Turnbull yet to reimburse disaster affected councils

With the Turnbull Cabinet meeting in Brisbane today the Palaszczuk Government is renewing calls for the Commonwealth to pay their share of plant and equipment costs owed to local councils across Queensland.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Jackie Trad said that the Commonwealth had been silent on the issue for too long.

“Over 30 councils across Queensland have been left $10 million out of pocket by the Turnbull Government who made retrospective changes to the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA),” Ms Trad said.

“Mr Turnbull is visiting some of our smallest, most disaster affected councils, like Winton, who they have still not reimbursed and who do not have the budget to deal with such significant unplanned costs.

“Queensland’s councils acted in good faith, based on the government’s own rules and have been left out of pocket by the unfair, retrospective change.

“There has not been an acknowledgment of this problem from the Prime Minister or the Minister responsible, Minister for Justice Michael Keenan.

“I have been asking to meet with Minister Keenan for months. Just this morning, I rang him personally to attempt to fast-track a meeting while the federal cabinet is here in Queensland.

“Mr Keenan won’t set a time this week to meet with me to discuss this significant issue.

“Last week, the Palaszczuk Government took the unprecedented step of committing to pay our 25% share of plant and equipment costs without a commitment from the Commonwealth.

“We will always stand up for Queenslanders impacted by natural disasters. I am once again calling on the Turnbull Government to do the same.”

Councils using their own day labour and plant and equipment has been demonstrated to be the most cost effective solution for many remote and disaster affected communities, delivering savings of around $245 million.

ENDS

Media contact: Anna Jabour 0429 890 942