❓ Premier outlines disaster assistance available to communities affected by Cyclone Olwyn, including personal hardship assistance, financial aid for government agencies, and support for primary producers and businesses.
AnsweredQoN 159Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CYCLONE OLWYN — COMMONWEALTH–STATE
ASSISTANCE
159. Mr B.J. GRYLLS to the Premier:
I refer to today's joint
commonwealth–state government announcement that disaster assistance
will be provided to communities affected by ex-tropical cyclone Olwyn. Can the
Premier please outline to the house what this assistance may include?
ASSISTANCE
159. Mr B.J. GRYLLS to the Premier:
I refer to today's joint
commonwealth–state government announcement that disaster assistance
will be provided to communities affected by ex-tropical cyclone Olwyn. Can the
Premier please outline to the house what this assistance may include?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. As people know, tropical
cyclone Olwyn caused extensive damage through the Exmouth and Carnarvon areas.
An assessment of the damage was undertaken over the weekend and through
yesterday. The Minister for Water and the Minister for Agriculture and Food
inspected the site on Sunday afternoon and reported to cabinet yesterday.
Today, the commonwealth and Western Australian governments announced that the
area has been declared a natural disaster, which therefore triggers disaster
assistance. The areas declared are the local government areas of Ashburton,
Carnarvon, Exmouth and Shark Bay.
The form of assistance is in several parts. Firstly, there is
personal hardship assistance for individuals and families who have been
affected. That assistance can include food, clothing, accommodation, essential
repairs, replacement of household contents and the like. The second form of
assistance is financial assistance for both local and state government
agencies. There has been quite a lot of damage, particularly to local
government buildings and equipment in the area. The total devastation of banana
crops in Carnarvon has been a major issue. Interest rate subsidies are
available to small businesses, including primary producers who have been
affected by the cyclonic conditions, and also freight subsidies for primary
producers. All of that is now in play.
One particular problem,
especially in Carnarvon, is the amount of asbestos in buildings and fences.
Yesterday, the state government gave the message to the shire to get on with
cleaning it up. We will ensure that the cost of that is also covered by either
the Western Australian natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements or the state.
I take this opportunity to thank those people who are working
on restoring some sense of order. I thank the shire and its staff in each area,
as well as Horizon Power, the Water Corporation, police, emergency services and
the volunteers who all play a role and will continue to do so. There was
significant damage, particularly to the plantations in the area, and the state
will do all it can to help restore those communities and get them back to a normal
life.
cyclone Olwyn caused extensive damage through the Exmouth and Carnarvon areas.
An assessment of the damage was undertaken over the weekend and through
yesterday. The Minister for Water and the Minister for Agriculture and Food
inspected the site on Sunday afternoon and reported to cabinet yesterday.
Today, the commonwealth and Western Australian governments announced that the
area has been declared a natural disaster, which therefore triggers disaster
assistance. The areas declared are the local government areas of Ashburton,
Carnarvon, Exmouth and Shark Bay.
The form of assistance is in several parts. Firstly, there is
personal hardship assistance for individuals and families who have been
affected. That assistance can include food, clothing, accommodation, essential
repairs, replacement of household contents and the like. The second form of
assistance is financial assistance for both local and state government
agencies. There has been quite a lot of damage, particularly to local
government buildings and equipment in the area. The total devastation of banana
crops in Carnarvon has been a major issue. Interest rate subsidies are
available to small businesses, including primary producers who have been
affected by the cyclonic conditions, and also freight subsidies for primary
producers. All of that is now in play.
One particular problem,
especially in Carnarvon, is the amount of asbestos in buildings and fences.
Yesterday, the state government gave the message to the shire to get on with
cleaning it up. We will ensure that the cost of that is also covered by either
the Western Australian natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements or the state.
I take this opportunity to thank those people who are working
on restoring some sense of order. I thank the shire and its staff in each area,
as well as Horizon Power, the Water Corporation, police, emergency services and
the volunteers who all play a role and will continue to do so. There was
significant damage, particularly to the plantations in the area, and the state
will do all it can to help restore those communities and get them back to a normal
life.
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