Alison Penfold (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management. Category D funding was made available to primary producers on 4 July for the New South Wales Mid North Coast and Hunter regions devastated by the May floods. Minister, why is category D funding still unavailable for the many flood impacted small businesses trying to recover, rebuild and restart, a funding recommendation made to governments at the same time as that for primary producers?

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

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I haven't given anyone the call. Less than 30 seconds ago, the minister was talking about category D funding, which she was specifically asked about. You're going to have to have more than the point of relevance on that. She was asked a question on category D funding, and she's giving information to the House. As a courtesy, I'll give the point of order.

Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, I take your point, but it is a point on relevance. I say this because I get the real empathy that the minister has for this, but the question was relating to category D and small business, which is very well—

Honourable members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat. She has one minute left to go. The minister was being completely, directly relevant. I warn the House again: if this continues, I just won't take the points of order.

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

There are currently $25,000 grants available to small businesses. The recovery coordinator on the ground there has said from day one that he wants to ensure that as many small businesses as possible register so that data and evidence can be provided to the New South Wales government if there are any additional supports needed. The Prime Minister and I were on the ground during the initial event and in the days following, and I've been there in the week since that.

I know firsthand what this means in local communities. I know the widespread impact, and I know that communities are going to be doing it tough for a period of time. We remain committed to working with the local council; with the state government; and with local, state and federal members to ensure that we get this recovery phase right, and we will continue to work with the New South Wales government on that.