November floods confirm Macklin’s immoral treatment of March 31 flood victims

November 9, 2009

The Rudd Government’s failure to provide March 31 Coffs Coast flood victims with one-off cash grants has been exposed as immoral, Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker said today.

The Government has announced one-off cash grants for those people affected by flooding over the past four days.

However, more than seven months after the March 31 event, the Rudd Labor Government continues to review its decision not to provide cash to those affected by that event.

“There has never been any reason to deny the March flood victims the one-off cash grants.

“This year we have had major flooding on the North Coast in February, March, May and November. There was also flooding in the Bellingen and Nambucca shires in October.

“The Rudd Government has provided the one-off grants of $1000 per adult and $400 per child to residents affected by the February, May and November events.

“Yet for reasons only known to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Federal Minister Jenny Macklin no cash assistance has been provided to those affected by the March event.

“We now have the farcical situation where within 48 hours of the November event, the Government has announced cash grants whilst they still reconsider assistance for the March event.

“The survey which was recently conducted through the Coffs Harbour and Bellingen Councils was nothing more than a sham. The double standards and hypocrisy are breathtaking.

“Everyone knows the impact the March flood had on this region - just as we know what impact this most recent flood has had.  Both events had a significant impact but the March event was much bigger.

“How can Federal Labor sit on its hands for one more day and feign concern for March flood victims, whilst immediately approving assistance for those affected over the past 72 hours.

“Te reality is that no survey was required in March and no survey was required for November.

“If the Rudd Government was committed to treating all Australians equally they would provide the cash grants for all residents affected by each of the flood events.

“Local residents will not forget that the Prime Minister announced in the Federal Parliament that cash would be provided for March victims and then he reneged on that commitment.”

Mr Hartsuyker also called on the Federal Government to provide cash grants to small business and primary producers affected by the November event.

“Grants of up to $15,000 were provided in March and May to help small business reopen for business.

“Some primary producers have only recently completed repairs and all that has now been washed away. The same Government cash grants must be extended for those affected by this November flood.”