Flooded Victorians need help too!
March 4, 2011
Victoria is battling to get the Gillard Labor Government to pay attention to their drought and now flood stressed communities.
“They have announced the end of exceptional circumstances affecting most of northern Victoria and the Mallee. However, far North Queensland is being treated to a package of support on the basis that they have had cyclone and flood damage to rural properties and small businesses.
Federal Member for Murray, Sharman Stone said that in a federation like Australia it is intolerable that one part of the country receives special taxpayer funding to support their recovery while another equally devastated state is delivered substantially less.
“On the 16th of February the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh announced with the Hon Joe Ludwig the Federal Minister assisting the Attorney General on Queensland Flood recovery that given the impacts of Cyclone Yasi and floods on far north Queensland primary producers the Commonwealth had activated Category (D) of the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
“This included special concessional loans of up to $650,000 for eligible businesses, primary producers and not-for-profit organisations suffering extreme damage with a grant component of up to $50,000.
“There is also Newstart Allowance for up to 13 weeks to help replace some earnings or salary. This period may be extended to 26 weeks. This is also offered to Victorians.
“A $20 million rural resilience fund jointly funded by the Federal and Queensland Governments has been established to help fund businesses and community support activities such as farm clean-ups, counselling and social support measures.
“As well there is an upfront payment of $50 million to the Queensland Government as an advance on future liabilities under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
Sharman Stone said that this was appropriate support for farmers to re-establish after the cyclone and floods in far north of Queensland. However the floods in northern Victoria had caused equal devastation to farms with some expected to be under water for at least another six months. Crops were washed, fodder destroyed, fencing and livestock drowned or injured.
“The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has estimated, at a preliminary stage and after only a partial audit, that $2.6 billion worth of farm assets and livestock have been destroyed.
“It is therefore incumbent on the Prime Minister announcing with the Premier of Victoria, Ted Baillieu that Category (D) of the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements will also be activated for flood victims in northern Victoria including primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations given they too have suffered extreme damage.
“If the Federal Government walks away from Victoria at this time while offering a very much-needed helping hand in Queensland, you have to wonder why this country has started to put party politics in front of the needs of people, all of whom are great Australians trying to do a good job for their families and the nation,” Sharman Stone said.