❓ Question addresses the McGowan government's support for communities impacted by Cyclone Seroja, with the Minister outlining financial assistance and recovery efforts. The Minister's response includes a lengthy digression about a football game.
AnsweredQoN 308Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CYCLONE SEROJA — IMPACTED COMMUNITIES —
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
308. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to the ongoing efforts to
help communities across the midwest recover from the devastating impacts of
cyclone Seroja.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the measures
being implemented by the McGowan Labor government to support residents
and businesses impacted by cyclone Seroja?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the state government will continue to provide
support to these residents and businesses as the recovery efforts continue?
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
308. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Emergency
Services:
I refer to the ongoing efforts to
help communities across the midwest recover from the devastating impacts of
cyclone Seroja.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the measures
being implemented by the McGowan Labor government to support residents
and businesses impacted by cyclone Seroja?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the state government will continue to provide
support to these residents and businesses as the recovery efforts continue?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Kimberley for that question and for her advocacy for her
constituents, who are always concerned about natural events impacting on her
part of the world. This question gives me the opportunity
in my response to outline some of the many things that the government is
undertaking to allow communities in that part of the world to recover.
Today, I proudly wear a beautiful green-and-gold tie.
Mr R.S. Love : It is a good
colour.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : It is a beautiful
colour, member, but it is not a Nationals WA tie; I am not joining up with the
National Party!
Several members interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : In fact,
members, this tie represents a far more respected and relevant institution! It
represents the mighty Northampton Rams Football Club. On the weekend, I was at
the Rams' game against Towns at Northampton
Oval. There were many people there. The result was very interesting.
Northampton scored 30–21 (201) to
defeat Towns 4–2 (26). Watching that game was almost like being in the
Legislative Assembly! Of course, it was obviously aided and abetted by the
wonderful Harry Taylor, the Geelong great, who scored no fewer than 10 goals.
It was a great occasion. The member for Geraldton and Hon Sandra Carr were there. Hon Steve Martin, a Liberal upper house member, was also there. The
only party not represented was the Nationals WA! It had no-one there.
Several members interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : I am not
going to hold that against the Nationals. I am going to give its members a leave
pass because we know the CAT bus does not go that far!
Several members interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : Maybe you can
cover that in your committee inquiry!
The state government has approved
more than $10 million of funding for the cyclone Seroja recovery. It includes $2.5 million for small business and individual
grants of $4 000; $2.3 million through the Department of Communities' emergency assistance program; $2.2 million
in Water Corporation service waivers; $3.1 million in state government electricity relief grants; and $220 000 in tourism
marketing support to attract travellers back to the Coral Coast. The state government is doing everything it can to get assistance to those who need
it most. I encourage those affected to apply for the help that is available.
Applications for both the individual
and business grants of $4 000 are open until 30 June. People who have been
impacted are urged to take advantage of the program. So far, 672 applications
have been received for residential grants,
with more than $1.9 million approved for payment of the cyclone Seroja small
business relief grant; 230 applications have been received with 133
payments made so far, totalling $532 000. The Department of Communities has
handed out more than $2.3 million in payments and provided accommodation
support for those who have requested it. So far, more than $3.1 million in
electricity relief funding has been distributed, including Synergy's
$363 credit, Western Power's $1 000 generator fuel grants and the $160
extended outage payment, which I understand was doubled for cyclone Seroja.
The state and federal
governments are also currently finalising a multimillion-dollar package to
support the next stage of the recovery and rebuild. I would like to thank the
commonwealth for its support. These communities have not been forgotten. We
know how difficult this is, but this huge recovery package is going to make
sure we rebuild and support the future of Northampton, Kalbarri and the entire
midwest. This will provide support for temporary accommodation for workers
to ensure that the rebuilding effort can be undertaken as quickly as possible.
It will help clean up the disaster area.
Under the joint program with the federal government, there will be additional
welfare and health services, the restoration of community
infrastructure, mental health support, and assistance for farmers and small
businesses.
