THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
GRAHAM PERRETT MP
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE SHADOW
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
MEMBER FOR MORETON
MEDIA RELEASE
QUEENSLAND DISASTER ASSISTANCE
Labor calls on the Abbott Government to ensure payments to Queenslanders affected by Tropical Cyclone Marcia are made without delay.
Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk announced yesterday the activation of jointly funded National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) and the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) for affected residents in the Local Government Areas of Banana, Central Highlands, Gladstone, Livingstone, Rockhampton and Woorabinda.
Labor welcomes the Abbott Government’s quick response to Queensland’s request for assistance. However, there can be no delay in processing payments to Queenslanders affected by this devastating cyclone.
Under NDRRA the State Government determines which areas receive assistance and the Commonwealth Government funds up to 75 per cent of that assistance.
The AGDRP makes available a payment of up to $1000 to residents who have been seriously injured or whose homes have sustained major damage.
The Government has again restricted eligibility for the AGDRP to exclude circumstances which had been covered by previous activations under Labor.
Individuals are not eligible to receive the AGDRP where:
- • A person has been unable to return to their principal place of residence for a period of 24 hours or more as a direct result of the major disaster, or
• There has been no access to the principal place of residence for a period of at least 24 hours, or
• An individual or family has been stranded in their residence for a period of at least 24 hours, or
• A place of residence was without a particular utility service (electricity, water, gas, sewage services or another essential service) for a continuous period of 48 hours. - The Government must reconsider restricting AGDRP eligibility and prioritise payment of assistance to the hundreds of affected Queenslanders.
MONDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2014
