After two failed attempts, Lockyer Valley fire fighter Danny McGuire finally had his time in front of the Queensland flood commission of inquiry.

The Grantham resident said his wife would “turn in her grave” if she knew how he and his son have been treated.

Ella Feinberg Large reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Danny McGuire lost more than most in the devastating floods in January.

Today he wanted his chance to tell the official inquiry just what happened.

But after twenty minutes the volunteer fire fighter says there was little gained.

Danny McGuire, Rural Fire Fighter: “It wasn’t a closure, you know, there was no evidence given and no questions really asked.”

Danny McGuire was trying to escape the flood waters in a firetruck with his wife and three children. But the truck was swept away and only he and his seven year old son, Zac survived.

He says in the days after his wife and two other boys died he was gagged by Queensland Fire and Rescue Services.

He was not allowed to use the phone in his temporary accommodation for five days but none of this was mentioned today.

Instead questions centred around the financial benefits he’d received from various government departments.

Around thirty-three thousand dollars for counselling, accommodation, funeral costs and living expenses.

Danny McGuire, Rural Fire Fighter: “Thirty three is nothing for three lives. They don’t wanna bring it up against the fire service or anything, so all they are worried about is what the state government are trying to spend.”

A frustrated Danny McGuire questioned the relevance of today’s appearance.

Danny McGuire, Rural Fire Fighter: “What I wanted to get across is how the fire service wasn’t doing their job and how communications were breaking down like anything. That was our biggest problem, communications.”

The Queensland flood inquiry has heard from more than one hundred people so far. With many more still to be heard the inquiry continues in Brisbane next week before moving onto Ipswich.

Ella Feinberg Large, QUT News.