Letter to the editor – Labor’s disappointing response to flood inquiry

The Allan Labor Government’s response to the 2022 Flood Inquiry is a slap in the face for regional Victorians who lost everything.

Thousands of families, farmers, and business owners pleaded for real change to ensure their communities are never left so vulnerable again—yet Labor has ignored them once more.

Of the 73 recommendations put forward, a mere 16 have been fully supported by the government.

Even more concerning is that only a handful of these will provide any immediate relief or protection for flood-affected communities like Seymour, Euroa, Nagambie, Murchison, and Benalla.

Some of the key recommendations that Labor failed to fully support include:

• Funding to help high-risk households become flood resilient,
• Funding for the analysis of levee breaches,
• Building ring levees after a successful pilot, and
• Establishing urgent mitigation measures

The Allan Labor Government had the opportunity to act but failed due to its inability to manage the state’s emergency response, forcing regional Victorians to pay the price and bear the brunt of its incompetence.

I recommend everybody in our region read the response the Parliament of Victoria website.