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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Calla Wahlquist and Josh Butler

ADF defends floods response after Lismore residents organise helicopters for supply drops

Australian Defence Force personnel help with the floods clean up in Lismore, New South Wales.
Australian Defence Force personnel help with the floods clean up in Lismore, New South Wales. Photograph: Dustin Anderson/AUSTRALIA DEFENCE FORCE/AFP/Getty Images

The Australian defence force has defended the speed of its response to flooded communities in northern New South Wales, after locals in Lismore resorted to crowdfunding helicopters to drop off supplies to isolated residents.

As of Monday there were 637 ADF personnel on the ground in northern NSW, including in liaison and planning roles, with another 656 due to arrive by Tuesday evening. There were 1,358 ADF personnel deployed in southern Queensland.

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