Commonwealth disaster payments delivered in record time
Robert McClelland
posted Tuesday, 7 February 2012
The Gillard Government is already helping hundreds of people affected by floods in Queensland and New South Wales, with $1.1 million in payments made within 12 hours of the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) being activated.
Minister for Emergency Management Robert McClelland and Minister for Human Services Brendan O’Connor toured some of the affected communities yesterday, meeting emergency workers, community leaders and residents in Moree, Charleville and Roma.
The Government activated the AGDRP at 1.30pm yesterday, and by midnight, the Government had granted 345 claims in Queensland and 509 claims in New South Wales, worth a total of $1.131 million.
It is the fastest turnaround of disaster payments in Australian history.
“While the floodwaters are settling in some places, the flooding is not over as waters are still moving through north-west New South Wales,” Mr McClelland said.
“In communities like Roma, hundreds of homes and businesses have been flooded and residents are beginning their third clean-up in consecutive years. We were told about the devastation in Mitchell from people who had seen it first-hand.
“The Gillard Government is working shoulder-to-shoulder with local and state government to help clean up the damage and get people back into their homes and workplaces as quickly as possible.”
Mr O’Connor said the payments of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for each eligible child began flowing into bank accounts this morning.
“In the past, it has taken a day or more to begin making payments,” Mr O’Connor said.
“We have learnt from the experiences of last summer’s natural disasters and the Government has been working hard behind the scenes to streamline processes to speed up the delivery of these emergency payments.
“As a result, more than 850 claims were granted on the day the payment was announced.
“This is a terrific effort that will be greatly appreciated by those receiving their assistance money today.”
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment helps people affected by disasters with their immediate recovery needs, and has been activated for residents in Balonne, Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo, Maranoa, Murweh and Paroo Local Government Areas in Queensland and the Gwydir, Moree, and Narrabri Local Government Areas in NSW.
The payment is available to residents in these areas:
- who have been injured as a direct result of the floodwaters; or
- whose home has been significantly damaged or destroyed; or
- who were stranded in their home or unable to gain access to their home for at least 24 hours; or
- whose home was without electricity, water, gas, sewage services or another essential service for a continuous period of 48 hours.
Immediate family members of those whohave died as a direct result of the disaster are also eligible for this payment.
Mr O’Connor encouraged affected residents to lodge a claim for assistance.
“Department staff have a presence in flood-affected communities and can help people to lodge claims, and Australian Government mobile offices have been redeployed to south-western Queensland to assist in the recovery efforts,” he said.
Residents with internet access can lodge their claim online through the Human Services website (www.humanservices.gov.au).
Alternatively, claims can be made by calling 180 22 66 from 8am to 8pm local time, seven days per week, or completed claim forms can be lodged in person at a Department of Human Services service centre.
Tags: Emergency relief