Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton thanked the “incredible people” volunteering across the Goulburn Valley during a whirlwind visit to Shepparton on Thursday, October 20.
Mr Dutton, alongside Senator Bridget McKenzie, Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, Victorian Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell and Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali toured the McIntosh Centre evacuation site.
They toured the centre without media in tow before heading across to speak to Australian Defence Force personnel and FoodShare and Salvation Army volunteers while they were preparing care packages.
With volunteers working metres behind him, Mr Dutton said he was impressed by the efforts of those who had chipped in.
“I think every Australian would be proud of what we’ve seen here today,” he said.
“There are many people who have inundation in their own homes and they’ve put that to one side and are here helping the community.”
Member for Nicholls Mr Birrell said it was a “tough time” for the region, with his whole electorate affected by flooding.
“It gives you great support when your get the visit from your federal colleagues, and I really appreciate Peter Dutton coming to visit Shepparton and see our resilience and see the damage that’s been inflicted,” he said.
Mr Birrell said he’d been in “constant“ contact with authorities in Echuca ahead of a ”really difficult time for them“.
“The water’s on the way and the levee has been built and fingers crossed it’s high enough and it’s going to hold,” he said.
“We’re going to learn a lot from this flood and we can have conversations about Loch Garry and how we manage infrastructure after that.”