Federal Government must deliver North Queensland disaster funding

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick has today called on the Federal Government to advance all disaster funding payments in line with Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s remarks today.

“Today the Prime Minister claimed disaster funding was ‘with the state government’,” Mr Dick said.

“This is flat-out wrong.

“Under national disaster rules, the Federal Government expects the state and council to pay up front for most recovery works, and then claim it back from the Federal Government after completion.

“Given the Prime Minister’s remarks earlier today, I am calling on him to immediately advance all recovery funding to Queensland.”

Current arrangements provide that the Federal Government is expected to pay for up to 75 per cent of the recovery bill for councils and the state, which is currently estimated at $1.3 billion.

To date, the Federal Government has only transferred $232 million to Queensland, meaning north Queenslanders are short up to $743 million.

“We are also concerned at the slow pace of spending by Federal Government agencies,” Mr Dick said.

“The Prime Minister’s own North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency, with $2 billion in the bank, has only managed to spend $12.6 million.

“I’m calling on the Federal Government to stop the dithering and delays and immediately transfer all funds owing to Queensland so we can get to work faster.

“We haven’t forgotten that just a few years ago the Australian Government withheld more than $1 billion in eligible disaster funding for 12 months while they checked their books.

“Currently, the Australian Government will not be paying its share of the bill for this disaster for two years.

“Queenslanders deserve better than that.”

ENDS

Media contact: Lesley Major 0419 288 284