❓ Ms. Beard questions the Premier about delays in delivering promised recovery funding for Cyclone Seroja victims. The Premier defends the government's actions and spending, accusing the opposition of undermining recovery efforts.
AnsweredQoN 241Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CYCLONE SEROJA — RECOVERY
241. Ms M. BEARD to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's
announcement today of $9.2 million across the 16 local governments impacted by
cyclone Seroja in April 2021.
(1) Can the
Premier explain why, two years on, these communities are still waiting on the
full delivery of the $104.5 million in recovery funding promised back in
October 2021?
(2) Does the Premier acknowledge that his government's
failure to deliver promised workers' accommodation in the region
is an obstacle to community recovery?
241. Ms M. BEARD to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's
announcement today of $9.2 million across the 16 local governments impacted by
cyclone Seroja in April 2021.
(1) Can the
Premier explain why, two years on, these communities are still waiting on the
full delivery of the $104.5 million in recovery funding promised back in
October 2021?
(2) Does the Premier acknowledge that his government's
failure to deliver promised workers' accommodation in the region
is an obstacle to community recovery?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Cyclone
Seroja was a dramatic event, as anyone who saw the damage immediately
thereafter, as I did, would be aware of. The government kicked into action
immediately, jointly with the federal government and local government to assist
in the recovery. A total of over $50 million has been spent in the recovery
from cyclone Seroja at this point in time and that grows with every week that
passes. There has been $8 million disbursed through the Lord Mayor's
Distress Relief Fund, $3.8 million in state government Premier's
payments for residents —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am answering
the question. You have a few things to answer about your relationship with
Clive Palmer.
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The National
Party does. He is a National Party–like member and the National Party
has to answer for that. The Liberal Party needs to answer for that as well.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do not
interrupt me.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do not
interrupt me when I am trying to answer.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Member for Central Wheatbelt, your interjections are unruly. I am asking you to desist. The question was asked by the member
for North West Central. We have had interjections from you and we have
also had interjections from your leadership. It is not acceptable. I ask the
Premier to continue with his answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : As I was
saying, there has been over $8 million disbursed through the Lord Mayor's
Distress Relief Fund; over $3.8 million in
Premier's payments for residents and small businesses; over $12.3 million
disbursed through disaster recovery funding arrangements grants; over
$5.7 million in power and water outage relief; over $18 million for emergency
clearance, sign replacement, vegetation and repairs on the impacted state road
network; and $4.2 million to remove the
damaged One Mile jetty—or parts of it—in Carnarvon. It is
important to understand that a lot
of the grants for recovery are paid after the completion of work, which is
standing practice for commonwealth–state
grants when it comes to a disaster. We have extended the time line for grants.
I have seen reports that have said that $3 million has been spent; that
is totally wrong. The member for North West Central continues to try to stir up
these issues when work is ongoing in a very heated construction environment in Western
Australia. I know a lot of people have been doing a lot of work to make it
happen, as has occurred in the Kimberley with the recovery from the flood. I urge
the member to not undermine the people who are doing good work.
Seroja was a dramatic event, as anyone who saw the damage immediately
thereafter, as I did, would be aware of. The government kicked into action
immediately, jointly with the federal government and local government to assist
in the recovery. A total of over $50 million has been spent in the recovery
from cyclone Seroja at this point in time and that grows with every week that
passes. There has been $8 million disbursed through the Lord Mayor's
Distress Relief Fund, $3.8 million in state government Premier's
payments for residents —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am answering
the question. You have a few things to answer about your relationship with
Clive Palmer.
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The National
Party does. He is a National Party–like member and the National Party
has to answer for that. The Liberal Party needs to answer for that as well.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do not
interrupt me.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do not
interrupt me when I am trying to answer.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Member for Central Wheatbelt, your interjections are unruly. I am asking you to desist. The question was asked by the member
for North West Central. We have had interjections from you and we have
also had interjections from your leadership. It is not acceptable. I ask the
Premier to continue with his answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : As I was
saying, there has been over $8 million disbursed through the Lord Mayor's
Distress Relief Fund; over $3.8 million in
Premier's payments for residents and small businesses; over $12.3 million
disbursed through disaster recovery funding arrangements grants; over
$5.7 million in power and water outage relief; over $18 million for emergency
clearance, sign replacement, vegetation and repairs on the impacted state road
network; and $4.2 million to remove the
damaged One Mile jetty—or parts of it—in Carnarvon. It is
important to understand that a lot
of the grants for recovery are paid after the completion of work, which is
standing practice for commonwealth–state
grants when it comes to a disaster. We have extended the time line for grants.
I have seen reports that have said that $3 million has been spent; that
is totally wrong. The member for North West Central continues to try to stir up
these issues when work is ongoing in a very heated construction environment in Western
Australia. I know a lot of people have been doing a lot of work to make it
happen, as has occurred in the Kimberley with the recovery from the flood. I urge
the member to not undermine the people who are doing good work.
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