Australia news live updates: PM to declare national emergency; wind warnings after NSW floods force 40,000 to evacuate; 18 Covid deaths | Australia news

Scott Morrison is expected to declare a “national emergency” when he lands in flood-devastated Lismore today. He’s en route to the disaster zone today, where he will reportedly announce new flood funding.

Labor’s Murray Watt has been demanding Morrison “declare a national emergency” around the crisis on the NSW north coast and Queensland’s south, using new powers enacted in the wake of the Black Summer bushfires – which would make it easier for different agencies to work together, and better mobilise resources like the ADF.

Watt, Labor’s emergency management spokesman, has been across the media this morning to call for the government to make this declaration. Guardian Australia understands Morrison will do so in Lismore today.

Watt has been on the ground in flood zones for days. He’s been scathing of the government response, claiming not enough is being done.

“When Scott Morrison visits Lismore today, he needs to explain to flood victims why he’s used his $4.8 billion Emergency Response Fund to earn interest for his government, instead of building flood levees, drainage improvements and other flood mitigation measures,” Watt tweeted this morning.

He pointed out that in November 2020, in response to the royal commission into natural disasters following the Black Summer bushfires, Morrison himself announced the federal government would pass new laws giving the commonwealth the power to declare a national emergency “to help mobilise commonwealth resources and help tackle the challenges states and local communities may face.”

Watt is asking why that hasn’t happened.

“After the Black Summer debacle, when Scott Morrison blamed the states for ADF deployment delays, the PM gave himself new powers to ‘declare a national emergency’. He said it would cut red tape and help mobilise resources post-disaster. Why hasn’t he declared one now?” he said.

Morrison will receive emergency briefings and visit local businesses on his Lismore trip. Barnaby Joyce, speaking to Sky News, earlier said Morrison probably wouldn’t expect a warm welcome from locals.