“I’m Ruby, and I’ve lived in Lismore for a large part of my life. My young son and I climbed to our roof to save our lives. I could hear my elderly neighbor trying to bash through her ceiling and roof and the screams were terrifying. We are now living with friends on a nearby farm, but the sense of helplessness has not left us. 

“We have lost everything; I wear clothes that are not mine, my child has not been able to return to school.I need to know that something will be planned for our futures, I need to know that I can provide him with a safe home."

- A Lismore resident

Lismore residents are in the midst of a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe. What began as a flood crisis is now transforming into a food and housing crisis. Current government benefits are only supporting people in the short term. Our community needs a dedicated, independent body to streamline recovery and reconstruction to ensure we have a future.

We need a Northern Rivers Reconstruction Commission to help us find long term housing, and be better prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change.

Our community is no stranger to disasters so we know the pain, sweat and blood it takes to rebuild our lives. After the 2017 floods, we were left to compete for grants against our better resourced neighbouring councils. But such a competitive grant based system will not work for us this time - we are poorer and even less resourced. 

The devastation that has hit our region is incomprehensible. Some of our elderly are now back in their mouldy damp houses, people with no other option have taken their children back into houses that have been deemed unsafe, debates have begun about flood mitigation and our future.  

Our community came together when the floods hit, and so many Aussies stood with us. But now, many members of the community that have stood up and worked tirelessly are now exhausted, confused and looking for leadership from Government. 

Please sign this petition to urge the federal and state government to take a bipartisan approach to our crisis and set up a Reconstruction Commission. We are more than just photo opportunities.