Australian Defence Force flood effort ridiculed after footage of staged photo shoot emerges
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Community frustration has ballooned after footage surfaced appearing to show Australian Defence Force personnel in flood-ravaged NSW unloading a trailer for a photo opportunity.
Footage from Northern NSW, filmed by a local, has sparked deep anger among flood victims and contributed to growing fury at the government over what’s been described as lacklustre support.
About a dozen Soldiers were filmed this week emptying a trailer of rubbish onto the side of the road in front of an army photographer, presumably to add to its PR material.
The ADF has been criticised over what many argued was a PR stunt. Picture: Reddit
Defence Minister Peter Dutton responded to criticism of the ADF on Tuesday, shutting down the suggestion its response had been “embarrassing” for Australia.
Sunrise host David Koch asked if he was “embarrassed”ordinary Australians had largely been left to their own devices, being forced to deliver supplies themselves via private dinghies and wading through water to rescue neighbours.
“That’s the Australian spirit. That’s what you and I would do for our neighbours, and that’s what people do in extremes,” Mr Dutton said.
“I’m not embarrassed at how the ADF is going. I’m not going to cop criticism of the ADF.”
He added ADF personnel had been “embedded” into existing efforts from emergency services, SES personnel and council workers.
“It is being well co-ordinated on the ground and I’m not going to cop criticism of these guys and girls who do an amazing job,” Mr Dutton said.
Community anger has also been directed at the prime minister, who was last week blasted after posting photos of ADF personnel helping with the clean-up, and thanking them for their efforts.
Critics were unsure why the trailer would be getting emptied. Picture: Reddit
Instagram page The Pineapple Express, an Australian Veteran Community Organisation, has been striking back against tough criticism from flood-affected communities.
NSW Liberal MP Catherine Cusack was slammed by the page after posting about ADF personnel she saw at Ballina Airport in the departures area.
A NSW Liberal MP was put on blast for criticising the ADF. Picture: Instagram
“This may be unfair because I haven’t been sightseeing the disaster I have been assisting in Ballina Shire ... but these five are the first ADF personnel I have seen here and concerning they are located in departures at Ballina Airport,” her tweet with a photo of the members read.
The Instagram account responded saying she should “hang your head in shame” given she had wildly misread the situation.
The ADF personnel she saw were pilots on their lunch break from flying rescue helicopters for up to 12 hours a day,” the page responded.
“They’re simply using the shops in the departures area to eat before they go back out and continue flying.”
