Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for the question, and I also thank her for her hospitality towards me, the Prime Minister, the Premier and various other New South Wales ministers in her electorate and also the electorate of Cowper.

The flood that we've seen there is obviously devastating to the community, and recovery is a long-term situation. I've been through it directly with my own community. We know recovery isn't days and weeks; it's months and years, which is why we've worked really hard and really closely with the New South Wales government on a whole range of support and funding opportunities in that local community. Initially, we allowed 19 councils access to $1 million for a clean-up fund. We've allowed disaster recovery payments across 19 LGAs, including disaster recovery allowance, which is income support, across 12 LGAs. We've expended over $212 million on a whole range of income supports—over 170,000 applications across those 19 LGAs. Category D funding was available to rural landholders—up to $10,000 to help with clean-up. There have been a range of other support measures put in place, including concessional loans and freight subsidies for primary producers.

We have worked really closely with the New South Wales government on a range of supports, including $25,000 grant supports for small businesses. To date, we've expended around $300 million with the New South Wales government on a range of supports across those 19 LGAs. We've said from day one that we would continue to work with local communities; with local councils; with the state government; and with local, state and federal members in the area to ensure that supports continue over a period of time. As I've said directly to you and the member for Cowper, we stand ready, willing and able to work with New South Wales, particularly on this.

See this speech in context