Kristy McBain (Eden-Monaro, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Last night at Senate estimates an official confirmed that, three years after it was announced, not a single cent of the $4.8 billion Emergency Response Fund has been spent on disaster recovery and, in that time, it has earned $836 million in interest. What sort of incompetent government sets aside $4.8 billion for disaster recovery and doesn't spend a cent?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member would be aware that dedicated funds were provided for the bushfire recovery program and resilience packages. That is more than $2 billion that was directly allocated to ensure that we could support those communities affected by the Black Summer bushfires. The measure that the member is referring to is a long-term measure which enables funds to be drawn down to support the resilience of communities over the long term. And that is what is supporting the initiatives which have been put in place by the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, established by our government, which is led by the Honorable Shane Stone, who has done an outstanding job, including in the member's electorate, which I'm sure she would acknowledge, in sitting down with communities and understanding the challenges they face as they rebuild.

More than $2 billion has been allocated—not pulled out of some other fund—to ensure that the urgency of those issues could be addressed directly. The rebuilding and resilience programs continue to be funded and implemented across the country. It is important that that work continues. It is important that longer-term work continues to build up the resilience of so many communities across Australia, recommendations that came from the royal commission that I announced into these very issues so we could look after long-term resilience and address the short-term needs. So more than $2 billion is hitting the ground—including the round of grants which have been provided into the member's community over the Christmas and New Year period; they were announced by the minister only recently—in addition to the many funds and grants that were put in place.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Eden-Monaro!

The member for Eden-Monaro is warned!

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

I particularly welcomed the contribution, as we worked through that period, of Andrew Constance. I particularly welcomed the contribution from Andrew Constance. He came to me—

Opposition members interjecting—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The level of interjection is too high. Member for Eden-Monaro, you asked the question. You, of all people, should be listening for the answer. The Prime Minister has the call.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

I welcome the contribution of Andrew Constance who came to me and we worked together to ensure that the small business grants program that was provided to support those communities was upgraded and the timely delivery of those grants was done in accordance with the model that we worked up together. I can say to electors in Gilmore that Andrew Constance, as our Liberal candidate for Gilmore, will be a great advocate for you here in this place, as he proved to be in the seat of Bega in the state parliament, always taking these issues up directly—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition on a point of order.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

On relevance. It's about the impact on real people in the member for Eden-Monaro's electorate. It's not an opportunity for political spruiking. It's about real people, some of whom are still—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. I don't know how many times I have to say this, but if you want me to rule on points of order—the level of interjection is ridiculously high. The Prime Minister has the call for just six seconds. I can't rule on the point of order of relevance, because I simply can't hear the Prime Minister enough over the wall of interjections. All members of the House are on a general warning, and the pointing and gesticulating from the member for McEwen is not helpful. At least it's quiet, but that's about the only thing that can be said for it. The Prime Minister has the call.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

Andrew Constance, as the Liberal candidate for Gilmore, will stand up for the people of Gilmore and get the results that he's proved to be able to get— (Time expired)