FEDERAL assistance for people still reeling from the affects of the March 31 floods has been welcomed by Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Shire mayors, but the $1000 one-one payment has been slammed by the Federal Member for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker.
Coffs Harbour Mayor, Keith Rhoades, and his Bellingen counterpart Mark Troy were delighted by today’s announcement from Jenny Macklin, the Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and the Attorney General Robert McClelland that people still experiencing hardship following the March 31 floods could apply for a special one-off payment of $1000.
But news of the funding drew a stinging attack from Mr Hartsuyker, who said the $1000 payment per household was “an absolute disgrace from a heartless Government that has played politics with people’s lives”.
“Jenny Macklin has effectively treated the flood victims as second-class citizens,” Mr Hartsuyker said.
“She has refused to acknowledge the March event was significantly larger than the November event and that thousands of people were affected.
“To only pay those who are still affected six months after the event ignores the emotional and financial cost that residents endured as a result of the March event.
“Only a fraction of those affected in March will receive this new assistance and even those people will receive significantly less than the victims of other floods.
“All the March flood victims want is to be treated equally – that is the one off-cash payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child.
“That was provided to those affected in the May floods and it has been offered to those affected by the recent November floods.”
The two mayors, co-chairs of the Recovery Committee set up in the wake of the March 31 storm, took the case for residents who were flooded in March - but were denied the opportunity to apply for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment - to Ms Macklin and Mr McClelland through correspondence and a face-to-face meeting in Canberra.
Earlier this month, a report compiled by the Coffs Coast Recovery Committee from a survey of residents affected by the flooding was sent to the ministers.
In their announcement today, both ministers said that the one-off measure was made “in response to the information provided recently by the mayors of Coffs Harbour and Bellingen, which highlighted the community’s need for assistance.
However, Mr Hartsuyker said the survey conducted by Coffs Harbour and Bellingen councils was a sham.
“The survey was always intended to provide political cover to the Federal Government and the results failed to represent the true impact of the March flood,” he said.
“If they were serious, a copy of the survey would have been sent to each flood victim.
“In my view Mayor Keith Rhoades has become an apologist for a Government that is willing to play politics with people’s lives.
“Instead of standing up for the people he was elected to represent, he has stood hand-in-hand with the Rudd Government.
“He must demand equity for Coffs Coast flood victims.
“The fact that one-off cash assistance was made available 48 hours after the November flood event says it all.
“No survey was required in November and there was definitely no need for a survey for the March flood.
“Coffs Coast residents are not stupid. They know the Government turned its back on March flood victims in their hour of greatest need. And for that they should be condemned.”
Today’s announcement of a one-off, ex-gratia payment of $1000 per household is available to people who are still experiencing hardship following the March flooding on or after September 29, 2009.
This financial assistance to homeowners will be provided to households that still need to undertake repairs at an estimated cost of $1000 or more as a direct result of the March floods.
“This is absolutely fantastic news for those people who are still facing economic hardship as a result of the March 31 storm,” Cr Rhoades said.
“Clearly the minister listened to what we had to say and read the report we put together on behalf of our communities.
“We always believed that the Federal Government was not in possession of all the facts of the case, which is why we surveyed residents and put together the report.
“Now that the ministers have been able to see the full picture, they have acted decisively to provide this money to people who suffered so badly in the March 31 flooding and are still in need.”
Cr Mark Troy said that the ministers had made it clear in the meeting that they were very willing to take another look at the issue – and had stood by that commitment.
“Both Ministers said they would look at what options were available to help our residents and this one-off payment is the result,” Cr Troy said.
“It may be eight months down the line, but there are plenty of people that we know of through the survey who will find this one-off payment will still help ease the financial burden they have been left with after the March 31 flood.”
Homeowners still experiencing hardship following the March flooding on or after September 29, 2009, should call Centrelink on 180 22 55 or visit their local Centrelink office.
More information on Federal Government assistance is available at www.disasterassist.gov.au
Appli cations for the one-off payment opened today and people can claim the payment until December 18.
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