Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. New South Wales Liberal MP Catherine Cusack said:

The idea that being a flood victim in a National Party-held seat makes you more worthy than a flood victim who is in the Richmond electorate is probably the most unethical approach I have ever seen.

Why did it take the resignation of Ms Cusack for the Prime Minister to act on flood relief for the people in my electorate?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Before I give the call to the Prime Minister, I would ask all members of the House to please just keep the interjections down.

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

I thank the member for Richmond for her question and I commend her for the work she's been doing in her local community over the course of the floods, as I remarked in my earlier statements on indulgence. I don't agree with the views of Ms Cusack. I've known Ms Cusack for a long time. I don't agree with her views, but I do understand that, in the middle of floods and the terrible circumstances of what occurred in the Northern Rivers, people were under enormous stress. But, as the member for Richmond would know—because I spoke to the member for Richmond when I was in the Northern Rivers—what was being referred to was the extension of the payments from the three local government areas in Lismore, Clarence Valley and Richmond Valley, which were given triple payments on the disaster payment. I spoke to the member for Richmond on the day that was announced and I told her that further assessments were being done on other local government areas in that region and that once those assessments were complete then a further decision would be made.

That was before the statements made by Ms Cusack. She may not have been made aware, even though that position had been made public. I spoke to the mayor of Ballina on that same day, after I'd been speaking to the member for Richmond, and I made it very clear that these other assessments were being undertaken. Those disaster payments—the triple payments—are very rare; they've never been done before. But in recognition and because of the strong work done by members, particularly the member for Page, we extended those payments to seven local government areas. In the member's electorate, the local government area of Ballina and Byron, some $33 million in payments have already been made to some 20,000 people.

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

The member for Richmond! The Prime Minister will resume his seat. Look, these things are obviously very emotional, but I'm going to warn the member for Richmond.

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

So, in those two local government areas alone, some 20,000 individuals are receiving three payments and, for households in those areas affected, that would mean a payment of around $7,000, directly to support those most devastated in those flood areas.

When I went to the Northern Rivers I made it very clear that we were making the announcements on those first three and, as is often the case with all disaster payments, assessments are made and additional local government areas are added as those assessments are completed. I made that very clear to the member for Richmond. When we had done those proper assessments through agencies we extended those payments. I'm very pleased we have, and I'm pleased the assessment supported us doing that. This is already part of a commitment in New South Wales alone of some $2.1 billion that we have directly committed as a federal government. And $1.3 million or thereabouts is already out the door supporting Australians affected by the flood.