A Queensland minister said she ‘needed a holiday’ when she flew to Africa for a safari as Aussies in her flood-ravaged electorate recovered from a cyclone.
Tropical Cyclone Koji made landfall in early January, bringing extensive rain and wind to the Whitsundays and nearby towns.
Several areas in the Pioneer River region saw more than 350mm of rainfall in 24 hours while major flooding was recorded south of Mackay in the Pioneer catchment.
About 25 boats were destroyed, according to Maritime Safety Queensland, and major flooding was recorded in catchments all the way to the Northern Territory border.
As clean-up efforts began, Community Recovery and Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm – whose electorate is the Whitsundays – flew overseas for a holiday, the Courier Mail reports.
It’s understood the minister had booked leave between January 5 and 23, with Housing Minister Sam O’Connor overseeing her duties while she was away.
Minister Camm defended her decision, saying she had simply needed a break.
‘I am very proud of my community and the way in which we handle natural disasters, but I am a human being, and I needed a holiday, and that’s the reality,’ she said.
Community Recover Minister Amanda Camm (pictured) was on a safari holiday in Africa as her electorate in the Whitsundays cleaned up after category-one Cyclone Koji in January
Cyclone Koji brought extensive heavy rain and wind to the Whitsundays and nearby towns
‘Community Recovery is 24/7, 365 days a year and goes for the longer term… Child Safety is 24/7, 365 days a year.
‘If I had a time machine, would I go back in time… there’s lots of things you’d like to do in hindsight, but ultimately, yes, I’m a public figure, I’m a minister across, you know, six portfolios.
‘I take my job and role very seriously, and I want to be fit, healthy and alert, to be able to give it my all, and part of that was being able to take a break.’
Camm’s defence comes as locals impacted by the cyclone revealed how they were impacted by the disaster, with some left homeless.
Liveaboard sailor Matt Stafford, 62, told ABC News his 10metre catamaran was smashed during the disaster, estimating his loss was about $200,000.
‘That’s been a bit of a reality, to wake up and realise that you’ve got nothing, you’ve got no home, no clothes, no belongings,’ he said.
‘When you lose your best mate, you lose sort of like a part of you… Embellish [the catamaran] became that other part of me.’
He said he had not purchased cyclone insurance cover as it was ‘hard to come by’ and cost as high as $8,000 per year.
There was severe flooding across North Queensland, up to the Northern Territory border (pictured, severe flooding in Cloncurry)
Multiple emergency alerts were issued between Townsville and Airlie Beach at the time of the cyclone, with worried locals sandbagging and securing their homes.
Townsville Airport was closed until the system passed, with multiple Hamilton Island flights also cancelled.
Koji was the second cyclone within a year to hit Queensland after Alfred caused widespread devastation in the state’s south-east last March.
‘In many ways, it has replicated what we saw a little less than 12 months ago when people from the north, central and western parts helped colleagues in the south-east,’ Premier David Crisafulli told reporters at the time.
‘I want Queenslanders to know we are better prepared than ever.’
