David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management) Share this | Hansard source

The legislation that was passed through this House and that had bipartisan support quite clearly said in it that the funds within the $200 million dividend that was paid out over a year were part of two components, including $150 million that could be used for a catastrophic event. Well, for the catastrophic event that we encountered during the last black summer, we put $2 billion out. In fact, $150 million was spent in the electorates of some of those opposite alone. The $50 million for mitigation is now being assessed, after we went out for application. It will be rolled out before 30 June. This was the first year in which the fund was to roll out and the dividend was to be paid.

Disappointingly, either those opposite didn't read the legislation before they voted for it or they are playing politics. Please: this is about people, not politics. This is about making sure that the money that we put out is about recovery at a local level, not at a Canberra level. This is about those people who went through the disasters, to make sure that it was about locally led recovery. So please, if you come into this House—you want to be elected to this House, you want to vote on legislation—it is imperative: either you read it properly and understand what you are voting on, or please leave the politics at the door.

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