❓ The Minister for Emergency Services outlines the Cook Labor government's support measures for families and businesses affected by Cyclone Narelle, including financial assistance, disaster recovery funding, and tourism business support.
AnsweredQoN 203Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Cyclone Narelle—Government support
203. Ms Divina D'Anna to
the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the
recent Cyclone Narelle and the Cook Labor government's commitment to supporting
affected communities. Can the minister please outline to the house the measures
this government has announced to support families and businesses affected by
Cyclone Narelle?
203. Ms Divina D'Anna to
the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the
recent Cyclone Narelle and the Cook Labor government's commitment to supporting
affected communities. Can the minister please outline to the house the measures
this government has announced to support families and businesses affected by
Cyclone Narelle?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for her question. Yes, I can outline what has been done to date to support
those affected by Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle
passed down the north-west coast late last month, impacting Exmouth as a category
4 cyclone and ultimately making landfall on the coast between Coral Bay and
Cape Cuvier on the evening of 27 March. About a day and a half later, I
travelled to Exmouth after the Premier that morning had activated the Premier's
relief payments. I was able to confirm firsthand to the people of Exmouth that immediate
assistance for residents with homes badly damaged by severe Tropical Cyclone
Narelle of $4,000 for severe damage or total loss and $2,000 for major damage
was available from that time.
To date, I can tell
the house that some $278,000 has been dispersed. There have been 119
applications approved and a further 228 are being progressed. On 30 March, the
next day, the Premier joined me in Exmouth himself, accompanied by Assistant
Minister for Emergency Management, Josh Wilson MP, from the Commonwealth government
to confirm that the disaster recovery funding arrangement had been activated in
Exmouth and further afield. DRFA funding category A for emergency food,
clothing, temporary accommodation, replacement of essential household items,
essential housing repairs and debris removal, and personal and financial
counselling was activated, as was category B, which enables the reconstruction
of damaged essential public assets, including debris removal to restore safety
and access. Assistance for primary producers and small businesses is also
available under DRFA category A. There is also support under DRFA category A for
fencing repairs, professional advice, a 50% freight
subsidy, an interest rate subsidy on new recovery loans and, under DRFA
category B, an interest rate subsidy on new loans to recover from damage
due to severe Tropical Cycle Narelle for small businesses is available.
On 12 April,
Minister Whitby went to Exmouth and confirmed that the tourism business support
package was being activated for eligible tourism operators impacted by severe
Tropical Cyclone Narelle. There is up to $10,000 available for businesses with
fewer than four workers and up to $20,000 for businesses with four or more
workers, and that includes a 50% visitor voucher incentive and targeted
marketing to drive visitation to the Coral Coast region. On 12 April as well,
the Premier's Natural Disaster Recovery Fund was confirmed as being activated
with support for households, businesses and community groups while waiting on
insurance claims. That involves a one-off payment of $20,000 for severely
damaged or destroyed homes and a one-off payment of $10,000 for partial major
damage to homes. A minimum payment of $5,000 for local businesses and community
groups is also available.
I would urge anyone
affected in the regions where the appropriate funds have been activated to
apply via the DFES website, with the recovery page at recovery.dfes.wa.gov.au. I
can confirm that the government continues an entirely across-government
response to this challenge, as evidenced by the regular, consistent and
continued visits to the region by ministers from across the range of portfolios.
As I said, the Premier and I were there in the three days from 29 to 31 March. The
Premier went to Carnarvon as well. Minister Dawson went to Exmouth on 10 April,
Minister Whitby went to Exmouth and Onslow on 12 April, Minister Beazley will
be going to Coral Bay tomorrow, Minister Jarvis will be going to Carnarvon on
21 April, Minister Winton will go to Exmouth on 23 April, Minister Hammat will
go to Carnarvon on 30 April and Minister Stojkovski will go to Exmouth and Carnarvon
on 1 May to personally reassure people and hear from them what their challenges
continue to be so that the government can continue to support them in their
hour of need.
for her question. Yes, I can outline what has been done to date to support
those affected by Tropical Cyclone Narelle. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle
passed down the north-west coast late last month, impacting Exmouth as a category
4 cyclone and ultimately making landfall on the coast between Coral Bay and
Cape Cuvier on the evening of 27 March. About a day and a half later, I
travelled to Exmouth after the Premier that morning had activated the Premier's
relief payments. I was able to confirm firsthand to the people of Exmouth that immediate
assistance for residents with homes badly damaged by severe Tropical Cyclone
Narelle of $4,000 for severe damage or total loss and $2,000 for major damage
was available from that time.
To date, I can tell
the house that some $278,000 has been dispersed. There have been 119
applications approved and a further 228 are being progressed. On 30 March, the
next day, the Premier joined me in Exmouth himself, accompanied by Assistant
Minister for Emergency Management, Josh Wilson MP, from the Commonwealth government
to confirm that the disaster recovery funding arrangement had been activated in
Exmouth and further afield. DRFA funding category A for emergency food,
clothing, temporary accommodation, replacement of essential household items,
essential housing repairs and debris removal, and personal and financial
counselling was activated, as was category B, which enables the reconstruction
of damaged essential public assets, including debris removal to restore safety
and access. Assistance for primary producers and small businesses is also
available under DRFA category A. There is also support under DRFA category A for
fencing repairs, professional advice, a 50% freight
subsidy, an interest rate subsidy on new recovery loans and, under DRFA
category B, an interest rate subsidy on new loans to recover from damage
due to severe Tropical Cycle Narelle for small businesses is available.
On 12 April,
Minister Whitby went to Exmouth and confirmed that the tourism business support
package was being activated for eligible tourism operators impacted by severe
Tropical Cyclone Narelle. There is up to $10,000 available for businesses with
fewer than four workers and up to $20,000 for businesses with four or more
workers, and that includes a 50% visitor voucher incentive and targeted
marketing to drive visitation to the Coral Coast region. On 12 April as well,
the Premier's Natural Disaster Recovery Fund was confirmed as being activated
with support for households, businesses and community groups while waiting on
insurance claims. That involves a one-off payment of $20,000 for severely
damaged or destroyed homes and a one-off payment of $10,000 for partial major
damage to homes. A minimum payment of $5,000 for local businesses and community
groups is also available.
I would urge anyone
affected in the regions where the appropriate funds have been activated to
apply via the DFES website, with the recovery page at recovery.dfes.wa.gov.au. I
can confirm that the government continues an entirely across-government
response to this challenge, as evidenced by the regular, consistent and
continued visits to the region by ministers from across the range of portfolios.
As I said, the Premier and I were there in the three days from 29 to 31 March. The
Premier went to Carnarvon as well. Minister Dawson went to Exmouth on 10 April,
Minister Whitby went to Exmouth and Onslow on 12 April, Minister Beazley will
be going to Coral Bay tomorrow, Minister Jarvis will be going to Carnarvon on
21 April, Minister Winton will go to Exmouth on 23 April, Minister Hammat will
go to Carnarvon on 30 April and Minister Stojkovski will go to Exmouth and Carnarvon
on 1 May to personally reassure people and hear from them what their challenges
continue to be so that the government can continue to support them in their
hour of need.
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