MP hits back on disaster funding

Senator Cameron attacked Mrs Markus for encouraging residents to make submissions on the review’s draft report, without making one herself or making her views public.

‘‘It shows a lack of leadership and a lack of courage that typifies her term in office,’’ he said.

But the Liberal MP returned fire, saying the former Labor government did not have the ‘‘fortitude’’ to review natural disaster arrangements.

‘‘It is extraordinary that Doug Cameron is taking this line for a review that this government, not the former Labor government, commissioned to undertake,’’ she said. 

‘‘Courage is facing the people and listening to their concerns even when they are angry with the decisions the government has made.

‘‘Courage is also commissioning an independent body such as the Productivity Commission to review funding.

‘‘The former government did not have such fortitude and so I can only presume were so arrogant they did not feel they required improving.’’

While Senator Cameron made a lengthy written submission to the inquiry, Mrs Markus said she had lobbied on the issue.

‘‘Taking an interest and fighting for the best for the community is more than putting pen to paper,’’ she said.

‘‘I have met and made representations to the relevant federal ministers and have spoken directly with the Productivity Commission.’’

In last week’s Gazette Labor spokesperson for Macquarie Susan Templeman said she was ‘‘horrified’’ about some of the draft recommendations.

‘‘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 their contribution to rebuilding major community infrastructure,’’ she said.

Mrs Markus did not address these issues directly in her response to the Gazette.

The federal government has said it won’t pre-empt the review’s findings.