Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 13 August 2012:

(1) For what reasons were the following applications for $25 000 in clean up and recovery grants from the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement rejected:

(a) the Joel Joel community, following the January 2011 floods, given it was the third flood in less than 12 months for the community that caused an estimated $3.7 million in damage, including 400 km of fencing destroyed and the loss of 1 500 sheep;

(b) the Wangaratta community, following flooding that has had a significant impact on the local community; and

(c) the Campaspe Shire community, following flooding that has had a significant impact on the local community.

(2) Were these communities provided feedback on why the applications were rejected; if so, when and how.

(3) Why has the Government not honoured the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement, established under the Council of Australian Governments to address these types of incidents.

(4) (a) What constitutes criteria for the activation of Category C under the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement for the nine Victorian local government areas still awaiting a response from the Minister following the 2011 flooding events; and

(b) when will each of these communities be advised of the decision on their applications.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Attorney-General has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:

The Commonwealth has offered Category C clean-up and recovery grants of up to $10,000 for primary producers in the areas requested by the Victorian Government that were affected by the December 2011 storms and floods, February-March 2012 floods and June 2012 floods. The Prime Minister has written to the Victorian Government regarding this matter.