Navy and Airforce ready to help the north

The deployment of the Defence Force’s humanitarian aid ship to the region as well as Navy and Airforce helicopters and planes on standby are some of the latest measures being taken to ensure a rapid response to Cyclone Debbie for residents of North and Central Queensland.I have just received the latest advice from the Minister for Defence Marise Payne and the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, on preparations being taken at a Federal Government level to provide assistance to communities which may be impacted by Cyclone Debbie.He has advised that Defence is ready and able to respond and support local emergency authorities and the people of the affected area between Townsville and Mackay.As a precaution, HMAS Choules, the nominated HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) ship, departed Sydney this morning and is heading north to Queensland to be ready to support recovery efforts if needed.

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BOM jobs safe for another year

I have received confirmation from Environment Minster Greg Hunt’s office this morning, that we have a stay of execution on job losses at our Bureau of Meteorology field office.I went into bat for these jobs after it was announced with just a day's notice to my office, that jobs would go from BOM field offices up and down the Queensland coast.I have now been assured that BOM field staff duties of taking meteorological observations and maintaining observing equipment will continue for a further 12 months, which takes us through to March 2017.

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MP rejects BoM plan to take jobs out of north

BUREAU of Meteorology (BOM) staff paid me a visit in Canberra yesterday to explain their rationale for relocating three staff out of both Mackay and Townsville, but I'm still not convinced it’s the right move.I state again in no uncertain terms that I will not be supporting this change, which removes all on-the-ground weather bureau staff from our regional cities.If the bureau believes it’s a good move then they better get out and start explaining it to the public.

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MP takes up BoM job losses with PM

THE loss of on-ground Bureau of Meteorology staff in Mackay and Townsville was raised directly with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Canberra this morning.It was announced on Friday that bureau staff in both Mackay and Townsville would need to relocate after weather stations switch to fully automated systems between now and 2017.I was informed this morning that this decision to take away all of our on-ground weather monitoring staff from Mackay and Townsville, as well as other centres, was made by the management of the Bureau of Meteorology, rather than Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s office.Regardless of who made the decision, I am seeking to have it reversed.

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Losing BoM staff in the north is not on

LOSING on-the-ground Bureau of Meteorology forecasters in regional Queensland is a potentially life-threatening step for a region that faces extreme weather events.I’m disgusted by this move to cut Bureau of Meteorology staff in regional Queensland, including Mackay and Townsville.The Mackay radar system is notorious for dropping out.A new fully-automated system may be a better system, but the fact that there’s no-one around to fix things if needed is of grave concern.

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