Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Chisholm for the question, albeit that I think the continued efforts to play politics with tragic and terrible natural disasters is at the very least unbecoming in terms of the way the opposition approach it. Firstly, let me place on record all of our thoughts for those affected by recent natural disasters across Australia for the loss of life, the loss of property and the impacts that that has had upon so many Australians, in particular across parts of New South Wales and South-East Queensland—especially, most intensely, in the Northern Rivers parts of New South Wales. Those losses being felt across many regions are real. They have a devastating impact on families and on businesses, and require significant reconstruction efforts.

In response to those disasters, our government has provided extensive assistance and support to date. We have provided more than one million payments to families across New South Wales and Queensland in support of their immediate needs for assistance. We have provided the initial activation in relation to disaster assistance support across New South Wales and Queensland, and, contrary to the question that was asked and the assertion that there was not coverage in last night's budget, in fact last night's budget provided more than $6 billion of support for natural disaster assistance response across New South Wales and Queensland.

Parts of that response—which I know Senator Watt knows; he's just playing politics with it—are essentially a demand driven response in elements of category A and category B funding—