TRANSCRIPT: EXCERPT FROM PRESS CONFERENCE AT WAGGA WAGGA SES HEADQUARTERS

With NSW Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience, and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke, Member for Wagga Wagga Joe McGirr and SES Southern Zone Commander Ben Pickup.

Subjects: Flooding

E&OE

PRESS CONFERENCE STARTED AT 12.03PM

12.13PM

MICHAEL McCORMACK

It’s just important to heed the warnings that the SES are giving, that the police are giving, that even the local councils are giving.

They want everybody to stay safe. We have just heard from Minister Cook, we have heard from Ben Pickup, and I know Dr McGirr would echo those sentiments, please stay safe.

Take those evacuation orders now, pack up your goods. You can always replace goods; you cannot replace lives. It’s quite simple, if it's flooded forget it. Don’t drive through those flooded roadways. Even if you know the road.

There are so many potholes about, it could jeopardise your life, it could jeopardise, indeed, a person sent to save you, so I can’t emphasise that enough.

Just please take care, take every precaution but heed that advice. If you are in one of those evacuation areas, pack up and leave now.

PRESS CONFERENCE ENDED 12.28PM

Shane Manning