❓ Mr Michel asks about the $104.5 million Cyclone Seroja assistance package. The Minister details how the funds will support affected communities, residents, small businesses, and primary producers through various grants and programs.
AnsweredQoN 316Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CYCLONE SEROJA — ASSISTANCE PACKAGE
316. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the recent announcement
that communities devastated by tropical cyclone Seroja will receive the largest
commonwealth–state disaster recovery package in Western Australian
history.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how this historic $104.5 million in funds will
support those affected communities?
(2) Can the
minister advise how this will help residents, small businesses and primary
producers during the next stage of recovery?
316. Mr K.J.J. MICHEL to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the recent announcement
that communities devastated by tropical cyclone Seroja will receive the largest
commonwealth–state disaster recovery package in Western Australian
history.
(1) Can the
minister update the house on how this historic $104.5 million in funds will
support those affected communities?
(2) Can the
minister advise how this will help residents, small businesses and primary
producers during the next stage of recovery?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–�(2) I
thank the member for Pilbara for his excellent question. I am always amazed by
his brilliant advocacy and work as a local member. Whenever I am in Karratha
and the Pilbara, I am blown away at the stature of this gentleman—the way he is held in regard. He is a local
superhero. I rarely see it in any of the regions . I really see the
appreciation that there is for his work. Members really have to go along to
Karratha to experience it, because it is something else. Thank you, member.
Only when I go to Baldivis do I see such local adulation—only then!
I
thank the member for the question. Indeed, he is correct that the state and
federal governments announced last week the biggest recovery funding
arrangements for any disaster event in Western Australian history. It took a lot
of work between local, federal and state governments, and it involved
cooperation at the federal and local levels. I worked very closely with
emergency services ministers at the federal level, including David Littleproud
and Bridget McKenzie and, of course, shire presidents at the local level. It is
so rewarding to see that cooperation between all sides of politics when Western
Australians are in need of support. It is a massive response to a massive
disaster—an unprecedented disaster that deserved an unprecedented
recovery package, and that is what that $104.5 million joint recovery
arrangement is providing. It includes community welfare and outreach programs
located at various hubs across the region, because this was a very impactful
cyclone. It was one of the most devastating in our history, so that those hubs
are located in places including Northampton, Kalbarri and Morawa. They will
operate for two years to provide financial assistance, emergency and temporary
accommodation, and psychological support services, because this disaster has
had a huge impact on individuals in communities where there has been an impact.
It also includes recovery and resilience grants for residents of up to $20 000
to build back better when they are rebuilding their homes—maybe extra
security to make them more able to withstand the impacts of weather and cyclone
in the future. Importantly, there are also primary producer recovery grants of
up to $25 000. So many of the people impacted across the Seroja impact zone
were farmers—primary producers. About 90 per cent of farmers were
impacted in some way. It has been a very difficult and challenging time for
them, with seeding beginning at the time that Seroja hit. As a constant visitor
to the region, I am heartened to say how green the environment is there and how
much of a bumper crop we are going to get.
It is a silver lining to a very challenging time, and I am sure that the many
regional members in our party will appreciate the importance of primary
produce in this state and country and the contribution it makes to our state.
Another grant available is the small business recovery grant of up to $25 000 to help the many small businesses impacted
across the midwest. Importantly, there is an in-principle agreement with
the federal government to get assistance for the establishment of workers
accommodation, which will be critical to the rebuild.
This is a multi-tranched approach to
assistance. We saw the first tranche when the cyclone hit. We needed to respond
to the emergency and the clean-up. The second tranche was the first elements of
the disaster recovery funding arrangements, which involved more clean-up
support and support for shires across the region. This tranche, the most
important yet, is a record, as I have described. It is about the recovery and
rebuilding process. No-one denies that this is a significant disaster that has
impacted Western Australia, and it will be felt for a long time to come. It is
a long road, but the announcement on Thursday for this record contribution by
both the state and federal governments and that record cooperation between
state, federal and local governments for a community-based response to this
disaster is crucial and significant. I thank the member for the question.
thank the member for Pilbara for his excellent question. I am always amazed by
his brilliant advocacy and work as a local member. Whenever I am in Karratha
and the Pilbara, I am blown away at the stature of this gentleman—the way he is held in regard. He is a local
superhero. I rarely see it in any of the regions . I really see the
appreciation that there is for his work. Members really have to go along to
Karratha to experience it, because it is something else. Thank you, member.
Only when I go to Baldivis do I see such local adulation—only then!
I
thank the member for the question. Indeed, he is correct that the state and
federal governments announced last week the biggest recovery funding
arrangements for any disaster event in Western Australian history. It took a lot
of work between local, federal and state governments, and it involved
cooperation at the federal and local levels. I worked very closely with
emergency services ministers at the federal level, including David Littleproud
and Bridget McKenzie and, of course, shire presidents at the local level. It is
so rewarding to see that cooperation between all sides of politics when Western
Australians are in need of support. It is a massive response to a massive
disaster—an unprecedented disaster that deserved an unprecedented
recovery package, and that is what that $104.5 million joint recovery
arrangement is providing. It includes community welfare and outreach programs
located at various hubs across the region, because this was a very impactful
cyclone. It was one of the most devastating in our history, so that those hubs
are located in places including Northampton, Kalbarri and Morawa. They will
operate for two years to provide financial assistance, emergency and temporary
accommodation, and psychological support services, because this disaster has
had a huge impact on individuals in communities where there has been an impact.
It also includes recovery and resilience grants for residents of up to $20 000
to build back better when they are rebuilding their homes—maybe extra
security to make them more able to withstand the impacts of weather and cyclone
in the future. Importantly, there are also primary producer recovery grants of
up to $25 000. So many of the people impacted across the Seroja impact zone
were farmers—primary producers. About 90 per cent of farmers were
impacted in some way. It has been a very difficult and challenging time for
them, with seeding beginning at the time that Seroja hit. As a constant visitor
to the region, I am heartened to say how green the environment is there and how
much of a bumper crop we are going to get.
It is a silver lining to a very challenging time, and I am sure that the many
regional members in our party will appreciate the importance of primary
produce in this state and country and the contribution it makes to our state.
Another grant available is the small business recovery grant of up to $25 000 to help the many small businesses impacted
across the midwest. Importantly, there is an in-principle agreement with
the federal government to get assistance for the establishment of workers
accommodation, which will be critical to the rebuild.
This is a multi-tranched approach to
assistance. We saw the first tranche when the cyclone hit. We needed to respond
to the emergency and the clean-up. The second tranche was the first elements of
the disaster recovery funding arrangements, which involved more clean-up
support and support for shires across the region. This tranche, the most
important yet, is a record, as I have described. It is about the recovery and
rebuilding process. No-one denies that this is a significant disaster that has
impacted Western Australia, and it will be felt for a long time to come. It is
a long road, but the announcement on Thursday for this record contribution by
both the state and federal governments and that record cooperation between
state, federal and local governments for a community-based response to this
disaster is crucial and significant. I thank the member for the question.
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