Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to convey the news to my electors in Corangamite that I have announced with Michael Keenan, the Minister for Justice, very important emergency relief for those who suffered in the recent bushfires in Victoria. Minister Keenan has announced, along with the Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, Jane Garrett, under the joint Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, a range of assistance for those affected by the bushfires. In my electorate there was one particular man—I will not go into the details because he has gone through a very, very tough time—whose name is Brad Carter. I spoke to him this morning. He lost his home in a fire in Wensleydale which burnt 10 hectares and completely wiped out his home and his tools. So it has been a very devastating time for him.

I am very pleased to say that eligible individuals and their families suffering personal hardship and distress will now have access to the following emergency grants: Emergency Relief assistance of up to $520 for an adult and $260 per child to cover emergency food, shelter, clothing and personal items; and significantly Emergency Re-establishment assistance, which provides assistance of up to $31,950 per household for clean-up, emergency accommodation, repairs, rebuilding—that is for a principal place of residence—and replacing essential household contents.

Both the state and Commonwealth governments have obviously acted very quickly to provide this very important relief in the areas affected by the bushfire: the Macedon Ranges, Mitchell, Murrindindi and Surf Coast, which I represent. More details are available on my website, sarahhenderson.com.au, as to how people can make an application.

We have talked a lot about the importance of governing with care and with compassion, and I know that the people of Corangamite will see that we have acted quickly in relation to the particular family which has been very severely affected by this bushfire. It is a very scary time, in some ways, in the lead-up to summer. I have been very proud to advocate for the upgrade of a roundabout in Anglesea, which has caused huge issues with traffic build-up, coming into summer. For those who suffered on that terrible day of Ash Wednesday so many years ago, those memories are very alive as to what happened along the Great Ocean Road in places like Anglesea, Moggs Creek and Lorne. I am very pleased to make this announcement with the minister and, as I say, it is just one more reflection of a caring and compassionate government.

Fed eration Chamber adjourned at 10:32 .