Premier Statement: Premier calls emergency Cabinet meeting

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
03/01/2011

Premier calls emergency Cabinet meeting

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has today called an emergency Cabinet meeting in response to Queensland's flood crisis.

The Premier has re-called Ministers from leave and an emergency Cabinet meeting will be held on Wednesday.

"As Queensland faces its toughest hour the Cabinet will meet to immediately begin the significant rebuilding process," she said.

"An enormous amount of the State has been inundated and devastated.

"The affected area is greater than the size of NSW, with the worst still to come in communities like Rockhampton."

The Premier said Cabinet would be fully briefed on Queensland's flood crisis on Wednesday.

"I want to ensure that my team is focused on the huge task at hand; ensuring that people are getting the immediate help they need, ensuring that our emergency services have the resources they need and ensuring we're prepared for the rebuilding of our devastated State.

"It is vital that we continue to work in partnership with the Commonwealth and local governments in the response, as well as the recovery and rebuilding process.

"There are many, many Queenslanders out there suffering right now and I want them to know the Government is doing everything in our power to help."

The Premier said despite the massive inundation already, Rockhampton residents were bracing for floodwaters to peak over the next few days.

Surat and St George are also bracing for floods as waters move south.

The Premier said other areas were now coming to grips with the heart-breaking task of clean-up.

"Many people are beginning to return to their homes and businesses to find they have lost everything.

"The long term impact will still take some time to determine but there are literally thousands of Queenslanders who need our support."

Ms Bligh said the Government has a number of cash grants in place for people who need immediate assistance.

Queenslanders who are experiencing personal hardship due to the flooding can contact the Department of Communities on 1800 173 349 or visit www.communities.qld.gov.au for updates on the types and availability of support that is available.

Ends.

[Stillwater]

The clean-up task is huge, with large sections of railway lines washed out and bridges needing repair.  But I wonder who pays for the restoration work -- is it that the privatised Queensland National Rail owns the track and must pay?  Does anyone know?

[Golliwog]

I would think whoever owns the tracks pays. The State still owns the North Coast Line, but my understanding is the QR National owns the coal lines. But then theres the question of do they have insurance? Are railways even insurable?

[Stillwater]

The state is is own insurer for things such as school fires, etc.  Well I am glad I don't have shares in QR National if it is the owner of the coal tracks, but I would like to know about the status of the North Coast Line -- just who owns it?

[Golliwog]

The state is is own insurer for things such as school fires, etc.  Well I am glad I don't have shares in QR National if it is the owner of the coal tracks, but I would like to know about the status of the North Coast Line -- just who owns it?

The state owns most of it. But QR National owns part of it between the Goonyella line (I think) and the port those coal trains service. QR National also control the signalling on other sections of the NCL but only on sections of it where the coal trains run between the ports and the coal mines. Other than that its all state owned and operated.

[frereOP]

The state is is own insurer for things such as school fires, etc.  Well I am glad I don't have shares in QR National if it is the owner of the coal tracks, but I would like to know about the status of the North Coast Line -- just who owns it?

Maybe for some things but governments don't carry their own insurance on everything.  I know the federal government takes out commercial insurance on Airforce aircraft for instance and the state statutory authority I work for has commercial insurance for many of its assets including vehicles.

[justanotheruser]

The state is is own insurer for things such as school fires, etc.  Well I am glad I don't have shares in QR National if it is the owner of the coal tracks, but I would like to know about the status of the North Coast Line -- just who owns it?

Maybe for some things but governments don't carry their own insurance on everything.  I know the federal government takes out commercial insurance on Airforce aircraft for instance and the state statutory authority I work for has commercial insurance for many of its assets including vehicles.

well standard business practice is to spread insurance cost around.  Vechiles often have insurance from outside as alot of them are leased and is a requirement of the leasing company.