Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How can the Gillard Labor government publicly boast about helping Cyclone Yasi victims recover when it is hindering the recovery efforts and holding back money from so many businesses in desperate need? The Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements for Cyclone Yasi are a complete farce. Businesses directly hit by Cyclone Yasi in Far North Queensland are being knocked back for assistance. They are told they are ineligible under the current ridiculously stringent and onerous criteria. The majority of businesses are ineligible for NDRRA category D relief despite being told that they will get access to it by this government. These people are on their knees and are dismissing employees by the day and are at breaking point. Many are faced with closing their doors and joining the unemployment queue in a region with the nation's highest unemployment, at close to 14 per cent.

The category D extension for Cairns under the NDRRA, which has been hailed by the government in recent media announcements as a 'commitment to respond to the challenges facing communities impacted', is quite frankly farcical. Most people in business in Far North Queensland do not qualify. The NDRRA also fails to support communities such as Bloomfield, Cooktown and the wider Cape York area which have had their businesses destroyed, with main roads cut off since February this year when Cyclone Yasi hit. This is three months without trade. My office is being bombarded with calls from people furious about this situation. These business people feel hung out to dry. Instead of spinning, start delivering and support the business people who provide employment and drive our economy. (Time expired)