Almost 800 homes destroyed by NSW floods with tally to rise as damage assessments continue
GuardianMAY 19
NSW Floods Leave 800 Homes Uninhabitable
Above: Cars drive through floodwater on a main road in Taree on May 23, 2025. Image copyright: SAEED KHAN/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Australian Labor Party narrative
Labor takes the situation that unfolded last week in NSW with the utmost seriousness. In light of the tragedy, Labor will activate the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments, provide income support to those who have lost work, and deploy defense and DRA personnel on the ground. While the recovery will take time, the Albanese government will be there every step of the way to get NSW back on its feet.
Liberal/National Coalition narrative
The support pledged by the Labor government to struggling communities in NSW is frankly laughable. A one-off payment of $1,000 will not buy a farmer new tools, cover the costs of repairing a family home, or help relocate residents from unsafe properties. Labor’s scheme does little more than put a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It is a token gesture that will fail to rebuild regional NSW after the trauma it has been through.