centofanti, Mr Wortley and Mr Pangallo, plus the Liberals’ Jing Lee and Labor’s Reggie Martin.
They will report back to Parliament by November 29.
