She had to swim to safety during the 2022 floods.
She’s been a fierce advocate for the community’s recovery from the floods.
Now, State MP Janelle Saffin has been appointed the Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery.
“I’ve seen firsthand the devastation that natural disasters such as floods can cause communities such as my local Northern Rivers community,” Ms Saffin said.
Her appointment is part of the State Government’s reset on the disaster recovery response across the Northern Rivers.
In the role, she gets to provide advice to the government in relation to the the flood recovery on such things as the Resilient Homes Program where taking a broader approach and taking the community with you is important, Ms Saffin said.
The community will have expectations of their local MP.
“I will try and live up to the expectations,” she said.
“I will be really clear with people about what I can do in this role.
“I will be the voice. I put community first.”
The NSW Reconstruction Authority will continue under its current arrangements reporting to the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Emergency Services, now supported by Ms Saffin as the parliamentary secretary.
Premier Chris Minns announced NSW Reconstruction Authority chief executive officer Simon Draper as the new Secretary of the Premier’s Department, starting on September 1.
The idea behind this is that Mr Draper’s experience will bolster the whole-of-government disaster response coordination role.
Mr Draper will continue as NSW Reconstruction Authority chief executive as the state enters the summer bushfire season.
The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation has been merged into the authority.
As one resident said at a meeting last month in Woodburn with Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib – “We don’t give a bugger what they’re called, we want action.”
The proof of the effectiveness of this reset will be in the action the government and the authority take next.
“I’m mindful of the need to communicate,” Ms Saffin said.
Read stories about the flood recovery at the link below.
