❓ The Leader of the Opposition questions the Premier regarding the adequacy of the financial assistance package offered to residents affected by the Margaret River bushfires, particularly in relation to actual damages and business losses. The Premier defends the package, stating it mirrors the Toodyay fire assistance and doesn't preclude legal action.
AnsweredQoN 43Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MARGARET RIVER BUSHFIRES —
GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION
43. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
response to the Keelty report into the Margaret River fires, which was released
last week.
(1) Does the
Premier concede that the amount of compensation offered to residents was not
based on the actual damage suffered?
(2) Did the state insurance assessor
inspect the damage?
(3) Has the
government sought or obtained legal advice about its exposure to liability from
the insurers; and, if so, what is that advice?
(4) Why does the
compensation package fail to acknowledge that a number of people lost their
livelihoods or their businesses suffered substantially as a result of actions that
the Premier has accepted responsibility for?
GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION
43. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
response to the Keelty report into the Margaret River fires, which was released
last week.
(1) Does the
Premier concede that the amount of compensation offered to residents was not
based on the actual damage suffered?
(2) Did the state insurance assessor
inspect the damage?
(3) Has the
government sought or obtained legal advice about its exposure to liability from
the insurers; and, if so, what is that advice?
(4) Why does the
compensation package fail to acknowledge that a number of people lost their
livelihoods or their businesses suffered substantially as a result of actions that
the Premier has accepted responsibility for?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I
thank the Leader of the Opposition for
the question. Can I first point out that it is not a compensation package; it
is a financial assistance package. That may be a small but significant
difference. The amount of financial assistance was based on what was made
available to people who lost their homes in the Toodyay fire, so it is essentially
the same package. The final criteria will be released in the next few days, but
it was basically built around what was developed for Toodyay.
Obviously,
people have their own private insurance. My understanding is that all but one
of the properties is insured, although several would be underinsured. They will
obviously go to their insurers. Those insurers will no doubt negotiate with the
state government's own insurers, so that will play out. The assistance of
up to $190 000 that will be made available places no limitation on the right of
people to pursue legal action if they so choose. The answer is simply that it
is based on the Toodyay package.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It is not for the actual damage.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not, and neither was Toodyay.
thank the Leader of the Opposition for
the question. Can I first point out that it is not a compensation package; it
is a financial assistance package. That may be a small but significant
difference. The amount of financial assistance was based on what was made
available to people who lost their homes in the Toodyay fire, so it is essentially
the same package. The final criteria will be released in the next few days, but
it was basically built around what was developed for Toodyay.
Obviously,
people have their own private insurance. My understanding is that all but one
of the properties is insured, although several would be underinsured. They will
obviously go to their insurers. Those insurers will no doubt negotiate with the
state government's own insurers, so that will play out. The assistance of
up to $190 000 that will be made available places no limitation on the right of
people to pursue legal action if they so choose. The answer is simply that it
is based on the Toodyay package.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It is not for the actual damage.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, it is not, and neither was Toodyay.
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