Yamatji-Noongar senator Dorinda Cox has called for immediate support to residents of flood-ravaged communities in Western Australia, and flagged the need for special assistance to the Kimberley region's vital tourism sector.

"There's a huge amount of work ahead to rebuild the lives and livelihoods of the communities in the Kimberley," the Greens senator said.

"We must guarantee that those families who lost everything do not suffer extended periods of displacement and are able to return home and be on Country as soon as it's safe to do so.

"The individuals, families, organisations and businesses of Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and the smaller communities along the Martuwarra, must be provided all the same support and funding opportunities that other flood affected Australian communities have received."

Senator Cox noted that while the Disaster Recovery Allowance of up to 13 weeks of income support is currently available to those who are eligible, the one-off, means-tested, Disaster Recovery Payment of $1000 per adult and $400 per child remains outstanding as the Commonwealth waits for data to be released by the WA Department Fire and Emergency Services before these much needed payments can be activated.

"Why are these families who have lost everything and are in crisis still waiting?" she said.

"Past recovery efforts in our cyclone-prone regional areas have been slow and have unduly impacted struggling communities. With the support of the Commonwealth, the McGowan Government can capitalise on the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, to ensure an effective, long-term recovery in the Kimberley."

Senator Cox noted that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has toured the flood ravaged Kimberley region with the federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt, alongside WA Premier Mark McGowan.

"Upon seeing the extent of the damage and destruction, Prime Minister Albanese committed the Commonwealth Government to providing whatever support the Western Australian Government requires to rebuild and recover as quickly as possible from the unprecedented flooding event," she said.

"Immediate support for families and small businesses is important, but the region relies heavily on the $2 billion dollar tourism industry, and we need to start planning for its recovery now as well.

"Following two tourist seasons of border closures, Broome and the Kimberley are going to need significant sector-specific stimulus funding to ensure international and domestic tourists return to the region as soon as possible."

Senator Cox said that while the recent flooding is unprecedented in scale, it won't be the region's last natural disaster.

"We need a policy framework that addresses climate change adaptation and mitigates loss and damage for regional and remote communities," she said.

"The Albanese government is committed to supporting our Pacific neighbours on the existential issue of loss and damage associated with the catastrophic effects of climate change. Now it must demonstrate that commitment to the First Peoples of the Kimberley who are impacted by a worsening climate."

The senator noted that the Australian government took a leadership role in the final days of negotiation at the COP27 in Egypt, when delegates were struggling to agree on how to fund and support poor and vulnerable nations to adapt to climate change, and must now walk the walk and fund "impacted communities in their own backyard to do the same".

A WA government spokesperson told National Indigenous Times the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements have been activated.

"For the money to flow, rapid damage assessments must first take place. These are taking place now. This is the evidence on damage needed," she said.

"Not everyone gets a payment only the people in affected houses."

The spokesperson said that the state government, through Tourism WA, is working closely with tourism organisations and operators on-the-ground "to understand the immediate and longer-term needs of tourism businesses across the region".

"The best way Australians can help the Kimberley tourism sector right now is to keep their 2023 bookings and visit when the time is right. We encourage travellers with holidays planned to directly affected areas to postpone, rather than cancel their trips," she said.

"Visitors who are unsure whether their holiday bookings will be impacted are urged to call their accommodation provider or tourism operators to check before changing their booking. They need your support.

"It is too early to cancel while the situation is still being assessed. Tourism operators are still offering great tours."

The spokesperson said the McGowan Government is taking "strong action to combat climate change and is preparing a new adaptation strategy", to be released later this year.

"This strategy will set WA's climate adaptation agenda for years to come, shaped by targeted consultation with Government agencies and peak industry bodies, as well as Aboriginal and environmental groups," she said.

"It will include initiatives to improve knowledge, capability, and partnerships to enhance the resilience of our regions."

National Indigenous Times has also contacted federal governments for comment.