Communities need timely assessment of natural disasters to ensure they get quick access to Australian Disaster Recovery Funding as early as possible, according to Shadow Emergency Management Minister, Perin Davey.
Australian Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements were established by the Liberals and Nationals in Government in 2018 to reduce red tape and ensure Commonwealth and State Government funding could get out the door as quickly as possible.
“We have just seen announcements of this action for the Western and Darling Downs in Queensland, but communities around the Carnarvon Ranges and around Kempsey have not had any similar action,” Senator Davey said.
“Local governments in these areas are looking for assistance so they can get to work repairing public infrastructure and advising their citizens about what assistance may be available.
“The sooner councils and people can get support the sooner a region can recover.”
The Commonwealth has also announced from Tuesday 31 October applications for the Australian Disaster Recovery Payment (ADRP) and the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) will open for people who live and work in the Western Downs and Toowoomba Local Government areas.
More information is available at the Services Australia Website: servicesaustralia.gov.au/disasterevents.
“These payments are entirely funded by the Commonwealth and should be provided to the Kempsey and Carnarvon regions as well,” Senator Davey said.
“My office is constantly contacted by people who see funds going out to one region, questioning why they are not eligible when they have had the same damage, just because they live in a different jurisdiction.
“We need to get better with the consistency of these arrangements and how we communicate the wheres and whys to people.”
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