China News Service, March 15. According to the Australian News Network, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison responded on the 15th local time to the claim that the government did not provide enough help to the community during the flood.
Morrison highlighted the Australian government's response to the NSW flood crisis, saying "when a natural disaster strikes, the local community is always the one who responds".
On March 2, local time, in New South Wales, Australia, people took a boat through a flooded street.
The Australian government has been criticized recently for saying that many flood-affected communities were forced to fend for themselves for days while awaiting greater government and military support.
However, Morrison said the spirit of partnership that drives victims of natural disasters to heroic rescues and raising emergency supplies was not an underreaction from the Australian government.
"I was asked, 'Why do people have to rescue their neighbours?' I said, 'Because they're Australians, that's what Australians do'," Morrison said.
Morrison also said the floods in Lismore had never been seen in 500 years and the government had not been able to prepare for the unprecedented situation.
Earlier on the 14th, 37 former heads of emergency services issued a statement saying that the Australian government's handling of the floods was reminiscent of the catastrophic 2019 Australian wildfires.
"The government knew what was coming but did not adequately prepare our communities or first responders," said a former NSW Fire and Rescue commissioner.