Community members in Lismore have lashed out against the federal government over what they feel is a delayed response and recovery efforts in the wave of devastating floods.
Residents of the northern NSW city mobilised their anger in a protest organised ahead of Prime Minister Scott Morrison visiting the region on Wednesday.
as severe weather conditions killed 21 people along the east coast of the country, destroyed thousands of homes and left many people displaced.
Daryl Klein said he was left "gobsmacked" at the damage the floods have caused the region.
"Everywhere you look is just carnage - it's like a bomb’s hit [the region]," he told SBS News.
He feels the federal government has not provided proactive plans to support regional NSW.
"I just don’t think he’s done anything. I think he just worries about his Sydney base and doesn’t give a s--- about us and doesn’t care about us."
Mr Klein said the priorities for the community are clear - and he expects Mr Morrison to deliver.
"Get some support in here and give some people some housing and give them some money. No-one can buy clothes, no-one can buy furniture, no-one can buy anything. Everyone’s broke."
Local resident Louise Togo said she thinks the prime minister's visit to the town was not helpful.
"The lack of leadership, the lack of care, the lack of response, I just think that him coming down would rub salt in the wounds to so many people who have lost everything," she said.
"It's an absolute joke."
Tracy Newtown owned a salon in Lismore - until the floods "absolutely decimated" the property, water rising one metre above the ceiling.
Now, she laments the timeliness of the response from the federal government.
"I just hope [Mr Morrison] can see the destruction and just realise we’ve been wiped out ... The response was just too slow."
The federal government announced on Wednesday more support will be provided for affected communities.
Adults will be able to access $1,000 weekly payments for two additional weeks in Lismore, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley LGAs, available from 15 and 22 March.
The government has also set aside $25 million for emergency relief, food relief and financial counselling services.
"The feedback we’ve had from communities, state governments and my own ministers who have visited the impacted areas has helped us identify where the gaps are right now, and how we can get support out the door quickly to where it’s needed,” Mr Morrison said in a statement.
So far, the government has provided $238.9 million in disaster payments to more than 200,000 individuals who have been impacted by the floods.
