Marles says major ADF elements in Brisbane ready to help
Defence Minister Richard Marles says the ADF stands ready to assist emergency services, having already supplied more than 300,000 sandbags across regions bracing for Alfred's impact.
"Last night I spoke with the chief of the Defence Force to make sure that the Defence Force was ready to work as closely as possible with National Emergency Management Australia so that we are able to respond as quickly as possible," he told Today.
"But even before any requests are made, I want to make sure that and we will make sure that Defence is doing all its own planning for all these contingencies, so that the response is immediate."
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Defence Minister Richard Marles says the ADF stands ready to assist emergency services. Alex Ellinghausen
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He said Brisbane was a very "significant" ADF city, with a major infantry brigade and major RAAF base established there.
"So these two bases give us real options in terms of being able to operate from there in the course of what plays out over the next few days," he said.
He said troops could assist with everything from door-knocking, to flood management, to airlifts, both in Queensland and NSW.
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