Prime Minister’s “mean and tricky” flood assistance decision attacked by Hartsuyker in Federal Parliament

June 2, 2009

Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker has again raised the injustice of the Rudd Government’s decision to not extend one off cash payments to Coffs Coast residents affected by the March 31 floods.

 

Speaking in Federal Parliament last night (Monday), Mr Hartsuyker said Coffs Coast residents had been denied a financial assistance whilst residents affected by the May floods had been provided with one- off cash payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child.

 

“I wish to bring to the attention of the House an injustice which is being perpetrated by the Rudd government on the people of the Coffs Coast,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

 

“It is an injustice that highlights the very best and the very worst in our system of democracy. It is an injustice that the residents of the Coffs Coast will not forget quickly.”

 

Mr Hartsuyker questioned the excuse offered by Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, that the cash payments were not provided because only four local government areas were affected by the March 31 floods.

 

“What is so compelling about the number four? Could it have been three or could it have been two? Was it the fault of the victims that there were only four local

government areas affected?

 

“Was it the fault of the victims that because there were only four affected they should not receive this assistance? I do not think that the victims saw it that way and I do not think that the general public on the Coffs Coast see it that way.”

 

Mr Hartsuyker praised the Coffs Coast Advocate for organising a petition calling on the Government to provide the same cash payments.

 

“More recently, the Coffs Coast Advocate printed a petition on the front page of its Saturday edition calling on this House to do what the government would not do, and that is to give Coffs Coast flood victims a fair go.

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