Queensland still waiting for Turnbull and LNP to stump up Cyclone Debbie funding

Published Thursday, 06 July, 2017 at 09:50 AM

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

Deputy Premier, Minister for Transport and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jackie Trad

The Palaszczuk Government is once again calling on the Turnbull LNP Government to match their commitment to Category D funding under the National Disaster Recovery and Relief Arrangements (NDRRA).

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that communities devastated by Cyclone Debbie were still waiting for the Federal Government to make a commitment to recovery infrastructure.

“My Government has put $110 million on the table and we are calling on Malcolm Turnbull and the LNP to match our commitment and work together to help our communities recover,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Unfortunately, Malcolm Turnbull seems more interested in playing politics than supporting the communities hardest hit by Cyclone Debbie through this important infrastructure and recovery package.

“This application has been sitting in Canberra for two months, and Turnbull is inventing problems with paperwork while these communities are suffering.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Jackie Trad said that it appeared that the LNP were causing unnecessary delays to try and avoid paying their fair share.

“Let’s be clear – the claims by the Turnbull Government that they are waiting on us for paperwork is a complete fabrication,” Ms Trad said.

“We submitted a detailed business case to the Commonwealth on 11 May and additional information requested by the Commonwealth was provided promptly.

“The last of the requested information was provided to the Commonwealth on 8 June 2017 and we have been assured repeatedly that no further information is required. Why are the Turnbull Government sitting on their hands when our communities need support now?”

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business Leeanne Enoch, who today visited affected businesses in Proserpine, said that Category D was essential for stimulating local economies in the wake of Cyclone Debbie.

“Category D is all about delivering projects in regions that have been impacted by extraordinary events,” Ms Enoch said.

“These projects are important for getting our small businesses back on track and getting money back into the local economy.

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Malcolm Turnbull has any interest in this important endeavour. He’s acting disgracefully by politicising the disaster recovery process and frankly Queenslanders deserve better.”

NDRRA Category D assistance is provided to alleviate distress or damage in circumstances that are considered exceptional.

The Category D request was developed in partnership with impacted communities and includes a local infrastructure package, a betterment fund to build damaged infrastructure back to a higher standard and an economic package to support industry and business.

Media contact:

Kirby Anderson (Premier's office) 0417 263 791

Anna Jabour (Deputy Premier's office) 0429 890 942

Neil Doorley (Minister Enoch's office) 0412 393 909