Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to declare the ongoing flood crisis in Queensland and New South Wales a national emergency. MORE: 9News | Nightly at 6pm
A state of national emergency would allow support and relief funds to be delivered more swiftly to flood-ravaged communities such as Lismore.
Defence personnel are on the ground in both south-east Queensland and northern NSW to help with the recovery efforts. "It's an enormous logistics challenge to be able to get that kind of support to people on the ground when they need it.READ MORE:Resilience NSW Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons also defended the response by authorities.
He said Resilience NSW's $1.4 billion budget was already at work on flood relief, including grants for small business and primary producers, but that a great deal was also being put into ongoing recovery from last year's floods.