Palaszczuk Government continues fight for disaster funding stripped away by Turnbull

The Palaszczuk Government is continuing to fight for Queensland’s fair share of disaster funding, after the Turnbull Government stripped away more than $1 billion in Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement (NDRRA) payments in last week’s federal budget.
 
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Jackie Trad today moved a motion in Parliament, calling on the Federal Coalition Government and their state colleagues to ensure funds owed to Queensland were paid by the end of June 2016, as previously committed.
 
“This blatantly political decision from the Turnbull Government has left Queensland communities on their own as they continue to rebuild their lives and their communities after repeated natural disasters,” Ms Trad said.
 
“We spent this money in good faith expecting that the Federal Government would follow through on their responsibilities and obligations under the NDRRA.
 
“The decision to delay more than $1 billion in payments for at least two years puts at risk any certainty surrounding future reimbursement of NDRRA claims and Queensland’s ability to respond to future natural disaster events.
 
“There is no question that this money has been spent on rebuilding vital community infrastructure across our state. It helped to rebuild communities in the Far North after Cyclone Ita and helped Bundaberg recover from the catastrophic damage caused by Cyclone Oswald.
 
“It also contributed to rebuilding the iconic ferry terminals along the Brisbane River that were washed away during the floods in 2011.
 
“In the days, weeks and often years after a natural disaster, confidence within the community relies upon certainty that the enormous task of reconstructing lives, society, infrastructure and the economy is being undertaken without thought of politics or elections.
 
“I call on the state LNP members to stand up for their communities, their electorates and their local government areas and lobby their federal colleagues to provide urgent confirmation and payment of the 2014-15 NDRRA claim.”
 
Ms Trad said claims by the Turnbull Government that assurance activities were to blame for the funding freeze did not stack up.
 
“The Federal Government seems to be relying on an Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report from over 12 months ago that looked at New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia – not Queensland,” Ms Trad said.
 
“This report was highly critical of the Federal Government’s Emergency Management Australia (EMA) for its performance in administering NDRRA, including its failure to undertake any assurance activities over state claims.
 
“The Commonwealth have had more than 12 months since this report was issued by the ANAO to get their own backyard in order and have failed to do so.
 
“No engagement of auditors or reviewers and no questions have been asked of QRA since our most recent claim was submitted nearly two months ago.
 
“As it stands, the Turnbull Government has made it clear it doesn’t matter how quickly Queensland’s claim can be acquitted by EMA – they have no intention of supporting disaster ravaged communities in Queensland this year.
 
“The Queensland Government stands ready to provide any and all information the Commonwealth needs to finalise this claim as a matter of urgency. They just need to get on with the job, and show they’re committed to Queensland and the welfare of our communities.”

ENDS

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