Monday night's episode of Q&A on the ABC was filmed in Townsville and it featured newly promoted federal Minister for Emergency Management and North Queensland Recovery Linda Reynolds with Cloncurry grazier Jane McMillan also on the panel representing the north west.
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Ms McMillan is a former deputy and acting mayor of Cloncurry and she shot to national attention after the recent floods when she made an emotional video calling for support for the region after the North West floods.
Ms McMillan said the beef industry was on its knees thanks to the February rain event with 650mm falling in the North West over nine days, initial joy of drought-breaking panic turning to tragedy as the rain kept falling.
She told Q&A viewers a harrowing story of what happened next.
"Everyone started to panic, the wind started, it was cold, there was a low sitting over us and it was spinning, for some reason the cattle became disorientated and didn't know what to do, they piled on top of each other to stay warm," Ms McMillan said.
"The cattle were dying and the helicopters couldn't get to them because no one could fly."
Ms McMillan said over half a million cattle died from Winton to Normanton and the water stretched 80km wide.
"The cattle were drowning to the north and freezing to the south, it was devastating, and no one predicted its magnitude" she said.
Rural property valuer Roger Hill was also in the panel and flew over what became a vast wetlands.
"There were 13 million hectares affected, twice the size of Tasmania," Mr Hill said.
"Everyone banded together and got in right beside that disaster response group brilliantly coordinated in every town and the five mayors stepped up to the plate and led their communities."
Ms Reynolds said she had two responsibilities as a minister when disaster strikes.
"First of all to make sure the Commonwealth government does everything it can in response," Ms Reynolds said.
"Secondly how do we prepare as a nation when these incidents occur and how we make our homes and communities more resilient." - DB
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
