The Nationals for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland is demanding the Labor Government provide a comprehensive implementation report on the 2022 Victorian Flood Inquiry, as communities across the region once again face the threat of flooding.
Parts of the region remained under flood watch this week, bringing back memories for communities in Seymour, Nagambie, Murchison, Euroa and Benalla that were devastated by the October 2022 floods.
“For these communities, 2022 is not history,” Ms Cleeland said.
“They remember the rising water, the evacuations, the damage and the years of trying to rebuild.
“Nearly four years on, they deserve to know exactly what this Government has done to make sure the same failures are not repeated.”
Ms Cleeland called on the Minister for Emergency Services to publish a comprehensive implementation report detailing the current status of all 73 recommendations, including the responsible agency and expected completion timeframe for every Flood Inquiry recommendation that remains outstanding.
She said the Labor’s response to the 73 recommendations, released in February 2025, was not enough to demonstrate that the lessons of the inquiry had actually been implemented.
“Only 16 recommendations were supported in full. The rest were either supported in principle, supported in part, or remained under review,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Regional Victorian’s want to know whether the lessons of one of Victoria’s most significant flood disasters have actually been acted upon.”
Ms Cleeland raised the experience of Seymour business owners Adam and Alex Griffiths, whose business Griff-Fit was flooded in 2022 and who are still fighting to have their insurance claim resolved.
Water entered their building at around 5pm on the day of the flood, while the region was not officially declared under flood until about 9pm.
That distinction has become critical to their insurance dispute with Hollard Insurance, with their policy covering stormwater but excluding floodwater.
Five neighbouring businesses faced similar claim rejections, but had those decisions overturned after independent hydrological evidence established that stormwater arrived first.
Ms Cleeland said the Griffiths’ experience demonstrated the ongoing personal and financial consequences of disasters long after the floodwaters recede.
“Adam told me he still has PTSD from the experience and that every time he hears about floods, he worries about his livelihood,” Ms Cleeland said.
“No business owner should be left feeling that they are on their own after a disaster.”
Ms Cleeland also acknowledged Seymour community advocate TR Keller, who has provided hundreds of hours of pro bono assistance to businesses fighting insurance disputes and has continued supporting communities affected by the January 2026 bushfires.
“People like TR step up when their communities need them most,” Ms Cleeland said.
“That selfless community service is often what carries regional communities through disaster after disaster, particularly when government processes are too slow or too difficult to navigate.”
Ms Cleeland said Labor must now demonstrate the recommendations from the Flood Inquiry were being implemented before Victoria faced its next major disaster.
“We have just seen the Victorian Bushfires Inquiry tabled with another 80 recommendations,” Ms Cleeland said.
“We cannot allow those recommendations to sit on a shelf while regional communities wait for the next disaster.
“Communities know another major flood, fire or other emergency will come. The question is whether Labor will be ready when it does.
“Adam and Alex should not have to be terrified every time it rains. Businesses should not have to rely on volunteers to navigate the aftermath of disasters.
“The people of regional Victoria have been heard through these inquiries and now they need to see action.
“I am asking the Minister to provide a clear, transparent account of every outstanding Flood Inquiry recommendation, who is responsible for delivering it and when it will be completed.
“After four years, our communities deserve nothing less.”
