On 23 March, NSW Parliament established a Select Committee to inquire into the government’s response to the recent flooding. Its terms of reference require it to investigate and report on:

1. the preparation, coordination and response to the Western Sydney and North Coast floods by the Government,
2. the role, composition and resource allocations of Resilience NSW, the NSW State Emergency Service and other relevant Government agencies,
3. coordination between the New South Wales Government, New South Wales Government departments and agencies, the Federal Government, Federal Government departments and agencies, local governments, private sector operators and the community, including requests or offers of assistance,
4. public communication, systems and strategies,
5. the implementation of recommendations from inquiries into previous natural disasters,
6. the overall effectiveness of the flood response, and
7. any other related matter.

The HSU has been invited to make a submission to this inquiry and if you have been affected by the floods we would like to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to tell us about your experiences via our online survey here.

You can also make your own submission directly to the committee on the parliamentary website. Submissions close on May 8.

The HSU has compiled a number of links to assist you in returning home after the floods earlier this year. If you have been affected by the floods, you may be entitled to assistance from the NSW Government via the below links:

• Disaster Assistance Finder
• Flood Recovery Back Home Grant
• Information about reconnecting to power network & reimbursement

Thank you for continuing to look after each other and your community. The HSU is here for you.