In the past five years, the NSW south coast has been hammered by more than 35 natural disasters, most notably floods and fires.
Now, two years after the black summer bushfires claimed 26 lives and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses across the state, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has made a commitment to learn from past mistakes.
With more natural disasters all but certain as climate change continues to wreak havoc across the country, Labor has doubled down on its commitment to reducing the impacts.
In its latest pre-campaign election promise, a $25 million command centre will be set up in Moyura, should Labor win this year’s election.
The centre would put the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service, council, police and telecos in one place.
Locals who endured the Black Summer bushfires and subsequent floods say the centre is well overdue.
“We’ve had enough. We’ve got to keep going and find a way forward,” local shop owner Julie Walker said.
Neighbouring shopkeeper Lorena Grandaos, whose leather goods store burned down during the bushfires and is still operating out of a donga, said the community was still trying to find its feet after two years, and shouldn’t have to be put through that again.
“Two years down the track, I feel like we haven’t moved forward after we burned down,” Ms Granados said.
“Everything is a temporary solution. We have had no stability for the past two years.
“We’re all in a different stage of recovery. In our situation, I feel like we’re still in square one.”
Last year, the Morrison government invested $600 million to establish the National Recovery and Resilience Agency. The body brought together existing efforts managing recovery from bushfires, drought and floods.
It was tasked with the managing the $2 billion national bushfire recovery fund set up after the 2019-20 fire season.
It’s creation was a key recommendation of the bushfire royal commission called by Scott Morrison.
But on the ground and hoping to win voters in Gilmore, Mr Albanese said the Emergency Operations Precinct would ensure the community is “better prepared and protected” from future disasters, and would make a marked difference to the community.
“This was a community that was under siege in which every single family was impacted by these devastating bushfires,” he told reporters on the NSW south coast.
“A couple of years later, the recovery is still very much underway.
“We need to learn the lesson from this crisis.”
Labor is up against former NSW minister Andrew Constance, whos state electorate was devastated by the 2019/20 fires, for the federal seat of Gilmore.
When asked whether his party’s commitment to reducing the impact of climate change was enough to prevent catastrophic natural disasters, Mr Albanese said Labor was committed to taking action.
“We know they will strike … We know that climate change is a global issue and it needs global action,” Mr Albanese said.
“Australia can make a difference by being part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Our policy would stop Australia sitting in international conferences in the naughty corner with Saudi Arabia and Brazil.
“Our plan is comprehensive – it would reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.”
Eden-Monaro MP Kristy McBain said in her electorate alone, 35 natural disasters had been declared in just five years, which had devastating impacts on locals.
“Labor has a (climate change) policy now which is practical. It has the support of the people, the people who will see a tangible difference to their daily lives,” she said.
“That’s what people are asking for.
“What (they) want is to see real action taken on climate change, because they don’t want to have to live through this again.”
NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns said governments “may not be able to control natural disasters, but we do have the ability to minimise their impact and to ensure coordinated responses”.
