NATURAL disaster relief funding cuts and cost shifting suggested in a federal government draft report could have serious consequences for bushfire and flood affected Hawkesbury.
The Productivity Commission’s review of federal natural disaster funding arrangements found they were ‘‘not efficient, equitable or sustainable and are prone to cost shifting, ad hoc responses and short-term political opportunism’’.
Horrified by some recommendations, Labor spokesperson for Macquarie, Susan Templeman said ‘‘it’s raised further uncertainty over communities being rebuilt following natural disasters’’.
This Friday, October 17, marks a year since Ms Templeman lost her house in Winmalee to bushfire.
‘‘We need the federal government to immediately rule out (suggested) cuts, like cutting back the $1000 immediate individual disaster relief payment; cutting small business and primary producer concessional loans and reducing funds for rebuilding damaged roads, bridges and vital community infrastructure,’’ she told the Gazette.
Macquarie MP Louise Markus is encouraging residents to lodge a submission on the draft by October 21.
‘‘I appreciate the government has launched this inquiry, allowing for improvements to occur,’’ said Mrs Markus, who is also a volunteer firefighter at Oakville Rural Fire Brigade.
‘‘Our community has recent experience to draw upon in relation to natural disaster funding and it is important to make a contribution to future responses.’’
The report also said post-disaster support to state governments should be reduced as the federal government needed to focus on mitigation measures instead and the states needed to pay more of the recovery costs.
Ms Templeman said the report should be a concern to local primary producers, as it states ‘‘the case for government assistance to business and primary producers after a natural disaster is weak’’, however she applauded the suggestion that insurers be required to provide more detail about insurance policies and the costs of rebuilding.
This is the first comprehensive review of disaster funding in more than a decade.