Communities left to scrape up mud with no support from Labor Governments

Communities left to scrape up mud with no support from Labor Governments

Flood affected communities are being left to deal with the recovery from last month’s disaster without access to crucial government disaster funding.

It has now been more than a month since parts of the Mid North Coast were impacted by severe weather which saw more than 5,000 properties inundated and five people killed.

Despite this, residents and businesses across the region are yet to be afforded access to category D funding, which allows them to claim up to $75,000 to aid the recovery effort.

“Thousands of people have been displaced and had their livelihoods turned upside down, yet both the State and Federal Labor Governments have moved at snails’ pace in their efforts to support them,” Senator Cadell said.

“The people of the Mid North Coast have been forced to find their feet alone because of a slow capital city focussed Government.

“In times of disaster, we need a government that moves quickly to support people. Not one that leaves them to pick up the pieces without support.

“These delays are simply unacceptable.”

Nationals Member for Lyne, Alison Penfold, said the flooding disaster had impacted the entire Mid North Coast community.

“It has been more than five weeks since the catastrophic floods, and still not a cent of Category D funding has been committed,” Penfold said.

“When Lismore flooded, the Coalition acted within days. Our communities are just as important, and they deserve the same urgency and respect.

“This recovery won’t be quick. It will take time, resources, and real support on the ground.

“People are exhausted and at the end of their tether.

“It is soul destroying to have to plead for assistance despite the masses of evidence in support of a claim.”

Senator Cadell has called for category D funding to be made available as a matter of urgency.

“These people have been through enough. They don’t deserve to be left in limbo.

“On the ground I am hearing stories that people are being required to lodge surveys to assess damage prior to a declaration being made.

“If the truth is they can’t afford it then it is time to stop passing the buck and front up to the communities of the Mid North Coast.

“The longer it takes for category D funding to be made available, the longer the impacts of this disaster will linger.”