I
would like to finish by once again extending my gratitude to all emergency
services personnel who have put their lives on hold to help communities in
need. We have seen that again, members, just this week with the State Emergency Service down in the great southern responding to more than 170 requests
for assistance during that very severe rainfall and storm event. This year has
been a very difficult time for Western Australians. I urge all members in this
house to encourage their communities to prepare their properties for the coming
storm season.
thank the member for Kimberley for that question and for her advocacy for her
constituents, who are always concerned about natural events impacting on her
part of the world. This question gives me the opportunity
in my response to outline some of the many things that the government is
undertaking to allow communities in that part of the world to recover.
Today, I proudly wear a beautiful green-and-gold tie.
Mr R.S. Love : It is a good
colour.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : It is a beautiful
colour, member, but it is not a Nationals WA tie; I am not joining up with the
National Party!
Several members interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : In fact,
members, this tie represents a far more respected and relevant institution! It
represents the mighty Northampton Rams Football Club. On the weekend, I was at
the Rams' game against Towns at Northampton
Oval. There were many people there. The result was very interesting.
Northampton scored 30–21 (201) to
defeat Towns 4–2 (26). Watching that game was almost like being in the
Legislative Assembly! Of course, it was obviously aided and abetted by the
wonderful Harry Taylor, the Geelong great, who scored no fewer than 10 goals.
It was a great occasion. The member for Geraldton and Hon Sandra Carr were there. Hon Steve Martin, a Liberal upper house member, was also there. The
only party not represented was the Nationals WA! It had no-one there.
Several members interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : I am not
going to hold that against the Nationals. I am going to give its members a leave
pass because we know the CAT bus does not go that far!
Several members interjected.
Mr R.R. WHITBY : Maybe you can
cover that in your committee inquiry!
The state government has approved
more than $10 million of funding for the cyclone Seroja recovery. It includes $2.5 million for small business and individual
grants of $4 000; $2.3 million through the Department of Communities' emergency assistance program; $2.2 million
in Water Corporation service waivers; $3.1 million in state government electricity relief grants; and $220 000 in tourism
marketing support to attract travellers back to the Coral Coast. The state government is doing everything it can to get assistance to those who need
it most. I encourage those affected to apply for the help that is available.
Applications for both the individual
and business grants of $4 000 are open until 30 June. People who have been
impacted are urged to take advantage of the program. So far, 672 applications
have been received for residential grants,
with more than $1.9 million approved for payment of the cyclone Seroja small
business relief grant; 230 applications have been received with 133
payments made so far, totalling $532 000. The Department of Communities has
handed out more than $2.3 million in payments and provided accommodation
support for those who have requested it. So far, more than $3.1 million in
electricity relief funding has been distributed, including Synergy's
$363 credit, Western Power's $1 000 generator fuel grants and the $160
extended outage payment, which I understand was doubled for cyclone Seroja.
The state and federal
governments are also currently finalising a multimillion-dollar package to
support the next stage of the recovery and rebuild. I would like to thank the
commonwealth for its support. These communities have not been forgotten. We
know how difficult this is, but this huge recovery package is going to make
sure we rebuild and support the future of Northampton, Kalbarri and the entire
midwest. This will provide support for temporary accommodation for workers
to ensure that the rebuilding effort can be undertaken as quickly as possible.
It will help clean up the disaster area.
Under the joint program with the federal government, there will be additional
welfare and health services, the restoration of community
infrastructure, mental health support, and assistance for farmers and small
businesses.
I
would like to finish by once again extending my gratitude to all emergency
services personnel who have put their lives on hold to help communities in
need. We have seen that again, members, just this week with the State Emergency Service down in the great southern responding to more than 170 requests
for assistance during that very severe rainfall and storm event. This year has
been a very difficult time for Western Australians. I urge all members in this
house to encourage their communities to prepare their properties for the coming
storm season.
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