Lara Worthington has issued a desperate plea for help in one of Australia’s worst-affected flood-stricken regions and taken a swipe at Scott Morrison.
The veteran model tagged the Prime Minister as she called for ‘the army, police, services’ to assist ‘regular people’ who she said are carrying out rescues of vulnerable residents in the NSW Northern Rivers.
Worthington claimed ‘so many people are missing’ in the ‘apocalyptic’ conditions at Mullumbimby and Main Arm through Wilson’s Creek, calling it ‘a state of emergency’.
Lara Worthington has issued a desperate plea for help in one of Australia’s worst-affected flood-stricken regions and took a swipe at Scott Morrison
Worthington shared an astonishing post from a Mullumbimby meditation school, which she appeared to base her appeal on
She said people in the region were being forced to scale cliffs to rescue ‘pregnant people, babies and families’.
She tagged the prime minister in the post and asked: ‘Scott Morrison are we doing this again?’
In 2019, Ms Worthington criticised her former boss and now PM for his controversial holiday to Hawaii as bushfires ravage Australia.
She referenced her famous Tourism Australia catch-cry from 2006 Tweeting: ‘Scott Morrison: WHERE THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU???’ on Twitter.
Mr Morrison was the boss of Tourism Australia when a bikini-clad Bingle featured in the $186 million campaign.
Deemed too risqué, the advert was later banned in the UK.
The model lashed out at Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Twitter (pictured) after he apparently flew business class to Hawaii as bushfires continue to ravage Australia
Mr Morrison hired the 18-year-old Sydney-born model, who is from Cronulla in the Sutherland Shire which is part of the PM’s electorate, to front the campaign promoting Australia’s natural wonders.
On Thursday the Prime Minister announced $434.7million of emergency funding to support flood affected areas including grants of up to $75,000.
Morrison, who is recovering from Covid, posted on social media, saying 650 Australian defence Force personnel and 5 ADF helicopters were helping.
‘Over 52,000 disaster payments of $1000 for adults and $400 for children have so far been paid out by the Federal Government to support people impacted by the floods, totalling $62.7 million.’
The veteran model tagged the Prime Minister as she called for ‘the army, police, services’ to assist ‘regular people’ who she said are carrying out rescues of vulnerable residents in the NSW Northern Rivers (pictured Lara Worthington with husband and actor Sam)
Worthington claimed ‘regular people’ around Mullumbimby were being forced to scale cliffs to rescue pregnant people, babies and families’
On Thursday the Prime Minister announced $434.7million of emergency funding to support flood affected areas including grants of up to $75,000
Morrison said five ADF helicopters were helping flood relief efforts
‘It’s not enough,’ one follower responded to his post on Thursday.
‘Why is this not a state of emergency? People are risking their lives to save people in danger.’
Worthington also shared an astonishing post from a Mullumbimby meditation school, which she appeared to base her appeal on.
It painted an emerging tragedy in an area 50km north-east of Lismore, and 40km north of Ballina – two NSW towns whose plight has already been widely publicised.
Titled ‘Northern Rivers calling for help’, The Broad Place included a photo showing a rampaging river smashing through trees after apparently washing away part of a set of wooden stairs.
‘People are lost and missing. Cars destroyed by floods are leaking fuel into sewerage all over the streets. We need help. We are running out of drinking water.
‘Regular citizens are winching themselves down bridges and over landslides to save people [and] attempting to hike their way to food and water.’
The PM said 650 ADF personal were already helping, but one follower shot back ‘it’s not enough’
The post claimed ‘mud and sewerage’ have reached ‘head high’ in some homes.
‘Disabled elderly cannot access medication, and have no phones. They can’t contact their kids and are breaking down in tears of despair.
‘Bridges are down, roads have been swept away in landslides.
‘Army, defence force, police where are you?
‘We need counselors, therapists, doctors, nurses.’
The Broad Place is run by couple Jacqui Lewis and Arran Russell, well known for running corporate meditation programs.
Under Morrison’s plan grants of up to $75,000 are available for farmers and up to $50,000 for small businesses and not for profit organisations hit by floods.
They will be available through NSW government agencies, with registration already open through Service NSW.
‘Farmers will need to restock and rebuild and small businesses will need help replacing damaged goods and shop fronts, and when more support is needed, more support will be given,’ he said.
‘I have already asked the New South Wales Premier to provide my Government with a proposal for a second support package to ensure all communities get the support they need.’
Further funding through the Queensland government will be announced in coming days.
‘This initial package is in addition to the federally funded $1,000 disaster relief payment and the 13-week income replacement for employees and small business, which to date has already paid out almost $63 million in a matter of days,’ he said.
As head of Tourism Australia Morrison famously gave Worthington (when she was Lara Bingle) her first big break, fronting his 2006 ‘So Where the Bloody Hell Are You? campaign.
