STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER

The SPEAKER (14:00): I inform the House that the member for Kennedy has been prevented from joining us today by the floods in North Queensland. These devastating floods are record breaking and are set to become the worst floods in the area since 1967. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the severity of the situation that people of North Queensland are facing, as well as the absence of our colleague the member for Kennedy.

I know we wish them all safe harbour, and we thank those working tirelessly to keep the community safe. Earnestly, we all hope that conditions will ease.