Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Emergency Management. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting communities in my state of Victoria and in Queensland that have been affected by recent natural disasters?

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 Bendigo for her question. I've been with her in her electorate the last couple of weeks, visiting the fireground and speaking with impacted community members about their experiences, and I want to thank her for her work in supporting the community in the aftermath and what will be a long recovery to come.

The last few weeks have brought severe weather to large parts of our country. The bushfires in Victoria have been absolutely heartbreaking for many, and our thoughts are with those that have been impacted by those severe fires, including the family and friends of the man who died in the Longwood bushfire. Whilst assessments are continuing, we currently have 1,300 structures, including 400 homes, that have been damaged or destroyed, and stock losses of up to 20,000.

The national aerial firefighting fleet has been active across Victoria and other parts of the country as well, and so far we have committed more than $77 million under our joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, including $75,000 to primary producers, as well as a range of concessional loans, personal hardship payments and a range of other grants. The Australian government disaster recovery payment has been made available in 47 locations across Victoria to support those people most impacted, and the disaster recovery allowance, which is up to 13 weeks of income support, is available now in 18 local government areas, as well as the Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, to assist those who have lost income.

It was a real privilege to meet with emergency service personnel along with the Prime Minister—many of them, volunteers who have been battling bushfires and putting themselves in harm's way to support others. And I know I speak for all Australians when I say: we cannot thank you enough.

As devastating as fires are, we know that floods are impacting our country too. In December, we saw monsoonal rain across north and north-west Queensland. One man lost his life in floodwaters, and our thoughts are with his family and friends too. Whilst it's too early to determine the full scale of the flooding disaster, it's already clear that losses are going to be significant, with reports stock losses could exceed 50,000.

To date, more than $66 million of support has been activated through our Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. I travelled to some of the worst-impacted areas with the Prime Minister and the Treasurer in early January, where we announced emergency fodder drops, primary producer grants and $11½ million for critical repairs to the Cloncurry airport. In Julia Creek, I met grazier Jake Webster, who was helping coordinate fodder drops not only for his own property but for those of his neighbours as well. From talking to locals on the ground in Julia Creek, in Cloncurry, in Clermont and in Richmond it was clear that, whilst these are resilient communities who look out for each other, they need our support too. So I'm proud that we've been able to do that through our disaster recovery funding arrangements activated in 13 local government areas and our disaster recovery allowance activated in 11 local government areas. We will continue to work closely with the Queensland and Victorian governments on any further assistance that may be required, and our communities will stand behind those that need their support the most.