Palaszczuk Government fights for fair disaster funding rules

Published Thursday, 01 September, 2016 at 11:30 AM

Deputy Premier, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Trade and Investment
The Honourable Jackie Trad

The Palaszczuk Government is calling on the Turnbull Government to stop short-changing councils with their ill-considered rule changes to Queensland’s disaster relief funding. 

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said that while the innovative day labour savings program was delivering value for money for important reconstruction programs the Turnbull Government was again playing political games.

“In 2011, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority developed a model which would deliver significant savings through councils using their own workforce and equipment on reconstruction works,” Ms Trad said.

“Approximately $245 million in savings have been identified across 62 local government areas where they have used their own day labour and plant and equipment between 2011 and 2013.

“This program also has a positive impact on disaster affected communities, supporting local jobs during recovery works.

“Unfortunately, this common sense approach hasn’t been applied consistently by the Turnbull Government who have recently excluded councils from using their own plant and equipment for disaster recovery works.

“This decision was applied retrospectively and means more than 30 disaster-affected Queensland communities are being exposed unfairly to unexpected costs.

“Affected local councils, including some of our smallest councils like Winton, Barcaldine and Barcoo, could be out of pocket by more than $10 million as a result of the Commonwealth suddenly changing these rules.

“Despite repeated lobbying by the Palaszczuk Government over nearly two years, the Abbott/Turnbull Government have refused to acknowledge the strain this unfair decision will place on struggling regional Queensland communities, who are already dealing with the ravages of drought.

“I implore the Prime Minister and Minister for Justice Michael Keenan to listen to local Mayors, Queenslanders and even some of their own colleagues so we can achieve a better, more economic outcome for our communities.”

ENDS

Media contact: Anna Jabour 0429 890 942